North East

Across the region you will find a range of regular weekly markets where you can buy anything from local produce to household goods. Also, be prepared to be greeted by cheerful, friendly, knowledgeable traders who will ready to sell you a wide range of locally sourced fresh produce and goods.

Why not have your picnic on a market day and buy your food fresh from the people who made it? The region has some of the best meat in the country, much of it organic and from rare breeds. Butchers produce pies and sausages perfect for picnics, plus there is no shortage of sweet treats, artisan breads, cheeses, homemade pickles and fruity chutneys. Also, make a note to check the dates of the weekly and regular market days taking place across the county.

Northumberland boasts many excellent markets across the county where visitors can wander around stalls looking for great products and fantastic deals.

The pretty town of Alnwick has a market which sells a fine range of locally sourced fresh produce. Why not make a day of it by also visiting Alnwick Garden and Bamburgh Castle. Amble Market, close to its scenic harbour, has a wonderful array of handmade goods and offer up a great variety of unique gift ideas.

There are bargains galore to be bought at Ashington’s traditional town market that boasts a brilliant selection of stalls, whilst Bedlington Market has everything from bric-a-brac to pet supplies with something for everyone.

The historic and beautiful border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed has an equally historic and plentiful market, with so much choice to satisfy the most ardent of bargain hunters.

Blyth Market is where you will also find a great range of products including haberdashery, hardware and fruit and vegetables.

Haltwhistle Market is near the spectacular Hadrian’s Wall and boasts many excellent stalls, whilst Hexham Market is another market is steeped in tradition, set on the cobbled streets of the town and overlooked by the majestic Hexham Abbey and Old Gaol.

Morpeth Market has stalls aplenty ready to help you get that unique bargain or fantastic foodstuff, whilst pretty Ponteland is a fantastic place to visit with so many products to purchase from a wide array of stalls, as is Prudhoe Market, which also includes jewellery and flowers.

Heading south across county, Durham Market Hall is the beating heart of the city with over 50 independent traders offering a wide range of foods and goods.

The beautifully restored Victorian indoor Market Hall is open from Monday to Saturday with a whole host of wonderful stalls and their traders, many of whom are much loved throughout the city and have been trading for over 30 years. The Market Hall includes 14 food outlets as well as an acclaimed bistro, Cafe Cenno.

Away from Durham City, there are a host of wonderful traditional markets in towns across the county including at Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Chester-Le-Street, Consett and Spennymoor to name just a few.