EAST
Norwich Market
At the largest open-air market in the country, sip an Aeropress coffee while stocking up on award-winning Lakenham ice cream to Hungarian bread.
Mon-Sat 8.30am-5.30pm; 1 Market Pl, Norwich NR2 1ND; 01603 213537; norwich.gov.uk/norwichmarket
North Walsham Farmers’ Market
Local traders are well represented with the Norfolk Honey Company, Norfolk Sausage Company, and East Norfolk Trading Company cider.
Last Sun of every month 10am-1pm; Market Pl, North Walsham NR28 9BT; 07450 581277; facebook.com/NWFarmersMkt
St Albans Market
Dating back as far as the 9th century, today this established market has more than 160 stalls made up of a variety of traders, many of whom have held their place for more than 20 years.
Wed & Sun early until around 4.30pm; St Peters St, AL3 5DJ; 01727 836781; stalbans.gov.uk/community-and-living/communityleisure/markets
Cambridge Market
Stalls have been trading in this square since the Middle Ages – though the goods may have changed a bit. Go to the Cheese and Pie Man for homemade pies made with free-range, local ingredients, or to Azahar for Spanish charcuterie like Iberico ham, lomo and salchichon.
Mon-Sun 10am-4pm; Market Square, CB2 3NX; cambridge.gov.uk/markets
Creake Abbey Farmers’ Market
Markets don’t get much prettier or more rustic than this one, held in a couple of old barns and outside by the pond, when the weather allows. More than 50 traders sell local meat, fruit and veg, preserves, ales, artisan bread and baked goods, and flowers and plants. There’s also a café and food hall, both open seven days a week.
First Sat of each month 9.30am-1pm; North Creake, NR21 9LF; 07801 418907; creakeabbey.co.uk
LONDON
Borough Market, Southwark
The most famous food market in the city is an ever-expanding warren of stalls, shops and restaurants, built around the historic central building. Whether you’re shopping, watching a cookery demo, or popping by for lunch, there’s a lot to take in.
Wed-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 8am-5pm; 8 Southwark St, SE1 1TL; 020 7407 1002; boroughmarket.org.uk
Maltby Street, Bermondsey
A short trot away from Borough, this smaller market has an eclectic mix of traders. Highlights include custard doughnuts from St John Bakery and Monty’s Deli’s epic pastrami or salt beef sandwiches.
Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 11am-4pm; 41 Maltby St, SE1 3PA; 020 7394 8061; maltby.st
Broadway Market, Hackney
Running the length of the eponymous street from the Regent’s Canal to London Fields, this east London market was only revived in 2004, but is hugely popular with food-loving locals. The sweet-toothed will take joy from Violet Bakery’s cinnamon buns and lemon slices, and Meringue Girls’ colourful creations.
Sat 9am-5pm(ish); Broadway Market, E8 4PH; broadwaymarket.co.uk
Brockley Market
Go for seasonal fare from south-east London producers and a great range of street food, like Mike and Ollie’s flatbread wraps.
Sat 10am-2pm; Lewisham College Car Park, Lewisham Way, SE4 1UT; brockleymarket.com
Brixton Market
Run by the local traders, this community market is a sprawling beast of an operation with the outdoor stalls on Electric Avenue, Pope’s Road and Brixton Station Road joining on to the covered arcades, full of eclectic shops and restaurants, of Brixton Village and Market Row.
Check website for opening hours; brixtonmarket.net
MIDLANDS
Ludlow Market
Traders vary from day to day but you’re sure to find fruit and veg, spices and cheese in front of the medieval castle.
Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat early until 4pm; Castle Square, Ludlow, SY8 1AY; ludlowmarket.co.uk
Leicester Market
Traditional city market with more than 300 stalls and a new food hall, in a contemporary building.
Mon-Sat 7am-6pm; Market Pl, LE1 5AW; leicestermarket.co.uk
Moseley Farmers’ Market
Two-time winner of the FARMA UK Farmers’ Market of the Year. It’s a commercial interest company and volunteer run, so profits are reinvested into the community.
