Additional December Market

St Albans Market is running a series of extra trading days throughout December, with the Additional December Market appearing on the 10th, 11th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st and 24th. It's not a separate Christmas market, but rather the usual market running on more days than it normally does. The council encourages festive traders to bring decorations, gifts and seasonal goods alongside the regular food and general stalls, and the mix of traders can change from one day to the next.

It's worth keeping in mind that St Albans Market is the city's central street market, and it's been here since around 860, when it was founded by Wulsin, the sixth abbot of St Albans. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the right to hold the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays was sold to the town in 1553 by letters patent from Edward VI, which also incorporated St Albans as a borough. These days it trades regularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, plus a second Sunday each month, with themed antiques and specialist days. On a typical day you'll find around 150 traders selling produce, gifts, homeware and international street food.

The December dates are just more of that, with the festive additions layered on top. You'll find the usual street food and general stalls, but with decorations, gifts and seasonal goods mixed in. Because the traders can vary from one day to the next, it might be worth popping back more than once if you're looking for something specific.

All these extra dates run from 09:00 to 15:00 at St Albans Market, across St Peter's Street and Market Place, AL1 3ED. There's no entry fee.