Totnes Saturday and Tuesday Markets: A Day-by-Day Guide
Markets are part of how Totnes works. The town has held a charter market for nearly 800 years, and although the original site has shifted and the goods have changed, the rhythm is the same: certain days, certain spaces, certain traders. This guide breaks down what runs when, so you can plan a visit around the markets that suit you.
Friday and Saturday: The Main Market
The main weekly market trades on Friday and Saturday from 9am to 4pm in the Civic Square behind the Civic Hall. This is the broadest of the Totnes markets, with stalls covering fresh food, vintage and second-hand clothing, plants, household goods, books, jewellery and what might charitably be called bric-a-brac. Saturday is the busier day, with the largest number of stalls and a noticeable lift in the surrounding High Street footfall.
Come early on a Saturday if you want first pick of the vintage and used books, or arrive after lunch when prices on perishable food can drop. Friday tends to be quieter and is a good option if you prefer to browse without crowds. Both days are weather-dependent for the open-air stalls, although the covered colonnade keeps part of the market trading whatever the weather.
Tuesday: The Elizabethan Charity Market
From May through to September, the Totnes Elizabethan Society holds a weekly Charity Market in the Market Square on Tuesdays from 9am to around 3pm. The distinguishing feature is the costume. Stallholders dress in Tudor-era clothing, and the market raises money for local charities. The tradition has run since 1970 and is part of the town’s celebration of its Elizabethan heritage.
Expect a smaller market than the Friday and Saturday operation, with a strong focus on crafts, baked goods, plants and charity stalls. It is one of the most distinctively Totnes things you can do on a summer Tuesday, and the costume is a genuine novelty rather than a tourist gimmick, with the same families and society members taking part year on year.
Second Tuesday: Indoor Artisan Market
On the second Tuesday of each month from April to November, Totnes Town Council runs an Indoor Artisan Market in the Civic Hall. The format showcases over 20 local makers under one roof, with jewellery, knitted toys, handmade chocolate, clothes and textiles, cards and prints, mosaic art and dried flowers all regulars. The market runs in daytime hours and is a good wet-weather option.
First and Third Sunday: Food and Craft Market
The Totnes Sunday Food and Craft Market trades on the first and third Sundays of the month from 10am to 3pm in the Civic Hall Square. It mixes artisan food traders with handmade gifts and homeware. Coffee, hot food and live music are usually part of the offer, which makes it a sociable place to spend a Sunday morning. The format has been growing steadily and is now a fixture of the Totnes calendar.
Seasonal: Christmas Markets and Late Night Shopping
The Totnes Christmas Market and Late Night Shopping runs on three consecutive Tuesday evenings in December, from 3pm to 9pm. Over 70 artisan stalls fill the town centre, joined by free street performers, community choirs and live music. The Civic Hall hosts an indoor covered gift market on the same evenings, and the High Street independents stay open late. The third Tuesday usually coincides with the Totnes Carnival Lantern Parade, which starts at the Rotherfold and works through the town to the Plains.
Practical Notes for Market Visitors
Cash is still useful at the markets, particularly the smaller stalls, although most regular traders now accept card payments via portable readers. Bring a sturdy bag if you plan to buy fresh produce or plants. The Civic Square is cobbled, which can be slippery in wet weather; sensible shoes are sensible advice.
Parking on market days fills early. The nearest pay-and-display car parks are Heath Way (TQ9 5GA), the Lamb (TQ9 5UH) and Longmarsh (TQ9 5LJ). For market Saturdays in summer, consider arriving by train; Totnes station is a 15-minute walk uphill into town. The market and Civic Square are step-free from the main entrance, although some traders set up on slightly raised platforms.
Building a Market Day
A good Totnes market day combines the market itself with a slow walk up the High Street and a stop for lunch. From the Civic Square you can wander down to the Plains for coffee, follow the river path along the Dart, or climb to the castle for the view. If you want to time a visit to catch the most markets in one day, aim for a Tuesday in June or July when the Elizabethan Market, the second-Tuesday artisan market (if dates align) and the regular High Street shops are all in full swing.