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There's no better way to celebrate the best of British produce than at a farmers' market - and vendors across the country often diverge in their specialist regional produce. While farmers' markets have existed in some form in Britain for centuries, they experienced a resurgence in the late 1990s as part of a movement against largescale industrial food production and towards helping struggling local producers. Almost 150 markets were established in England and Wales between 1997 and 1999, many of which remain popular today, offering high-quality, homegrown fruit and vegetables, meats and cheeses, bakery products and more.

At last count, there were approximately 650 farmers' markets across the whole of the UK, held on weekly and monthly bases and often offering an insight into the agricultural or culinary history of a local area. Against a backdrop of global instability and rising import costs, it's a better time than ever to explore some of the best farm-to-fork traders in the country. Read on for our ranking of the UK's top 10 markets, all the way from Scotland to Cornwall.

10. Creake Abbey, Norfolk

Creake Abbey's farmers' market is held on the first Saturday of every month, boasting over 60 stalls with local produce including meat, fish, bread, baked goods, fruit, vegetables and flowers. It is best known for its beautiful Norfolk saffron, supplied by the UK's leading saffron growers on the North Norfolk coast, alongside its selection of local ales.

9. Cowbridge, Wales

Cowbridge farmers' market has been a mainstay of the Vale of Glamorgan for a quarter of a century, flogging meats, cheeses, sweets, bakery items and dairy from a range of local producers. Of particular note are its traditional Welsh pork and handmade pasta, available every Saturday.

8. Barnard Castle, County Durham

Barnard Castle's farmers' market was named the Farm Retail Association's market of the year in 2024, and proudly specialises in organically-grown meat and vegetables. Worth mentioning is its historic and picturesque location, in the town's cobbled Market Place on the first Saturday of every month.

7. Truro, Cornwall

Truro's farmers' market offers the very best of traditional Cornish fare, from sea salt to locally-made bread and locally-caught fish. Held every Wednesday and Saturday, it's also beloved for its fresh dairy products, including, as you might expect, clotted cream.

6. Edinburgh, Castle Terrace

At the other end of the country, Edinburgh's weekly farmers' market, open every Saturday, is similarly popular with locals and visitors alike year-round. Nestled in the shadow of the city's famous castle, it offers meats, fruit and vegetables, jams, chillies and cheese, alongside cuts of fresh Venison and North Sea fish.

5. Stroud, Gloucestershire

Stroud's farmers' market is also held every Saturday, as it has been since 1999, although in the meantime it has expanded to become one of the biggest and busiest in the UK. Among its wide range of local artisan produce are Gloucestershire cheeses and crafts including jewellery, knitwear and incense and wax melts.

4. Winchester, Hampshire

Winchester's farmers' market, which takes place on the second and final Sunday of each month, offers a vast variety of regional food, drink and crafts, including award-winning cheeses, craft gins and honey straight from the hive. As well as its large scale, spanning the city's High Street and Middle Brook Street, its local trout and watercress make it well worth a visit.

3. Mossley, Tameside

Mossley's farmers' market also brings a plethora of local traders to the Greater Manchester town on the last Saturday of each month, with up to 60 stalls selling fruit and vegetables, cheeses, wine, pies and beers to the crowds who have loyally descended since it was founded in 2000. Its community spirit alone should be enough to put it on the map, helping to chart a steady growth from just 10 vendors at the turn of the century.

2. Kendal, Cumbria

Kendal's farmers' market, which trades on the second and last Friday of the month, scooped the second-place title for its sheer diversity of stalls, from sustainable meats to fresh bakery goods and handcrafted gifts, showing a commitment to celebrating the "rich agricultural heritage and artisanal skills of the region".

1. Queen's Park, London

Queen's Park farmers' market, open every Sunday, was named best in the UK at this year's Farm Retail Awards, and for good reason. With a firm ethos of 'We grow it, we sell it', vendors offer high-quality, wide-ranging produce including fresh wild-caught fish, heritage tomato varieties and specialties including asparagus, wild game and cherries, changing weekly with the season.