St Albans markets and shopping: Continental Market, Italian Market, Farmers Market & City shopping

Markets and shopping

St.Albans has a thriving business community with an abundance of shopping streets overflowing with just about every type of shop selling many varied goods.

St Albans Market

St Albans market today is one of the most colourful and vibrant street markets in the South of England.

With over 170 stalls on Wednesdays and Saturdays, we offer everything from fish to fancy goods so you will be spoilt for choice.

Where else could you by a whole shark, a genuine Tommy Hilfiger shirt, healing crystals or herbs all in one place?

Our market is steeped in History with a special Royal Charter granted in 1553. However, the market is well documented as far back as the 9th century.

The current day market is firmly established in the city centre and runs the length of St Peters Street offering an excellent shopping experience to compliment the established retail stores, such as British Home Stores, Next, T.K. Maxx and Boots plus many more.

The market itself is almost unique in the diversity of goods it offers and attracts traders from as far away as Nottingham, Birmingham, and the extreme Southeast of Kent as well as closer to home.

With up to 60 per cent of our traders being here for 20 years or more you can be assured that the standard of service will match the diversity and quality of goods available.

• Continental Market

April 19th, 20th, 21st - Sept 20th, 21st, 22nd.

Bringing you a host of delicacies; a myriad of cheeses, olives. conserves, fruit and vegetables, jewellery from Paris, leather wear from Spain and Italy, French African Art, hand made soaps from the sunny south of France, a superb fresh crepes stand and the most fantastique mobile Boulangerie ever.

Enjoy the Sheer pleasure of good food, in real continental style.

• Italian Market

July 19th 20th, 21st - Oct 18th, 19th 20th Professional traders passionate about Italian food and cuisine.

Panifico, pastas, olives and olive oil, coffee and ice cream.

• Farmers Market

Jan 14th, Feb 11th , Mar 11th, Apr 8th, May 13th, June 10th, July 8th, Aug 12th, Sept 9th, Oct 14th, Nov 11th, Dec 9th.

Get fresh and fruity at the St Albans Farmers' Market on the 2nd Sunday each month, from 8.00am to 2.00pm.

Expect to find local specialities, mouth watering cheeses, seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh herbs, top quality meat and game, dairy produce, freshly baked cakes & bread and hand crafted goods. Plus entertainment and refreshments.

• City centre shopping

St Albans' historic ambience, vibrant street market and many high street names gives you the finest of the old with the best of the new.

For a unique and varied experience explore the specialist shops, major high street stores and the quality eating and drinking places located in the historic streets and alleys clustered around the Cathedral Quarter.

Evidence to support the notion that the British are 'a nation of shopkeepers' can be found down every street and alley where traders have plied their wares for over half a century. Stop for a while and look up at medieval craftmanship evident in windows, doorways and timber framed buildings.

Blending into the historic are the shopping precincts, The Maltings and Christopher Place, both served by their own car parks and offering a wealth of shopping. Shopping in St Albans is exciting, enjoyable and a worthwhile experience.