It is located in the heart of the City of London, is on the edge of the central district and is a Grade II listed building. It marked its 700 year anniversary in 2021!
It is now the home to boutiques, pubs, shops, coffee shops, restaurants, bars and "MORE" (ssshhhh)....
The location of Leadenhall Market was at one time the centre of Roman Londinium. There were remains of arches and cobblestones of the Roman Forum and Basilica that now reside in the British Museum..JPG)
Leadenhall Market itself dates back to 1321 when it became one of the best places in London to buy eggs, meat, poultry. fish, grain and game.
By the 1600's it had expanded to sell butter, cheese, wool, leather and cutlery and was the most important market in London. During that time it would have also hosted shows and festivals.
After the Great Fire of 1666 when much of the city of London was destroyed, parts of the market was also destroyed. It was rebuilt and became a covered structure.
The current glass covering was added in 1881.
If you look closely you can see the original wrought iron hooks where produce used to hang.
The Lamb Tavern is a grand old bar and dining room and boasts a long heritage.
And for you Harry Potter fans, Leadenhall Market may look familiar to you. In the first Harry Potter film, Philosopher's Stone, it stood in for Diagon Alley where Hagrid and Harry walk through the market and enter the Leaky Cauldron Pub through a blue door. (I never saw the movie so I will have to take their word for it.) It was filmed in Leadenhall in 2000/2001.
Leadenhall can also be seen in other movies, including: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy, Laura Croft: Tomb Raider, The Imaginariom of Doctor Parnassus, Hereafter and Love Aaj Kal. The pop group Erasure also filmed their music video for Love to Hate You in the market it 1991.
When we went it was early and quiet so I could almost say we were the most interesting and photogenic people there.... almost.... but not quite.
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