If you’re looking for New Forest markets, then the good news is there are plenty to choose from! Visit the weekly, farmer’s, and craft markets and you can pick up anything from fresh local produce with the New Forest Marque to clothing and accessories, gifts, or household items.
Shop in Lymington for a long high street lined with stalls, or head to Verwood on a rainy Friday to browse undercover. The area also offers monthly farmer’s markets, plus specialist events for anyone seeking handmade items, vintage goods or antiques.
It’s market day somewhere in the New Forest five days a week, with the exception of Thursday and some Sundays. Two local towns have markets on Wednesdays. There’s also a weekly craft market held in Lymington.
On, Saturdays you’re spoilt for choice with around 60 stalls on Lymington high street. Various farmer’s and craft markets also take place on some Saturdays and Sundays.
Whether you want to pick up picnic food, a new outfit for dining out, or something unique for your home to remind you of your visit, you can find it at the markets in the New Forest. Read on to discover them all!
New Forest Market Days
Weekly
- Christchurch Market – Monday
- Hythe Market – Tuesday
- New Milton Market – Wednesday
- Ringwood Market – Wednesday
- Verwood Market – Friday
- Lymington Market – Saturday
Farmer’s
- Lymington Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday (at the main market)
- New Milton Farmer’s Market – 2nd Saturday of the month
- Ringwood Farmer’s Market – Last Saturday of the month
Antiques, Arts and Crafts
- Pick ‘n’ Mix Craft Market – Lymington – Every Wednesday
- Antiques & Decorative Arts – Ringwood – Monthly on Saturday
- Artisan Market – Ringwood – Monthly on Saturday
- New Forest Maker’s Markets – Lymington, Lyndhurst & Fair Oak on weekends
Weekly Markets in the New Forest
Christchurch Market – Monday
- Where: High Street, Christchurch BH23 1AS
- When: Every Monday 9am to 4pm
- What: Fresh meat & fish, fashion, household goods, & more
Picturesque Christchurch, with its priory and castle and “where time is pleasant,” hosts my local market on Mondays. When you tire of the stalls, there are lots of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. The market itself is a fair size, too.
Discover what to do in Christchurch
Hythe Market – Tuesday
- Where: High Street, Hythe SO45 6AG
- When: Every Tuesday 9am to 3pm
- What: Fruit & veg, accessories, locally made fudge, & more
As well as the market, the waterside village of Hythe offers a Georgian high street, sweeping views over Southampton Water, pier rides, and ferry services to Southampton city centre.
New Milton Market – Wednesday
- Where: Station Road, New Milton BH25 6HY
- When: Every Wednesday 9am to 4pm
- What: Fresh local produce and other goods
This isn’t the biggest market in the New Forest, and if I’m being honest, nor is New Milton the most exciting town. But it is the easiest to get to by train. The market and town are also close to the beaches of Barton-on-Sea, and the plush Chewton Glen hotel.
Read about the best pubs in New Milton and Barton-on-Sea
Ringwood Market – Wednesday
- Where: High Street, Ringwood BH24 1JA
- When: Every Wednesday 8am to 3pm
- What: Farm-fresh produce and other wares
Like New Milton, the market in Ringwood is also held on a Wednesday. Ringwood has a nice high street, and also The Furlong shopping centre. The town is also convenient for Moors Valley Country Park, which I can highly recommend for nature walks through the woodland and kids’ play parks.
Verwood Market – Friday
- Where: Memorial Hall, Ringwood Road, Verwood BH31 7AA
- When: Every Friday 9.30am to 1pm
- What: Fresh produce, baked goods, gifts & crafts
The small weekly market in Verwood differs from those listed above because it’s held indoors. Verwood has a nice community feel, and there’s free parking at the venue. It’s near both Ringwood and Moors Valley.
Lymington Market – Saturday
- Where: High Street, Lymington SO41 9ZP
- When: Every Saturday 8am to 3pm
- What: Farmer’s market + plants, crafts, vintage goods, & more
Lovely Lymington is an elegant coastal town with the best high street for many miles (in my opinion, anyway). Wander the cobbled streets towards the sea and dip into the local eateries, pubs, and shops during your visit. This is the biggest New Forest market, taking over the whole high street.
Find out more about shopping in Lymington
Farmer’s Markets in the New Forest
Lymington Farmer’s Market
- Where: High Street, Lymington SO41 9ZP
- When: Every Saturday 8am to 3pm
- What: Fresh local produce market forming part of Lymington weekly market
New Milton Farmer’s Market
- Where: Station Road, New Milton BH25 6HY
- When: Second Saturday of the month, 9am to 1pm
- What: Meat, cheese, free range eggs, bread, cakes, pickles, preserves, & local honey
Ringwood Farmer’s Market
- Where: The Furlong, Ringwood BH24 1AT
- When: Last Saturday of the month, 10am to 2pm
- What: Meat, fish, cheese, eggs, vegetarian food, bakes, sweets, pickles, preserves, wine, & plants
New Forest Antiques, Arts & Crafts Markets
Pick ‘n’ Mix Craft Market – Lymington
- Where: United Reformed Church, High Street, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9AG
- When: Every Wednesday 10.30am to 3pm
- What: Different makers each week, + coffee & cake at the church cafe from 10am to midday
Antiques & Decorative Arts – Ringwood
- Where: The Furlong, Ringwood BH24 1AT
- When: Monthly on Saturdays in early March, May, July, September, November & December; 9.30am to 3.30pm
- What: Antiques; glass, leather & slate goods; retro & upcycled items; jewellery, pottery, sculpture, painting, mirrors, furniture & gardenalia
Artisan Market – Ringwood
- Where: The Furlong, Ringwood BH24 1AT
- When: Mid-monthly on Saturdays, 10am to 4pm
- What: Handmade food, arts & crafts, gifts, clothing & accessories, homeware, & wellbeing items
- Website
New Forest Maker’s Markets
New Forest Maker’s Markets are held on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm in Lymington’s Masonic Hall, and at the Community Centre in Lyndhurst. The dog friendly markets also take place at Fair Oak village hall on some Sundays, between 11am and 3pm.
The programme includes a summer fair and a Christmas craft market. You can find out upcoming market dates on the website.
New Forest Christmas Markets
Looking for Christmas markets in the New Forest? You’re in luck. Head to any of the local weekly markets listed above when Christmas is approaching, and you’ll find they’ve gone all festive.
It’s not only the New Forest markets where you can pick up decorative items, food, and gifts. The local high street shops – like those in Christchurch and Lymington in particular – can also be a rich and varied source of lovely gifts to fit all budgets.
Which New Forest Markets Will You Visit?
From a quick food-finding pitstop to a full day out in a New Forest town on market day, it’s well worth taking a look at the local markets while staying in the area.
If you want to find more places to shop beyond the local high streets, check out my guides to the top New Forest garden centres, the best farm shops in the New Forest, and even Minstead auction, a major weekly event held in the village hall.
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