I liked St Nicholas Market in Bristol’s historic centre.

It may seem a bit less organised than, say,Grainger Market in Newcastle, but I came across more locals there than tourists. Two days earlier, I’d been to Covent Garden in London, and the difference in atmosphere was noticeable.

The market is housed in the historic building of the former corn exchange.

🏨 Harbour Hotel & Spa Bristol – prices and availability – is situated on Corn Street, a short walk from the market entrance.

Opening hours and admission fees

St Nicholas Market is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm.

Entry is free.

Market	When	Opening hours
Covered market	Monday to Saturday	9.30 am–5.00 pm
Bristol Indies’ Market, outdoor stalls on Corn Street and Wine Street	Monday to Saturday	10.00–17.00
Street Food Market, outdoor food stalls on Wine Street	First Friday of the month	11:00–14:30

Before visiting the outdoor stalls, please check the current market schedule.

Where to eat and what to see

For lunch, head to the Glass Arcade.

You’ll also find food stalls here during the covered market’s normal opening hours.

At Matina’s, you can enjoy Kurdish bread with grilled meat or halloumi cheese.

Eat a Pitta offers falafel with hummus and pita bread.

Take a stroll through the narrow streets of the Covered Market, where you’ll find books, vinyl records and small gifts on sale.

Directly off Corn Street, you’ll find yourself in Exchange Hall, a spacious hall with stalls housed in a former 18th-century stock exchange building.

How to get to St Nicholas Market

St Nicholas Market is on Corn Street. It’s about a 15-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station.

After lunch, you can go for a stroll along Bristol Harbour.

If you’d like both the market and the harbour to be within walking distance, take a look at hotels in Bristol’s historic centre.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Bristol.