Planning a trip and wondering which cornwall farmers markets are worth your morning? Start with Truro on Wednesdays and Saturdays, St Ives on Thursdays, or Falmouth on Tuesdays, and check hours before you go.
If you are still planning the wider trip, our cornwall travel guide is a good place to start.
| Market | When it runs |
|---|---|
| Truro Farmers Market (Lemon Quay) | Every Wednesday and Saturday, 9am-4pm |
| St Ives Farmers Market (The Guildhall) | Every Thursday, 9.30am-2pm |
| Falmouth Farmers Market (The Moor) | Every Tuesday, 9am-2pm |
| Helston Farmers Market (Old Cattle Market) | First Saturday of each month, 9.30am-1pm |
| Bude Farmers and Craft Market (Lower Wharf) | Every Friday, 10am-3pm, from Easter until the last Friday in September |
These times come from the Great British Life round-up of farmers markets in Cornwall. Markets change their days, hours and seasons, so check the source and the market itself before you rely on the figures.
Truro, St Ives and Falmouth: the big weekly markets
Truro is the benchmark. Great British Life says Truro Farmers Market was set up in 1999 and takes over Lemon Quay every Wednesday and Saturday, 9am-4pm. Stallholders even follow a dress code.
St Ives trades every Thursday, 9.30am-2pm, at The Guildhall on Street an Pol, according to the same round-up. It is run by a not-for-profit community group called GULP, and all the produce comes from within 40 miles. Buskers play through the day.
Falmouth has its market on The Moor every Tuesday, 9am-2pm, and the Great British Life write-up calls it smaller than Truro. It still has a good blend of stalls and a friendly atmosphere. It suits you if you are staying near the harbour and want a quieter morning.
Penzance, Helston and the west Cornwall markets
Penzance holds its Farmers Market at St John’s Hall, where stallholders set up outside if the weather is good. Great British Life lists it every Friday, 9am-1pm, while the We Are Cornwall listing gives 9am – 2pm. Aim to arrive in the morning and you will catch it either way.
Helston is a monthly market. Great British Life says it is held at the Old Cattle Market on the first Saturday of every month, 9.30am-1pm. It has around 40 producers from within a 20-mile radius of the town.
Two smaller options are worth knowing. Great British Life lists the Mousehole Farmers Market for the second Saturday of every month, and the Camborne Produce Market for Fridays at Commercial Square. Both are easy to add to a day in west Cornwall.
Smaller and seasonal markets
Not every market runs all year or all week. These smaller markets reward you if their timing matches your trip:
- Bude: Great British Life lists a Farmers and Craft Market every Friday, 10am-3pm, from Easter until the last Friday in September. The We Are Cornwall listing says every other Friday, 10am – 2pm, so confirm before you travel.
- Callington: The Into Cornwall listing gives every Wednesday, 8.45am to 12 noon, at Callington Town Hall.
- Carnon Downs: It is held in the village hall on the last Saturday of every month and has around 30 stallholders, says Great British Life.
- Crackington Haven: The We Are Cornwall listing has a produce fair on the third Sunday of every month.
What to buy at a Cornwall farmers market
Go with a loose shopping list and let the stalls decide. The Great British Life market guide gives a clear sense of what each market is known for, and most of it travels well in a bag or a cool box.
- Truro: homemade bread, smoked fish, meat, duck eggs, cakes and olives, per Great British Life.
- Helston: jams, pesto, Cornish ale, pies, olives, eggs, chocolate, fresh crabs and home baked bread, per the same guide.
- St Ives: local food, meats, seafood, vegetables, baked goods and jams, per the same guide.
- Bude: sausages, pies, scones, chutneys, pickles, plus crafts such as ceramics and soap, per the same guide.
- Penzance: bread, cheeses, meat, fish and preserves, plus flowers and even goose eggs, per Great British Life.
If you want fish, Callington has a fish van that visits each morning (8.30-9.30am), according to Great British Life. The Into Cornwall listing also mentions seasonal fruit and vegetables, apple juice, local meat, cheese, eggs, cakes, preserves and honey there. Bring a bag for the heavier items.
Which market suits the day you have?
Match the market to the weekday and you can build a route without much planning. Use this as a starting point, then confirm the details.
- Tuesday: Falmouth.
- Wednesday: Truro and Callington.
- Thursday: St Ives.
- Friday: Penzance, Camborne and, in season, Bude.
- Saturday: Truro, plus monthly markets at Helston (first Saturday), Mousehole (second Saturday) and Carnon Downs (last Saturday).
How to check before you set off
Visit Cornwall TV notes that there are often seasonal changes in when and how often markets are held, and says it is always best to check before you make a trip. You can read that advice on the Visit Cornwall TV farmers markets page. The listings above disagree on Bude and Penzance, which shows why a quick check helps.
If you would rather build a trip around special events than weekly stalls, our guide to cornwall food festivals is the better fit.
A market morning also pairs well with an afternoon by the water, and our guide to fishing villages in cornwall is a good next step.
On a day with no market, a farm shop can fill the gap. A Toad Hall Cottages blog post says Trevaskis Farm on Connor Downs, near the port town of Hayle, holds daily markets from 8am to 8pm. Treat that as one neutral example rather than a recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Which Cornwall farmers market is the oldest?
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Great British Life describes Truro Farmers Market as one of the oldest, set up in 1999. It runs on Lemon Quay on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Can you buy fresh fish at the markets?
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Yes, in several places. Great British Life lists a fish van at Callington and smoked fish at Truro, and the same guide mentions fresh crabs at Helston (Callington, Truro and Helston).
Is there a farmers market on a Sunday?
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The We Are Cornwall listing includes the Crackington Local Produce Fair near Bude on the third Sunday of every month. Most of the larger markets above run on weekdays or Saturdays.
Do the markets run all year?
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Not always. Bude’s market runs from Easter until the last Friday in September, and Visit Cornwall TV warns that days and frequency often change with the season. Check with the market before you travel.
