Doncaster Market: centuries of trading and a Wool Market full of street food

Few places capture a town's character quite like its market, and Doncaster's has been at the heart of local life for centuries. The market was first chartered in 1248, and its own history traces trading on the site back to Roman times, when a settlement grew up outside the walls of a Roman fort to trade with the garrison.

Originally the market was held in and around the church of St Mary Magdalene. In 1845 most of the old market buildings were demolished, and a new market hall designed by John Butterfield was built. The Corn Exchange, designed by William Watkins with red sandstone columns and a large lunette window, followed in 1870, and the complex was grade II* listed in 1950.

Today the market covers around a quarter of Doncaster's pedestrian city centre, with five large indoor halls surrounding extensive outdoor markets: the Wool Market, the Corn Exchange, the International Food Hall, the Fish Market and Goose Hill. It is a place for fresh local produce and street food, and has drawn praise from TV celebrity chefs.

The star of the show for many visitors is the Wool Market. Also designed by Butterfield and completed in 1863, the brick and iron hall was restored in 2019 to house food stalls as well as traders. During the renovations a medieval well was discovered under the floor, and it is now on show under glass.

Now billed as Doncaster's social culinary venue, the Wool Market has 10 street food traders and four bars, alongside an entertainment area with duckpin bowling, shuffleboard, AR darts, karaoke, a golf simulator and retro arcades. Children of all ages are welcome, and so are well-behaved dogs, with water provided.

The main market days for the International Food Hall, Fish Market, Goose Hill and outdoor stalls are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 8am to 4pm, with a selection of traders open on Wednesdays and Thursdays and a second-hand market on Wednesdays. The Corn Exchange opens Tuesday to Saturday, while the Wool Market opens from Wednesday to Sunday in term time, staying open until 10pm from Thursday to Saturday.

It is a wonderful mix of old and new. Opening times and venue hire details are on the Doncaster Market and Wool Market websites.