A trip to an antique fair or flea market is an experience quite unlike any other. You wake early – before dawn if you’re taking it seriously – and make the pilgrimage to the showground or venue in question, filled with excitement as to what might lie in store. Once you’re through the gate, you embark on a real-life treasure hunt, going from stall to stall, seller to seller, in search of a piece to complete a room or a totally unexpected find that you didn’t know you needed (the latter are often the most exciting).
In the UK, we’re lucky to have numerous excellent hunting grounds up and down the country, taking place on different days and at different times of year. But sometimes the choice can be overwhelming, so we have rounded up the best antique fairs and markets in the UK, which offer an excellent range of pieces, many a bargain, and count lots of the interior designers we feature among their customers. Although some are free to enter, many charge between £5 and £20 for admission. First-day entry is often charged at a small premium, although it’s well worth paying if you want first pickings and have plenty of space in your car to fill. Always take cash – although some fairs have cash machines, the queues can be long and it could get in the way of you cinching a deal if someone else is ready with notes.
The best antique fairs and markets in the UK
- Where: South of England Showground, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6T
- When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays on various dates through the year
- Website: iacf.co.uk/ardingly
Just an hour from London and with a reputation for high-quality decorative pieces, this two-day, midweek fair attracts all the best European vendors thanks to its proximity to the channel. Look out for lorry loads of antique cabinets, chairs and benches from Hungary, as well as beautiful vintage linen sheets, fresh from France. With up to 1,700 stands to peruse, there is also a good number of indoor stalls, housed in agricultural buildings and offering everything from fine china and silver to postcards and prints. Tuesday entry costs £20; Wednesday entry costs £6.
- Where: Newark Showground, Lincoln Road, Coddington, Newark NG24 2NY
- When: Thursdays and Fridays on various dates through the year
- Website: iacf.co.uk/newark
A favourite for serious dealers and buyers, this monthly fair is the largest event of its kind in Europe, playing host to as many as 2,500 stands that are spread across the 84-acre showground. Attracting the likes of John Evetts, the Landmark Trust’s furnishing consultant, as well as legions of designers and design enthusiasts, the two-day fair is renowned for its diverse offering – from fine antique furniture and oil paintings to chandeliers, rugs and garden ornaments. What better way to start a long weekend? Thursday entry costs £20; Friday entry costs £6.
- Where: Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN
- When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on various dates through the year
- Website: iacf.co.uk/shepton-mallet
Just over 25 miles from Bristol, this is an absolute trove with more than 600 stands spread across four halls. It’s a firm favourite of Patrick Williams of Berdoulat, who lives nearby in Bath. ‘It’s got a good selection of most things,’ he says. ‘We collect meat plates and picked up a stack of Burleighware there once.’ Friday entry costs £10; Saturday and Sunday entry costs £6.
- Where: Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 5AQ
- When: The second and last Tuesday of every month
- Website: sunburyantiques.com/kempton
A favourite for Londoners due to its proximity to the capital – it’s only about a half-hour drive from west London – Sunbury Antiques Market (often simply referred to as Kempton) brings together over 700 dealers, selling everything from stoneware jam pots and galvanised watering cans to 19th-century tub chairs and mid-century sideboards. It’s easy to reach by train and equally easy to organise a courier to ship your purchases to your home if you don’t have a car to carry them away in. Entry between 6.30am and 8am costs £5; free admission for the rest of the day.
- Where: Wetherby Racecourse, York Road, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS22 5EJ
- When: Weekends on various dates through the year
- Website: jaguarfairs.com/wetherby
Within striking distance of York, Harrogate and Leeds, this popular weekend fair offers both indoor and outdoor stalls and takes place six to eight times a year. The emphasis is on vintage rather than antique, and along with furniture and decorative pieces, there is also an excellent range of agricultural items, reflecting the area’s rural heritage. Indoors, you will find glassware, ceramics, jewellery and prints, while larger items tend to be displayed outdoors. It’s friendly and down to earth, with attractive prices. Saturday entry costs £7 between 8am and 9am; entry costs £6 after 9am on Saturday and all day on Sunday.
- Where: Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6NW
- When: On select Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays through the year
- Website: b2bfairs.co.uk/malvern-flea-collectors-fair
Set against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills, this sprawling one-day flea market – the largest in the UK – is held nine times a year. Spread across two exhibition halls, several sheds, as well as outdoors around the showground’s perimeter, it offers a diverse range of pieces, from garden pots and taxidermy to enamelware and studio pottery. Entry costs £6.
- Where: Camden Passage, London N1 8EA
- When: The main market days are Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday with various markets and stalls operating on other days
- Website: camdenpassageislington.co.uk
This charming pedestrianised street in Islington plays host to three outdoor markets in one place (and often at the same time): Camden Passage Market, Charlton Place Market and Pierrepont Arcade Market. There’s a huge array of pieces available, from antique door knobs to traditional bone-handled knives from Stoke-on-Trent. It’s a calm and understated affair, especially if you arrive early. The different markets operate on different days and these do vary, so it’s also worth checking before you plan your visit. camdenpassageislington.co.uk
- Where: Lincolnshire Showground, Grange-de-Lings, Lincoln LN2 2NA
- When: Wednesdays on various dates through the year
- Website: asfairs.com/locations/lincoln
Something of an antique extravaganza, this one-day midweek fair hosts thousands of stands across the 200-acre showground. Taking place a few months a year, it attracts international dealers and buyers, as well as casual collectors. Head to buildings for delicate decorative items, such as glassware and silver and the marquees for fine furniture and art. The outdoor stalls offer a pleasing array of rustic pieces, kitchenware and garden items. Entry costs £15 for trade buyers between 7am and 9am; £5 for public buyers from 9am onwards.
- Where: Evolution London, Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ
- When: One week three times a year (spring, autumn and winter)
- Website: decorativefair.com
You will often hear interior designers say they picked something up ‘at Battersea’, and by this they usually mean The Decorative Fair. Held for a week three times a year, the fair celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and continues to draw crowds of industry insiders with its eclectic mix of furniture, lighting, decorative pieces, art and textiles (as well as jewellery and bags), showcased by more than 100 specialist dealers. ‘It has helped demystify the art of buying and selling antiques,’ says interior designer Mary Graham of Salvesen Graham. ‘It shows how styles can sit together, reinforcing our belief that if a piece is well designed and well made, it’ll work in any scheme. We’ve bought many pieces over the years; everything is so good, you can’t wait around.’ Tuesday entry costs £20; Wednesday to Sunday entry costs £10 and is free from 4pm.
- Where: Venues and country estates across the UK
- When: Various dates
- Website: thecountrybrocante.co.uk/the-country-brocante-fairs
Founded by Lucy Haywood in West Sussex around 15 years ago, this charming country fair started as a small monthly village-hall market and has grown into a popular interiors show held in some spectacular locations. There are always plenty of very lovely new pieces created by talented British and European makers, but head to the dedicated decorative antiques marquee to find established dealers selling distinctive pieces of furniture, soft furnishings and other homeware. It’s also a wonderful excuse to visit some of the country’s loveliest estate and gardens. The next fair is taking place in the walled garden at Cowdray in West Sussex on Saturday March 28, 2026. Entry at 10am costs £15 in advance (£20 on the day); entry from 12pm costs £8 in advance (£10 on the day).