Last Sat of the month, 9am-2pm; Village Green (Alcester Rd & St Marys Row), Moseley, B13 8HW; 0121 449 3156; moseleyfarmersmarket.org.uk
Birmingham Bull Ring Indoor Market
More than 80 stalls offering a diverse range of goods, with a particularly huge range of fish.
Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm; 50 Edgbaston St, B5 4RQ; 0121 622 0200; bullringindoormarket.net
Bakewell Farmers’ Market
The second-largest farmers’ market in the country is largely dedicated to local food and drink, with most traders coming from within a 30-mile radius of Bakewell.
Last Sat of the month, 9am-2pm; Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell, DE45 1AH; derbyshiredales.gov.uk/leisure-a-culture/markets
NORTH
Treacle Market, Macclesfield
What began as a clutch of stalls in 2010 is now a bustling and varied market. The church lawn is a good place to devour your purchases.
Last Sun of the month, 10am-3pm; Market Place & Chestergate, SK11 6BA; visitcheshire.com/whats-on/macclesfield-treacle-market-p142951
Leeds Kirkgate Market
Home to fresh food stalls, an outdoor Asian bazaar every Wednesday, and Jamie’s Ministry of Food cooking classes.
Mon-Sat 8am-5.30pm; Vicar Ln, LS2 7HY; 0113 378 1950; leedsmarkets.co.uk
Bury Market
Hundreds of stalls across an open market, a market hall and the modern fish and meat hall.
Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm; Market St, BL9 0BJ; 0161 253 6520; burymarket.com
Grainger Market, Newcastle
Grade I listed covered market that’s home to greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers and a growing number of street-food traders serving up dishes from around the world (Chinese dumplings and buns are a popular recent addition).
Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm; Grainger St, NE1 5JQ; graingermarket.org.uk
Levenshulme Market, Manchester
Community-run market set up as a social enterprise in 2013. What you might find? Bread from Manchester’s oldest family-run bakery, award-winning sausages from Bobby’s Bangers and sweet Neapolitan pastries.
Sat 10am-4pm, Mar-Dec; Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, M19 3AB; levymarket.com
NORTHERN IRELAND
St George’s Market, Belfast
One of Belfast’s oldest attractions, the Friday “variety” market on the St George’s site dates back to 1604.
Fri 6am-2pm, Sat 9am-3pm, Sun 10am- 4pm; 12-20 East Bridge St, BT1 3NQ; belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism-venues
Folktown, Belfast
The first independent outdoor farmers’ and artisan market in Belfast in 400 years offers up local produce and hot food.
Thu 11am-5pm; Bank Sq, BT1 6AD; folktownbelfast.com
SCOTLAND
Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
Stalls are set up under the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Find local names such as Valvona & Crolla alongside Carmichael Estate, who call themself “the single malt of meats”.
Sat 9am-2pm; Castle Ter, EH10 5AR; edinburghfarmersmarket.co.uk
Stockbridge Market, Edinburgh
Small but perfectly formed market with fresh produce such as local herbs from Kale & Hearty, smoked fish from Caithness Smokehouse, and a variety of street food.
Sun 10am-5pm; Saunders St, EH3 6TQ; stockbridgemarket.com
Perth Farmers’ Market
The first farmers’ market in Scotland is launching a series of winter festival markets in December this year.
First Sat of the month 9am-2pm; King Edward St, PH1 5UT; perthfarmersmarket.co.uk
Inverness Farmers’ Market
The finest local produce, including game, shellfish, cheese and all kinds of preserves from Rose Cottage Country Kitchen.
First Sat of the month 9am-4pm; Eastgate Shopping Precinct, IV2 3NA; 01309 651206; invernessfarmersmarket.co.uk
Cupar Farmers’ Market
Arbroath smokies, wild game pies, home grown chillies, Scottish tablet and more.
