How we choose and check our guides

By The Off to the… team

A good market trip starts with the right details. We bring the dates, journeys and places to stay together so you can spend less time piecing them together yourself.

Why these markets?

We look for markets that give readers a clear reason to travel: a distinctive setting, independent makers, regional food or a useful addition to a city break. Our verdicts are editorial judgements. They are not awards, rankings based on visitor surveys or claims that we have personally visited every event.

We include smaller events alongside the big city names. A short trading run can be worth planning around, but it belongs clearly in the dates rather than buried in the small print. Separate venues in the same city keep their own arrangements.

Where the facts come from

Organisers, councils and official destination bodies are our starting points for market dates, opening hours, admission and trader lists. Transport operators supply timetable information. Hotel websites supply property details; walking estimates use mapped pedestrian routes.

Sources are linked in the guides. A map pin locates a place, not a guaranteed accessible entrance. A photograph shows the place or food described; it does not establish this season’s menu or stall layout. We credit licensed photographs and identify earlier market photographs by year.

Keeping the guides current

Each guide carries an update date. We revise a page when we review its information or receive a correction supported by a reliable source. We avoid promising a daily check or a fixed update schedule. Event arrangements can change between reviews, so use the linked official page before booking something that depends on a particular date or facility.

Last year’s information

Sometimes the new trader list has not been published. Useful examples from an official previous-season list are labelled with their year. A “2025 favourite” means exactly that; it is not a booking for 2026. Local food specialities are labelled separately from confirmed market traders. When we cannot support a named maker list, we leave it out.

Our accommodation links

We may earn a commission when a reader books through an accommodation link, at no extra cost to them. That does not change the market facts or buy a place in our editorial verdict. Our suggestions are based on the published property details and location, not a claim that we have inspected every room.

Accommodation links use CJ publisher ID 101912157. Read the affiliate disclosure for their status. Always read the provider’s total price, cancellation terms and room details before paying.

Put us right

If you spot an error, send us the page address and the detail that needs changing. Include an official source where possible. Accessibility corrections are especially useful when they name the venue and route or facility. We can correct our guide; tickets, refunds and event assistance remain with the organiser.