○ IMPTReading
← All things to do Street & Flea Markets · Reading Town Centre

Reading Market Place

The town's medieval marketplace, back in weekly use — a Wednesday and Saturday street market of cheese, fish, flowers and street food.

Where
Reading Town Centre
Time needed
1 hr visit
Tickets
Free
Free entry
Yes
Wednesday and Saturday market stalls in Reading Market Place Wednesday and Saturday market stalls in Reading Market Place

What to expect at Reading Market Place

Reading has held a market in this exact square since Henry I granted the abbey its charter in 1125, making it one of the oldest continuously trading market sites in England. The current cobbled square, dominated by St Laurence's Church at its east end, hosts a regular Wednesday and Saturday street market of about 25 stalls, plus monthly farmers' markets and a rolling programme of food-truck events. The 2019-2022 regeneration widened the square, planted trees and added seating, and it has become a proper civic focal point again.

Stalls turn over but the regulars include a cheese counter selling Berkshire-produced Village Green and Barkham Blue, a fish stall from Billingsgate, a Portuguese pastel de nata baker, a Bangladeshi curry-jar operation, a Polish deli, several florists and a huge fruit and veg stall that sells in kilos rather than punnets. Farmers' markets (second Saturday of the month) bring in producers from the Berkshire Downs and the Chilterns. Street-food festivals happen roughly monthly in warmer months, with pop-up bars in the square.

In the middle of town, three minutes north of the Oracle and eight from the station. Free to browse. Come Saturday morning between 10:00 and 12:00 for full atmosphere; Wednesday is quieter but easier if you want to talk to stallholders. Take cash for the older traders (though most now take card) and a shopping bag. Combine with the Abbey Ruins (three minutes east) and Reading Museum (two minutes north). The best pastel de nata in town is here, on the north side.

Plan your visit TicketsFree Free entryYes Time needed1 hr visit WhereReading Town Centre Opening hours Wed 9:00-16:00 Sat 9:00-16:00 Additional food events monthly Hotels near Reading Market Place

Questions about Reading Market Place

Entry cost?

Free to browse — pay by stall for anything you buy.

Free hours?

Always free to enter.

How long?

About an hour is plenty.

Which days does it run?

Wednesday and Saturday every week, 9:00-16:00. Farmers' market: second Sat of the month.

Booking?

None.

Nearest station?

Reading Station, 8 min via Blagrave Street and Broad Street.

Where to stay

Hotels near Reading Market Place

Live prices · free cancellation
Browse

Every hotel we cover in Reading Town Centre

24 with a full page

More things to do

All things to do

From the journal

All posts