[title]
Great news for the City slickers with a taste for posh nosh (we know there’s loads of you out there): Leadenhall, one of London’s oldest markets, has revealed ambitious plans to up its food game.
Leadenhall is one of the City of London’s most iconic landmarks. Dating back to 1321, the place was originally a trading hub for meat. Today’s red and gold market buildings – decked out with dragons, shields and sacks of money carved into the stone entrance ways – date back to 1881. And yes, it was where they filmed Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The blood and guts of the OG Leadenhall Market are long gone: these days it’s a beautiful indoor shopping space home to weekday stallholders offering jewellery, arty gifts and a variety of tasty lunch options to nearby office workers and tourists. But soon Leadenhall’s foodie game is going to level up big time.
The market’s operator, the City of London Corporation, has announced plans to make Leadenhall the ultimate foodie destination, with more restaurants, premium wine bars and popular lunchtime brands.
Details of the plans will be announced soon, but changes are set to mean longer opening hours and more options for people visiting on weekends. The idea is that the market will no longer be just a pit stop for corporate workers to grab a bite to eat on their lunch break.
The plans are all part of the local authority’s ‘Destination City’ programme, designed to turn the Square Mile into a ‘must visit’ destination seven days a week. A free light festival illuminating the City’s streets, squares and landmarks also launches this week as part of the new programme – one of six projects to receive funding so far. You can find out more about that lights festival here.
Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London, said: ‘Leadenhall Market is one of the City of London’s most treasured landmarks, and this next phase of its evolution marks an exciting step in realising its full potential as a vibrant seven-day-a-week destination.’
As Leadenhall Market steps up to the plate, it could create healthy competition for some of the Big Smoke’s established gastronomic hotspots (we’re looking at you, Borough Market). Until then, City of London locals can explore the best of the Square Mile’s bites through Time Out’s area guide and feast on our critics’ picks of the best restaurants in London.
Did you see that these are the 10 best new London restaurants opening in February 2026?
Plus: the best London restaurant with a view, according to Time Out.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.