Durham Market Hall

About Durham Market Hall

Durham Market Hall is a Victorian covered market at the centre of the city's Market Place, close to the cathedral and the main shopping streets. Following restoration in the 1990s, its handsome ironwork interior now houses a wide mix of independent stalls, from butchers, bakers and delicatessens to gifts, crafts, jewellery and specialist retailers.

The hall is a long-standing part of Durham life and a good place to find local produce and one-off items away from the high-street chains. Regular outdoor markets and seasonal events run alongside it in the surrounding Market Place. Open Monday to Saturday, it offers a sheltered, characterful shopping experience and remains an important home for small traders rooted in the local community.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature Durham Market Hall.

Christmas Lights Switch-On in Durham 2026

Durham Christmas Sparkle, the city's Christmas lights switch-on, is on Sunday 29 November 2026 from 5pm to 6.15pm in the Market Place. It is free, run by Durham BID, and falls the weekend before the Christmas Festival.

Find a Tutor in Durham

From Kumon at Neville's Cross and free university student tutoring to evening language courses, youth theatre and guitar lessons in the Market Hall, here is how to find a tutor in Durham.

Christmas Markets in Durham

Durham Christmas Festival runs from 4 to 6 December 2026 across Palace Green, the Cathedral Cloisters, the Market Hall and the Market Place, with a ticketed craft marquee of over 180 stalls and a lantern parade on the Sunday.

The Best Butchers in Durham

A guide to the independent butchers in and around Durham City, from award-winning family shops to the traditional stalls in the Market Hall.

The History of Durham's High Street and Historic Shopping Streets

From the medieval Market Place to Silver Street, Saddler Street and the Victorian Market Hall, a guide to the streets where Durham has shopped for nearly a thousand years.

Supermarkets and Food Shopping in Durham

Where to do the weekly shop in Durham, from the big retail-park superstores at Dragonville and Arnison to the Victorian market hall for fresh and local produce.

Historic Trades and Crafts of Durham

Durham gave the world its famous mustard, built organs for Westminster Abbey and wove carpets by the Wear. A guide to the city's historic trades and crafts.

A Rainy Day in Durham: Indoor Things to Do

When the weather closes in, Durham has plenty to keep everyone happy indoors, from the cathedral and museums to soft play, a bouldering wall and a cinema in the heart of the city.

Free Things to Do in Durham

Durham is one of England's most rewarding cities to enjoy on no budget at all, from the free-to-enter cathedral to riverside walks, the market and city-skyline views from Wharton Park.

The City of Durham Show Returns After 25 Years

A group of local residents is reviving the traditional City of Durham Show, more than two decades after it last ran, with a free day of produce, craft and baking at the Town Hall on Sunday 13 September.

Things to Do in Durham

From the World Heritage cathedral and castle to riverside walks, museums and the Victorian market hall, here is our guide to the best things to do in Durham.

The Best Bakeries in Durham

Fresh bread, pastries and proper cake. Our guide to the best bakeries and patisseries in Durham, from a French patisserie to a market-hall bakery and a Claypath deli.

The Best Independent Shops in Durham

Durham is full of independent shops, most within a few minutes of the Market Place. Our guide to the Victorian Market Hall, Saddler Street vintage, family jewellers and local makers.

A Weekend in Durham

How to spend a perfect two days in Durham, from the World Heritage cathedral and castle to riverside walks, independent restaurants and the Victorian market hall.

Durham on a Budget: A Student's Guide

Some of the best things about Durham are free or cheap, from the cathedral and riverside walks to the museums and the market. A student guide to the city on a budget.