11 Best Markets in Manchester

Arndale Market in Manchester’s city centre is known for its diverse mix of street food stalls. Aside from classic British comfort foods, you can find cuisines from all around the world. Mexican, Chinese and Asian fusion are just some of the many dishes available at this food market.

Standouts of Arndale Market include Salt & Pepper, Pancho’s Burritos, Suppa and Fusion Lab. If you want to whip up your own meal, the market also stocks fresh produce by local fishmongers and butchers, as well as veggie and fruit sellers.

Grub is a trendy street food market at Red Bank Project, located in Manchester’s Green Quarter. It has an event space and eco-friendly beer garden. Anyone looking to grab a cold pint should book a table at Grub. Its lively and breezy environment makes it a great hangout spot for friends and families.

If you’re vegan, don’t miss Grub’s Plant-Powered Sundays. A handful of local businesses gather every week to serve vegan-friendly street foods and drinks. Grub doesn’t have an entry fee. Best of all, you can bring your children and dogs to this market.

Located in South Manchester, Levenshulme Market is a community-led initiative that takes place annually from March to December. Every Saturday, you’ll get a carefully selected line-up of local traders selling vintage clothes, homeware, street food, plants, books and more.

Week after week, the organisers of this community market will refresh the line-up of traders, so you’ll have something new to look forward to. Families will enjoy Levenshulme Market as it hosts live music and family-friendly activities, such as face painting.

The Northern Quarter Makers Market features an eclectic mix of well-loved and new Manchester-based creatives. Every 2nd Sunday of the month, artists, bakers, crafters, musicians, and creative minds come here to showcase their products.

At the Northern Quarter Makers Market, you’ll find a variety of homemade dishes and snacks. Standouts include doughnuts from Manchester Doughnut Co, vegetarian pies from Cumbrian Pie Company, and traditional biltong from Gavin’s Biltong. Souvenir-worthy trinkets and gifts also abound in Makers Market. You have a variety of authentic Manchester products to take home, from bespoke ceramics and artisanal soaps to handcrafted greeting cards. 

The Street Food Market at Piccadilly is a hub for global dishes in Manchester. It has more than 18 food vendors specialising in cuisines from all around the world – China, Mexico, Spain, and the Caribbean, just to name a few.

This open-air street food market is in central Manchester, making it a great place to refuel while you’re sightseeing. Whether you’re craving Indian curries, dim sum, or Yorkshire pudding wraps, you can find it at this food market. The Street Food Market at Piccadilly is usually closed during the holidays, from late December to mid-January.

Affleck’s, once known as Affleck's Palace, is an indoor market in the Northern Quarter of Manchester. Filled with small, independent shops and intriguing little boutiques, it's an ideal place to go if you're looking for something special or unique.

Affleck’s is also a terrific spot for fashion shopping, with many of the market's stalls and stores dedicated to urban and street-style clothes like slogan tees. You can find a lot of great value buys here, with Affleck’s being a more budget-friendly alternative to some of the high street stores found in Manchester.

The Wythenshawe Market, which is made up of an indoor food hall and outdoor stalls, has been a staple of Manchester’s community for decades. Locals mostly come here to get speciality cheeses, baked goods, deli products, fresh produce, and irresistible fashion bargains from local businesses. It also has a handful of stalls selling knits, fabrics, and haberdasheries.

Although Wythenshawe Market is loved by locals, not many tourists know about it. Therefore, this hidden gem makes a great alternative to the more touristy food halls in Manchester.

The Altrincham Market attracts locals in droves with its freshly baked goods and handmade crafts. It has an indoor food hall with many tables and chairs, as well as vendors selling drinks. The place gets packed quite fast and since it doesn’t accept reservations, you might want to get there as early as you can to secure a table.

Some of its stalls are manned by local artisans selling all kinds of handcrafted goods, from jewellery to ceramics. Altrincham Market is in one of the original market towns in Greater Manchester, about 10 miles southwest of Manchester city centre.

Stockport Market is the go-to place for local produce, cheeses, veggies, and meats in Stockport. It has been around since the 1860s, which is why it’s well-known among locals. It might not be as trendy as most Manchester markets, but it has plenty to offer for those on a budget.

Stockport Market is a great place for bargain-hunters to find a wide variety of affordable goods. Items range from clothes, greeting cards and second-hand books to vintage items and collectables. The area surrounding the market has a few coffee shops and a deli in case you want to grab a bite while in Stockport.

The West Didsbury Makers Market is where artisans gather in Manchester every last Sunday of the month. Held at the Withington Community Hospital, some of the city’s most talented bakers, musicians, illustrators, designers, and photographers in the community come here to showcase their goods and services.

Makers Market is made up of a diverse group of creative minds. Shops like Treasure Maker and Ruslyn Wood Creations specialise in handmade wooden creations. Foodies can check out The Pastry Chef, Pudding and Pie and The Manchester Smoke House, all of which can whip up full hearty meals, freshly baked bread, and pastries.

The award-winning Bury Market occupies a 200,000-sq-ft venue in the town of Bury, about 11 miles north of Manchester. It has a fish and meat hall, an open-air market, and an indoor hall. In the open market alone, you have over 300 stalls to explore, many of which sell food. You can indulge in a full English breakfast, Greek mezes, and other delicacies while you’re shopping for clothes, shoes, and souvenirs.

The indoor market has 60 stalls offering a range of goods and services, such as clothing, hardware, hairdressers. As for the fish and meat hall, you’ll find no shortage of fresh ingredients from high-street butchers and fishmongers.