Oxfordshire Market Directory

Looking for fresh food, affordable clothes, or simply fed up with trudging round supermarkets? Oxfordshire’s markets might have the answer.

We’ve taken a look at the history of the county’s markets in a separate article. But they’re far more than just history: they continue today in every town in the county. Market schedules can be confusing to the uninitiated, so we’ve rounded up (we think) every single Oxfordshire market in this listing. You can browse by day, or scroll down and look by town.

Have we missed one? Or is there more to say about your favourite market? We are all the Clarion, so send us a couple of lines on what makes your local market great, and the type of stalls that are there. Our inbox is at news@oxfordclarion.uk.

Every day

Covered Market, Market Street, Oxford: 8am–5.30pm Monday to Wednesday; 8am–11pm Thursday to Saturday; 10am–4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays. Traders may vary their operating hours.

The grande dame of Oxfordshire's markets is, of course, the Covered Market in Oxford. The market dates back to the 1770s and has become famous for being one of the oldest continually operating markets in the country. Here's a video on its history.

It’s a glorious cornucopia of independent outlets jostling for space. You want a handbag? Some funky socks? What about a single estate hot chocolate? Or perhaps some fruit or bread? Maybe a cocktail while browsing a bookshop? The Covered Market continually changes, but its beating heart is the independent retailers of Oxford. Over weekend evenings, it becomes a lively place to socialise and enjoy a drink or street food. There's even an audio tour.

(Oxford’s is not the only covered market in the county. Burford’s High Street has the 16th century Tolsey Market, a small space under the town museum. It’s not a significant destination in itself but you’ll often find craft or food traders encamped here, particularly on summer days when tourist traffic is highest.)

Market listings by day

Market listings by town

Abingdon

• Monday: Abingdon Charter Market, Market Place: 8am-3pm. It dates back to 1556, and is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in the country.
• Friday: Abingdon Farmers Market, Market Place: 3rd Friday of each month. This brings in a range of fresh produce from local growers, and also other goods.

Abingdon also hosts occasional seasonal markets including a popular Local Excellence Market, similar to the Farmers Market, but on 4 or 5 Saturdays a year, summer and winter Craft Markets and Craft Fairs. Other events in the Market Place include the annual ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ and switching on of the lights, displays of the MG Car Club, and on special royal occasions, the 400-year old tradition of ‘bun throwing’ by Town Councillors from the rooftop of County Hall (Abingdon being the former county town of Berkshire).

Banbury

• Thursday: Banbury Charter Market, Market Place: 9am-4pm. Large, thriving market with approximately 30 stalls offering a range of products, including fruit and vegetables, clothing, footwear, tools, cards and garden plants.
• Friday: Banbury Farmer's Market, Market Place: 1st Friday of every month, 8.30am–1.30pm. A range of quality produce, including varieties of meat, fruit and vegetables, pies, fish, bread, cakes, plants and flowers.
• Saturday: Banbury Charter Market, Market Place: 9am–4pm. Approximately 30 stalls offering a range of products, including fruit and vegetables, clothing, footwear, tools, cards and garden plants.

Bicester

• Friday: Bicester Market, Sheep Street: 9am–4.30pm. 20 stalls offering a range of products, including fruit and vegetables, picture framing, hot food, cakes and cards.

Burford

• Burford has a covered market space at The Tolsey in the High Street, open Monday to Friday.

Carterton

• Thursday: Carterton Market, Market Place: from 7.30am. Fresh bread, cakes, cards & wrapping paper, produce, plants and flowers.

Charlbury

• Saturday: Charlbury Market, outside the Community Centre: 9.30am–12.30am (summer only). Small number of local produce traders.
• Saturday: Charlbury Farmers’ Market, Playing Close: quarterly, second Saturday in the month (March, June, September, December), 8.30am–1.30pm.

Chipping Norton

• Wednesday: Chipping Norton, Market Place. Traditional produce market with up to a dozen stands.
• Saturday: Chipping Norton Farmers’ Market, Market Place: 3rd Saturday of each month, 8.30am–1.30pm.

Deddington

• Saturday: Deddington Farmers’ Market: 4th Saturday of each month except December (see link for dates), 9am–12.30pm. One of the largest farmers' markets in the country with over 30 stalls, it offers the very best in locally produced beer, bread, eggs, fish, flowers, fruit, meat, preserves, ready-made meals including international cuisines, vegetables and much, much more.

