London Museum Receives Historic Roman Artifacts Collection and £20 ($25) Million Donation

The London Museum has announced the acquisition of more than 14,000 Roman artifacts discovered during the construction of Bloomberg’s European headquarters in the City of London, alongside a generous £20 million donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

This remarkable gift represents the largest private donation and the single largest archive of archaeological material ever received by the museum. The donation will help transform the historic Smithfield market buildings into the museum’s new home, set to open in 2026.

“The collection together with this generous donation represents a momentous gift that ties the past to the future and which will be a lasting legacy for London,” said Sharon Ament, Director of London Museum.

Archaeological Significance

The Bloomberg Collection includes Britain’s largest, earliest, and most significant collection of Roman writing tablets, which reveal the earliest surviving voices of Roman Londoners, including the first written reference to London itself.

The extensive archaeological project, conducted between 2012 and 2014 by Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), was one of the most significant excavations in London’s history.

The site is internationally known as home to a 3rd century AD temple to the Roman god Mithras. The temple and around 600 artifacts have been on permanent, free public display at the London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE since its opening in 2017 and will remain there, while the rest of the collection will join London Museum’s archaeological archives.

Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, stated, “These remarkable artifacts offer a unique window into the past, connecting us directly to the voices of its ancient inhabitants. As someone who considers London my second home, I’m honored that our company will be able to help bring these stories to life while strengthening the City’s future.”

New Museum at Smithfield

The London Museum will relocate to historic Smithfield market buildings, creating a new cultural quarter for the capital. The museum’s permanent galleries in the Victorian General Market are scheduled to open in 2026, with the 1960s Poultry Market, which will house temporary exhibitions, collection stores, and a learning center, planned to open in 2028.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, praised the collaboration: “Bloomberg has been a huge cultural champion for London, and this is a great example of public and private sectors working together to help realise bold plans for our capital’s future.”

The overall budget for the new London Museum is £437 million. It is supported by a partnership between the City of London Corporation, London Museum, and the Greater London Authority, along with various private foundations, sponsors, and philanthropists.

The ambitious cultural redevelopment will become one of the city’s top visitor attractions, welcoming over 2 million people annually and contributing an estimated £565 million in Gross Value Added within 10 years of opening.

London Museum Docklands remains open while work continues on the new Smithfield location.