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City of London Information Centre
St Paul's Churchyard,
London, EC4M 8BX

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Photo: Leadenhall Market
Photo: Leadenhall Market arched entrance Photo: Leadenhall Market ceiling Photo: Black and white image of Leadenhall Market pre-restoration
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Leadenhall Market

Gracechurch Street

London

EC3V 1LR


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E: leadenhall.market@cityoflondon.gov.uk

W: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leadenhall


Visitor Information

Architect: Sir Horace Jones
Built: 1881
Size: 4,800m˛

Lord Mayor Dick Whittington acquired this site in 1411 and it soon became an important London marketplace. As with much of the City, it was partly destroyed during the Great Fire in 1966 but was soon rebuilt as a tall covered structure with open-ended alleys. Just over 200 years later, in 1881, the building was knocked down and redesigned by Sir Horace Jones, architect of Billingsgate and Smithfield Markets.

Jones replaced the stone structure with wrought iron and glass, a design that was far fancier than his previous projects. In 1991 the market was extensively restored and painted in rich colours, with roof panels painted blue with gold stars. Leadenhall is one of the finest examples of a Victorian marketplace in the capital and its incredibly ornate decoration – along with its shops, bars and market stalls – make it a popular tourist destination.