London Transport Museum has announced an ambitious transformation of its iconic Covent Garden home that will create a major new 21st-century cultural attraction for London ahead of the Museum’s 50th anniversary in 2030.
The once-in-a-generation project, dubbed LTM50, will reimagine the Museum and modernize the historic Grade II listed Victorian flower market building with a dramatic new entrance opening directly onto Covent Garden Piazza. The transformation will add an extra 500 square meters (5,400 square feet) of space for improved galleries and learning experiences.
The Museum is riding a wave of success. Last year it welcomed almost 450,000 visitors—the highest annual total since it opened in Covent Garden in 1980. Innovative initiatives like Transported by Culture, which brings music, theater, art, and design into the unique setting, have attracted new audiences. The Museum’s retail operations have also played an important role, with over 1.7 million visits to the site overall in 2025.
The spectacular new public entrance from Covent Garden Piazza will be designed to better connect the Museum with the surrounding neighborhood—a significant change from the current entrance, which is tucked away on the building’s side.
“London’s transport story is one of the greatest innovation stories in the world, and this transformation is about sharing that story in a bigger, bolder, and more inspiring way than ever before,” said Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO of London Transport Museum. “For generations, Londoners and visitors have come to the Museum to explore the city and its stories through its transport system. As we approach our 50th anniversary, we’re creating an experience that captures the energy, creativity, and optimism of London itself—while opening the doors to even more people.”
The transformation will celebrate London’s journey from Victorian innovation to the capital of tomorrow, telling the story of how transport shaped one of the world’s greatest cities—and how London continues to lead the way in design, engineering, creativity, and urban innovation.
Alongside the physical transformation, LTM50 will expand the Museum’s role as a center for education, skills, and creativity. New interactive galleries and learning programs will connect thousands more young Londoners with engineering, design, green skills, and the future of cities.
The project is expected to grow annual visits by more than 20%, attracting broader and more diverse audiences to Covent Garden and bringing renewed energy to the Piazza through expanded exhibitions, events, and public programming.
“For more than 200 years, London’s public transport has shaped the capital and improved people’s lives in so many ways, from the world’s first underground railway to the iconic red bus, Oyster card and the Elizabeth line,” said Andy Lord, London’s Transport Commissioner. “This city has always led the way, and public transport has been key to its economic growth and recovery. I’m thrilled to support the new plans that showcase our transport heritage and the future of transport in the heart of Covent Garden.”
Visitors will begin to see new experiences, upgraded visitor facilities, and public-facing changes building toward a major relaunch and anniversary celebration in 2030.
For American visitors, London Transport Museum remains one of the best family-friendly museums in the city, with its collection of historic buses, tube trains, and trams—many of which you can climb aboard. The Museum is located steps from Covent Garden tube station in the heart of the West End.
Further announcements on the transformation will follow in the coming months. For more information, visit ltmuseum.co.uk.
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