Yorkshire

Visitors to Yorkshire will be hard-pressed to find a town or city which does not have a market of some description.

Throughout the White Rose County, locals and tourists alike converge to meet up, have a chat and enjoy the buzz and great atmosphere that only market days can offer.

Yorkshire’s city markets are wonderful places to visit, and you can be sure you will find everything from fresh foods to fabric, clothing to crockery, and everything else in between.

Kirkgate Market in Leeds is one of the biggest with over 800 traders housed in the impressive Edwardian buildings, whilst outside is the lively open air market where Michael Marks first opened his Penny Bazaar in 1884 which ultimately lead to the formation of Marks & Spencer.

Ten miles from Leeds and situated in the beautiful and undisturbed countryside of Lower Wharfedale on the boundary between North and West Yorkshire is Otley, where you will find a main market on Friday and Saturday, and a small market on Tuesday.

Bradford and District Markets cover three indoor markets - two in Bradford and one in Keighley - and two outdoor Markets, one each in Shipley and in Bingley. There is also a successful St James’s Wholesale Market, as well as plenty of popular themed outdoor market events.

The market in Pudsey was recently re-built and has traders selling items ranging from groceries to electrical goods, crafts to fashion, whilst in Yeadon the Market is held in the Town Hall square every Monday and Friday also offering a wide range of food and household goods. Todmorden Market was originally opened in 1802, and having been refurbished in 2003 is still a popular open market set adjacent to the market hall.

Hebden Bridge Market, set in stunning countryside, is both popular and bustling, with the Open Air Market selling second hand goods on a Wednesday and food and general retail goods on a Thursday.

Doncaster Market has been the heart of the town for hundreds of years and is one of the biggest traditional markets in the North with some 400 shops, stalls and stands. Equally as historic is Barnsley’s famous market in the heart of the town centre, being over 700 years old and with more than 300 stalls located in indoor, semi-open and outdoor areas, whilst Halifax’s award winning market is a popular draw, open six days a week with some 125 market stalls.

Skipton’s award-winning Market has been voted as the UK’s Best Small Outdoor Market for 2017 and continues to play a huge part in the life of the town.

Its history dates back to medieval times, when a Royal Charter from King John granted consent to ‘The Lord of the Honour’ of Skipton Castle to hold a fair on Skipton High Street.

Today it is located in the very heart of the town on the High Street, operating every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday throughout the year.

Skipton is one of a number of regular outdoor and indoor markets in and around The Yorkshire Dales, as well as a series of farmers markets which take place in many of the areas towns. Richmond, Barnard Castle, Hawes, Settle, Ripon and Bedale are just a few towns with great regular markets to head to.

Regular markets are also held in the towns of North Yorkshire. Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days in the picturesque market town of Northallerton. Here you will find both sides of the High Street are home to stalls selling a wide range of goods and produce from fruit, vegetables and fresh fish to clothes and general hardware. The fourth Wednesday of the month sees the market joined by a farmers market selling local produce and food.

In Thirsk, market days - on Mondays and Saturdays – sees the south side of the Market Place full of stalls selling anything and everything you can think of from fruit and veg to candles and clothing. On most bank holiday Mondays the whole market place is almost filled by stalls and is a busy place, packed full of treats with bargains to be had.

Elsewhere, the towns of Scarborough, Whitby, Pickering, Malton, Guisborough, and Kirkby Lonsdale are just a sample of other buoyant and popular markets to seriously think about heading to visit.