Leadenhall Market

A legacy of commerce and culture

Intact Insurance facts
1. Preserving heritage, guiding progress
  We have played a longstanding role in supporting the development and preservation of Leadenhall Market, one of London’s most iconic Victorian landmarks. It was also home to our head office for several decades. Our involvement spans a wide range of projects, from helping stakeholders navigate the unique challenges of maintaining, to modernising a historic site, while accommodating a busy commercial environment.
  Our involvement has included providing coordination and health & safety advice during extended closures for major productions, such as the Harry Potter films, as well as supporting ongoing maintenance and modernisation efforts. Practical measures, such as the regular use of a kestrel to deter pigeons, reflect the detailed operational guidance we help enable to preserve the market’s structure and aesthetic integrity.
  We also advise on adapting to evolving regulations, from changes to smoking rules to managing a growing mix of bars, restaurants, and retail. Our former headquarters at Leadenhall Court are being redeveloped into a 36-storey skyscraper, where the lower floors blend with the historic surroundings using traditional masonry, while upper floors transition into a modern glass tower. Careful demolition, structural monitoring, and heritage considerations have been key due to the Grade II listing of the market.
  Leadenhall Market exemplifies how we help balance heritage preservation with contemporary development, showcasing our ability to guide diverse stakeholders - including heritage groups, developers, and insurers - through complex, high-profile urban projects where continuity and progress must coexist.
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Interesting facts
1. Origins and historical significance
  Leadenhall Market dates back to 1321 as a bustling meat, poultry, and game market. In 1408, Lord Mayor Richard "Dick" Whittington acquired the lease and gifted it to the City of London in 1411, which still manages it today. By the inter-war years, most wholesale trade had moved to Smithfield's Poultry Market. The Lamb Tavern, dating from 1780, remains popular with Lloyd’s of London workers and was home to our London office for several years.
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2. Architectural transformation
  The current ornate, glass-roofed building was constructed in 1881 at a cost of £99,000, with an additional £148,000 spent on surrounding infrastructure. Designed by Sir Horace Jones, who also designed Smithfield and Billingsgate Markets, the market features a stunning example of Victorian industrial architecture. The main building's roof spans a remarkable 24 meters, showcasing the engineering prowess of the era.
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3. Modern-day role and preservation
  Leadenhall Market is situated in what was once the centre of Roman London. Once a bustling meat, poultry, and game market, it is now home to a number of boutique retailers, restaurants, cafes, wine bars, and an award-winning pub. In the basement of the hairdressers Nicholson Griffin, you can see the remains of a base of an arch from the Roman basilica. The market continues to serve as a vibrant commercial hub while preserving its rich historical heritage.
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Guildhall

London Bridge

Footfall
Thousands of visitors weekly including workers, shoppers, and tourists
Harry Potter inspiration
Inspired Diagon Alley and the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)
Build date
1881

Leadenhall Market

A legacy of commerce and culture

Intact Insurance facts

Preserving heritage, guiding progress

Interesting facts

Origins and historical significance

Architectural transformation

Modern-day role and preservation