The Best Independent Shops in Durham

Durham may be a small city, but it has a rich seam of independent shops, most of them clustered within a few minutes' walk of the Market Place. From a Victorian covered market full of local traders to vintage boutiques and family jewellers on the old medieval streets, here is where to shop local in Durham.

The Market Hall

The heart of independent Durham is the Market Hall, the Victorian covered market on the Market Place that has served the city for more than 170 years. Inside you will find more than forty local traders, among them The Record Shed for vinyl, CDs and retro games, Market Hall Wines for fine wines, craft beers and small-batch spirits, and BookWyrm, an independent bookshop specialising in LGBTQ+ titles and small presses. Look out too for the Market Cheese and Deli, The Plant Man for houseplants, The House of Eden for gifts and candles, and How Bazaar for Turkish homewares.

Saddler Street and the old city

The medieval streets winding up towards the Cathedral are lined with independents. Circle Vintage, in a listed building on Saddler Street, is a family-run treasure trove of handpicked vintage clothing from the 1920s onwards. Nearby, The Mugwump has been selling glassware, ceramics, gifts and womenswear since 1966, while The People's Bookshop, tucked up an alleyway off Saddler Street, is a much-loved independent and largely second-hand bookshop. Gavin Shelley Jewellery has its bespoke workshop at Saddlers Yard, just off the street.

Elvet Bridge

Cross towards Elvet and you will find more longstanding names. Bramwells, on Elvet Bridge, is one of Durham's oldest family jewellers, established in 1897 and dealing in fine and pre-owned jewellery and watches. A few doors along, Woven is an award-winning independent gentlemen's outfitters offering British brands, made-to-measure and in-house tailoring.

Food, drink and makers

For something to take home, Claypath Delicatessen on Claypath is a deli, sourdough bakery and café rolled into one. Over at Prince Bishops Place, Elvet and Bailey is a gift shop run as a social enterprise, selling handmade prints, pottery and jewellery from more than forty local makers, and at Fowler's Yard, A Wing and a Bear is a natural dyeworks and British-wool shop with its own craft workshops.

Shopping local

Durham's independents are close enough to explore on foot in an afternoon, spread along the Market Place, Saddler Street, Elvet Bridge and Silver Street. Browse more places to eat and visit in our directory, or read our guide to things to do in Durham.