A Call to Protect Our Heritage and the Food Security of Low-Income Families in London and the UK

We urge the City of London Corporation to reverse its decision to close both Smithfield Meat Market and Billingsgate Fish Market—having abandoned plans to relocate them to a joint site.

For centuries, these markets have been vital to London's identity, providing affordable, high-quality food to communities across the city and beyond. Smithfield, with over 800 years of history, stands as one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the world.

Billingsgate, the UK’s largest inland fish market, has been a crucial supplier of fresh seafood for generations. Their closure threatens not only heritage but also food security for countless low-income families.

Wholesale markets like Smithfield and Billingsgate supply food at prices far lower than supermarkets, benefiting families and businesses across London and even as far as Wales.

Their loss will drive up food costs and decimate street market traders, making fresh meat and fish increasingly inaccessible to those who need them most.

We recognise the complexities of urban development, but shutting down these historic markets is not the answer. Their preservation is about more than heritage - it’s about sustaining livelihoods and ensuring that affordable food remains available to all. We call on the City of London Corporation to:

Reverse the decision to close Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets.
Engage with traders, communities, and heritage organisations to find sustainable solutions.

Invest in modernisation to secure the markets’ future while honouring their historic role.

These markets are more than places of trade; they are lifelines for families and symbols of London’s resilience. Their closure would be an irreversible loss to our city, our culture, and the people who rely on them.

Sign this petition to demand that Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets be preserved for future generations. Together, we can protect these vital institutions.