Didcot

• Saturday: Didcot Market, Market Place: Fruit and vegetable market, Saturday mornings.
• Saturday: Didcot Farmers’ Market, Orchard Centre: 2nd Saturday of each month.

Eynsham

Thursday: Eynsham Country Market, Market Square, 9am Homemade cakes, savouries, cookies, preserves, honey and pickles, seasonal produce and plants, plus crafts and cards. Occasional special markets on Saturdays in and around Eynsham, see Eynsham online or their Facebook page for details .

Faringdon

• Tuesday: Faringdon Market, Market Place: 8.30am-1pm. Small and traditional market with produce, stationery, haberdashery, bread and more. Monthly Farmers' Market on 1st Tuesday of each month.

Kidlington

• Friday: Kidlington Market, High Street: 9am–4.30pm. 12 stalls offering a range of products, including fruit and vegetables, cards and cakes.
• Saturday: Kidlington Market, High Street: 9:00am–4.30pm. Approximately 12 stalls offering a range of products, including fruit and vegetables, cards and cakes.

Oxford (Central)

• Oxford Outdoor Market, Gloucester Green.
  • Wednesday: fresh produce day – fruit, veg, olives, nuts and fish.
  • Thursday: antiques, brassware, vintage clothing, jewellery, quality carpets, and the famous pound stall.
  • Friday: artists and artisans.
  • Saturday: art, antiques, crystals, jewellery and street food.
• Oxford Covered Market (all week)

Oxford (North)

• Friday: Oxford Wholesale Fish Market, Summertown Nursery, Marston Ferry Road: 5.30pm–7.45pm. This unique market is best explained by this video. Essentially, it’s fresh fish at wholesale prices.
• Saturday: North Parade Market, North Parade Avenue: 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, 10am–2pm.
• Sunday: Summertown Farmers' Market, Banbury Road: 10am–2pm.
• Sunday: Wolvercote Community Market, The White Hart, 126 Godstow Road: 10am–12pm.

Oxford (South)

• Saturday: Sandford Talking Shop Market, Sandford on Thames: 9am–12pm.
• Sunday: South Oxford Farmers’ Market, Join the early morning lake swimmers at Hinksey Lake, or in summer, Hinksey outdoor pool, then mooch for bread from the Natural Bread company, meat from Eagles, and fresh arancini or sweet treats, plus refill detergents and wholefoods. When the Clarion visited one frosty winter morning, it was lively and locals formed orderly queues at the bread stall as soon as it opened. Excellent dogs to pet. 10/10, would visit again.

Oxford (East)

• Saturday: East Oxford Farmers and Community Market, East Oxford Primary School: 10am–1pm. Stalls change but you can expect local produce, from veg to meat, fish and dairy, plus secondhand books and bakery, plus many treats. A local favourite, arrive early or expect queues for the most popular stalls.
• Saturday: Headington Market, London Road, Headington: 9am–2pm. Community market running since 2007. A varied roster of stallholders, with regulars offering local produce including meat & pies, veg & fruit, bakery, deli, cheese, plants, and a variety of hot food stalls too. Plus occasional craft and charity stalls

Thame

• Tuesday: Thame Charter Market, Market Place: 9am-3pm. Produce, homeware, gifts, clothes and more. Thame Local Produce Market on second Tuesday of each month.

Wallingford

• Friday: Wallingford Charter Market, Market Place. Plants, eggs, cheese, fish, bread, clothes, fruit and vegetables, cards and gift wrap, pet food and more.
• Saturday: Wallingford Local Producers Market, St. Mary's Church: 10am–12.30pm.

Wantage

• Wednesday: Wantage Market, Market Place: 8am-3pm. Traditional market with produce and crafts.
• Saturday: Wantage Market, Market Place: 8am–3pm.

Watlington

• Tuesday: Watlington Market, Town Hall: 9am-3pm. “Fresh and friendly” market with UK and local fruit & veggies, “retro blooms and lush plants all under one roof”.
• Saturday: Watlington Market, Town Hall: 8.30am-1pm. “Fresh & friendly” market with UK and local fruit & veggies, “retro blooms and lush plants all under one roof”.

Witney

• Thursday: Witney Charter Market: Market Place.
• Friday: Witney Farmers’ Market, Market Place: 4th Friday of every month, 8.30am–1.30pm.
• Saturday: Witney Charter Market: Market Place.

Woodstock

• Saturday: Woodstock Market, 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Farmer's Market on 1st Saturday of each month.