A Police sentry box, which hit the headlines last summer after Banksy turned it into one of his latest artworks, will become one of the most popular and photographed exhibits at the new London Museum.
Members of the Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee voted in favour of gifting the ‘piranhas’ artwork to the flagship City museum, which will open next year.
The acquisition by the museum will secure the artwork’s longevity and legacy in a spectacular new building and ensure that it is accessible to millions of Londoners, City workers, and visitors.
The piece was one of nine animal-themed works created in August 2024 by the graffiti artist and features a shoal of piranha fish spray-painted onto the glazing of the sentry box, formerly located on Ludgate Hill since the 1990s.
Following confirmation from the artist that it was his work, the sentry box was relocated by the City Corporation to Guildhall Yard, where thousands of people viewed it from behind safety barriers and more recently, to Guildhall’s South Ambulatory.
The artwork will be carefully removed from Guildhall this year and placed temporarily in London Museum’s stores before it goes on permanent public display in 2026.
The City Corporation has pledged £222m to the museum which, alongside the Barbican Centre, will transform the north-west of the Square Mile into a global arts capital, elevating the City’s attractiveness as a leading business and visitor destination. The museum is expected to attract two million visitors annually and create over 1,500 jobs.
London Museum is being developed by the City Corporation, in partnership with the Greater London Authority, and is one of several transformative projects being delivered by the City Corporation, including the Barbican Renewal Programme and Salisbury Square Development to house the new Police HQ and multi-courts complex.
Policy Chairman of the Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:
“When the piece appeared in the City and being acutely aware of Banksy’s popularity, we relocated it swiftly to protect it and ensure that it could be viewed safely and retained for future generations to enjoy.
“The piece, alongside the Museum’s wider collection, will tell the story of London’s unique and diverse history. The new London Museum is just one of the many attractions that visitors can explore and experience in the Square Mile, and I know this artwork will delight all who see it.”
Chairman of the Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Munsur Ali, said:
“Now that we know that Banksy’s piranhas will be viewed and enjoyed by huge numbers of visitors to the new Museum, I am sending my warmest congratulations to its team on its latest acquisition and to the City Corporation’s Culture Team for brokering this exciting opportunity.
“Showcasing an astonishing range of exhibits in a beautifully designed building, the museum will open next year to much fanfare, and it is very gratifying to know that the artwork will be among the items creating so much interest and excitement.”
Director of London Museum, Sharon Ament, said:
“The only thing better than having a Banksy appear on the walls of London Museum in Smithfield or Docklands is having a Banksy on display inside.
“No other artist connects with people so profoundly, with such vigour, humour, and honesty than Banksy. If you’re lucky, a Banksy will appear at the end of the road in which you live and it’s always a moment when one does. Banksy brings art to the streets and it’s for everyone.
“We are that, too, in the context of a museum, of course, so what a great acquisition and gift to have for the people of London – a Police Box, filled with piranhas.”
The Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £130m every year. The organisation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Art Gallery, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and the new London Museum.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
For further information, please contact Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Arts, Culture, Heritage, Licensing), Corporation / 07795 333060 / [email protected]
About the Corporation:
The Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK.
About London Museum:
London Museum tells the ever-changing story of this great world city and its people, from 450,000 BCE to the present day. Its galleries, exhibitions, displays and activities seek to inspire a passion for London and provide a sense of the vibrancy that makes the city such a unique place.
A fixture on London’s cultural scene since first opening in 1976, London Museum is moving house. It has now closed doors at its London Wall site in preparation for its relocation to a new home at Smithfield, where it will occupy historic market buildings and open up to millions more visitors from 2026.
London Museum Docklands remains open Monday – Sunday 10am – 5pm and is FREE to all. You can explore London Museum with collections online – home to 138,000 objects with more being added regularly. https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/.
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