Third Sat of the month, 9am-1pm; Crossgates, Cupar, Fife, KY15 5HS; fifefarmersmarket.co.uk/cupar-farmers-market
SOUTH
The Goods Shed, Canterbury
Permanent farmers’ market offering the best of local Kent produce, and award-winning charcuterie from France and Spain.
Tue-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Station Rd West, CT2 8AN; 01227 459153; thegoodsshed.co.uk
Winchester Farmers’ Market
English sparkling wine from Hambledon Vineyard and a Hampshire hog roast are two highlights.
Second & last Sun of the month 9am-2pm; Middle Brook St & car park, SO23 8DQ; hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk
Brighton Open Market
Rainproof shopping for local and international artisan food in buzzing Brighton.
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm; Marshalls Row, BN1 4JU; 01273 695728; brightonopenmarket.co.uk
Oxford Covered Market
A young Rick Stein found this centrally located market “an inspiration to get cooking, and almost as important as the architectural beauty of Oxford”.
Mon-Sat 8am-5.30pm, Sun 10am-4pm; Market St, OX1 3DZ; oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk
East Oxford Farmers’ & Community Market
Small local market run by volunteers that aims to provide all the staples for your weekly shop (eggs, veg, bread, refills for cleaning supplies), and much of the food is sourced from within 30 miles of Oxford. Refuel after stocking up with a fair-trade coffee in the café.
Sat 10am-1pm; East Oxford Primary School, Union St, OX4 1JP; eastoxfordmarket.org.uk
WALES
Uplands Market, Swansea
A relatively new market set up with the aim of making Welsh produce available to the community.
Last Sat of the month 9am-1pm; Gwydr Sq, Uplands, SA2 0HD; uplandsmarket.com
Riverside Market, Cardiff
One of three Cardiff markets, this one, opposite the Millennium Stadium, is the first and flagship, and draws more than 1,500 people weekly.
Sun 10am-2pm; 17 Fitzhamon Embankment, Cardiff, CF11 6AN; 029 2019 0036; riversidemarket.org.uk
Cardiff Central Market
Indoor market home to long-established independent traders in an impressive Victorian glass roofed building.
Mon-Sat 8am-5.30pm; St Mary St, Cardiff, CF10 1AU
Swansea Market
Crowned the ‘Best Large Indoor Market’ at the 2015 Great British Market Awards.
Oxford St, Swansea SA1 3PQ; 01792 654296; swanseaindoormarket.co.uk
Aberystwyth Farmers’ Market
Small but perfectly formed market with a truly tempting selection of goods, from beautiful Welsh timber boards to pasta made using local ingredients (Cardigan Bay crab ravioli).
First & third Sat of the month 10am-2pm; North Pde, SY23 2NF; 01559 362230; aberystwythfarmersmarket.co.uk
WEST
The Frome Independent
A collection of markets: head to Stony Street and Boyle Cross where you can fill your (cotton tote) bag with local cheese and West Country cider.
First Sun of the month, 10am-3pm (Mar-Dec); Frome town centre; thefromeindependent.org.uk
St Nicholas Market, Bristol
The streets surrounding the main building host a farmers’ market and street-food market.
Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm; The Exchange, Corn St, BS1 1JQ; 0117 922 4014; stnicholasmarket bristol.co.uk
Stroud Farmers’ Market
A visit to this well-established and award-winning Cotswolds market makes a fun family day out.
Sat 9am-2pm; Cornhill Market Pl, GL5 2HH; 01453 758060
Bridport Farmers’ Market
Fresh, local, largely organic produce. Many of the traders are members of the Bridport Local Food Group, which organises the town’s annual food festival.
Second Sat of the month 9am-1pm; Bridport Arts Centre, South St, Bridport, DT6 3NR; bridportandwestbay.co.uk/market
Bath Farmers’ Market
Check out the award winning and famed Bath Soft Cheese at the first farmers’ market in the UK, trading since 1997.
Sat 9am-1.30pm; Green Park Station, BA1 1JB; bathfarmersmarket.co.uk
