Much Ado about Markets!

Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Outdoor shopping is a fantastic way to find bargains, get out and about in the fresh air and meet local people. Cambridge city centre and its outlying towns and villages are lucky to have a great choice of outdoor markets and also a rich history in market towns. Medieval days saw the flight of wealthy people to the cities but the pandemic has seen a return to the villages and market towns – especially now that many businesses are able to set up on any fen or laptop! So, looking forward, the post-Covid future may well be bright for our beautiful market towns, with their unique heritage and rural settings.

Cambridge Markets - Discover the Best Market Shopping in Cambridge City Centre 

  • Cambridge Market – Open every day from 10am – 4pm with a variety of fresh fruit and veg to handcrafted goods, hot street food, artisan bakers and vintage clothes. Where? Market Square, opposite Cambridge Guildhall.  On Saturday the market comes to life with around 100 traders – and more new traders joining all the time. Visit Cambridge Market's Facebook page here for more information.
  • All Saints Garden Craft Market – Open every Saturday and some weekdays in peak season with an array of handmade gifts and items such as jewellery, pottery, pens, soaps and art work. Where? Opposite Trinity College. Stop for a fresh coffee with Cambridge Coffee Villain and enjoy shopping under the trees. Find it now on Google Maps.
  • Sunday Arts Local Produce Market – Open every Sunday between 10am – 4pm, this is another must-visit for anyone keen on arts, crafts, farm produce and photographers. Where? Market Square, opposite Cambridge Guildhall. Visit Cambridge Market's Facebook page here for more information.

Market Towns and Villages of Cambridgeshire

Eleven market towns in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority are a masterplan of growth. The communities – Chatteris, Ely, Huntingdon, Littleport, March, Whittlesey, Wisbech, St Ives, St Neots, Soham and Ramsey – all have a fascinating past and are set to thrive again as shopping hubs, tourist destinations and entrepreneurial hotspots. These market towns, and Cambridge´s outlying villages, have better rail and road links than ever before.

Newmarket Market!

It´s in the name! Open Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9am until 3pm, shop here for artisan home-made cookies, plants, bakes, fresh fruit and veg, glassware, ceramics and bath bombs, and try some street food from Uncle Bill or The Little Pizza Oven. Where? The market is located on Newmarket High Street, just a 15-minute walk from the railway station. Newmarket was actually named after its market. Exning was the market town until the plague came and they had to move the market to a New Market! For more information visit the West Suffolk Markets website, where in addition to information about Newmarket Market, you can also find details of the following local markets:

  • Brandon Market
  • Bury St Edmunds Market
  • Clare Monthly Market
  • Haverhill Market
  • Mildenhall Market

 

Cambridgeshire Farmers´ Fayres

Famers Fayers was created to meet the local demand for high quality, fresh and local produce around Cambridgeshire. These markets offer a great opportunity to buy produce that is truly unique and is always delicious. Visit the Farmers Fayres website for more information.

Impington Farmers' Market 

  • Impington Village College, CB24 9LX.
  • Open the first Saturday of every month, 9am to 12 noon.

Linton Farmers' Market 

  • Linton Village Hall, CB21 4JS. 
  • Open the 3rd Saturday of every month, 9am to 12 noon

Great Shelford Farmers’ Market

  • Great Shelford Memorial Hall, CB22 5LZ. 
  • Open 4th Saturday of every month, 9am to 12 noon