York Racecourse Car Boot Sale

York Racecourse hosts its car boot sale on Saturday 17 October, one of the final dates of the season. It's run by K & J Brown Promotions and is billed as York's largest car boot fair, filling the racecourse every Saturday from 28 March to 31 October, except on racing days when the track takes precedence. That means if you're planning a trip, it's worth double-checking the calendar — the sale doesn't run on racing Saturdays, which this year included 23 May, 13 and 27 June, 11 and 25 July, 22 August, and 10 October.

If you're selling, the early start is the thing to keep in mind. Gates open between 7.00am and 7.30am, and that's when the best pitches go, so arriving on the early side is a good shout. The sale itself wraps up at 1.00pm, with all sellers expected off the site by 2.00pm. If you're just coming to browse, you can park for free after 8.00am, and there are refreshments and toilets in the grandstand area if you need a break from the hunting.

It's a proper car boot in the traditional sense: people turning up with the backs of their cars open and a mix of whatever they've cleared out of the loft or garage. The scale of the racecourse gives it plenty of room to breathe, and the Saturday morning slot makes it an easy one to fit in. It's also caught the eye of the press over the years, with a Daily Express review and a piece by Stephen Wells for Source Vintage among its credentials.

For those selling, cars are £15, vans start from £18, and trailers from £3. General admission is free, so you can wander through without spending a penny. The whole thing is at York Racecourse, York YO23 1EX, and since it's one of the last Saturdays of the season, it's a good time to get out there before the winter break.