Much Wenlock's fayre brings about 150 stalls on Saturday 5 December. Ludlow has four Christmas markets and Shrewsbury Square has fairs from 14 November.

Shropshire’s biggest Christmas market day is the Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre on Saturday 5 December, with around 150 stalls and a candlelit procession to finish. The same weekend, Gander’s market fills the Square in Shrewsbury and Walcot Hall holds its market on the Sunday. Ludlow runs four Christmas markets on Castle Square and a market every Tuesday in December.

Every date below comes from the organiser’s own website, read on 6 October 2026.

The quick answer

  • Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre: Saturday 5 December, 10am to 5pm, about 150 stalls, free entry. Park and ride is £5 a car.
  • Shrewsbury, the Square: artisan fairs on 14 November and 12 December, Gander’s Christmas Market on 5 and 6 December, and the farmers market’s Christmas Market on 18 and 19 December.
  • Ludlow, Castle Square: Christmas markets on 29 November, 3, 13 and 24 December, plus Tinsel Tuesday markets on 1, 8, 15 and 22 December.
  • Craven Arms: the Frost Fair, 14 and 15 November, free.

Every date, in order

Date Market Where Hours
Sat 14 and Sun 15 Nov Frost Fair Discovery Centre, Craven Arms 10am to 4pm
Sat 14 Nov Made in Shropshire Artisan Fair The Square, Shrewsbury 9am to 5pm
Sat 21 Nov Farmers Market Winter Fair The Square, Shrewsbury Not yet published
Sun 29 Nov Ludlow Christmas Market Castle Square, Ludlow Not yet published
Tue 1, 8, 15, 22 Dec Tinsel Tuesday Castle Square, Ludlow Not yet published
Thu 3 Dec Ludlow Christmas Market Castle Square, Ludlow Not yet published
Fri 4 Dec Christmas Live Oswestry town centre From 5pm
Sat 5 Dec Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre Much Wenlock 10am to 5pm
Sat 5 and Sun 6 Dec Gander’s Christmas Market The Square, Shrewsbury 10am to 4pm
Sun 6 Dec Walcot Hall Christmas Market Lydbury North 11am to 4pm
Sat 12 Dec Made in Shropshire Artisan Fair The Square, Shrewsbury 9am to 5pm
Sun 13 Dec Ludlow Christmas Market Castle Square, Ludlow Not yet published
Fri 18 and Sat 19 Dec Farmers Market Christmas Market The Square, Shrewsbury Not yet published
Thu 24 Dec Ludlow Christmas Market Castle Square, Ludlow Not yet published

Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre: Saturday 5 December

The organisers confirm the 2026 fayre for Saturday 5 December, 10am to 5pm, with around 150 stalls as well as the town’s own shops. Entertainment runs around the town through the day, and it ends with a candlelit procession down the High Street and carol singing on the Square. Entry is free (Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre).

The 2026 entertainment list is not out yet. The fayre’s entertainment page still shows the 2025 programme, which had fair rides on the High Street and the Back Lane car park, a face painter on Church Green, Santa’s grotto from 11am to 3pm, and a Christmas tree festival with the bell tower open in Holy Trinity Church (Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre).

Parking is the hard part. The fayre’s parking page, which carries no year, says some public car parks in the town are closed to the public on the day and charges £5 a car at the official car parks. Bring the right change.

  • Park and ride: William Brookes School, Farley Road, TF13 6NB, and Grange Fencing, TF13 6DD. Buses run continuously from 9.30am to 6pm and you can ride as often as you like. They drop off and pick up at the Fox Inn at the top of the High Street.
  • Wenlock Motors, Bridge Road, TF13 6BB, is also listed as a public car park.
  • Wheelchairs: the William Brookes School bus has a lift. The other buses can take wheelchair users who can transfer to a seat.
  • Blue Badge holders: limited disabled spaces at William Brookes School, St Mary’s Lane and Falcons Court, and a drop-off point on the High Street outside Salon Ten, near the Fox.
  • Dogs: only guide dogs are allowed on the park and ride buses.

For anything else, the organisers’ line is 01952 727779 (Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre: parking). Lost children go to the main entrance of Holy Trinity Church, and first aid is on the Church Green behind the Guildhall (Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre: information).

Shrewsbury: five market days on the Square

Shrewsbury has no single council-run Christmas market. Instead, three organisers book the Square on different days.

  • Made in Shropshire Artisan Fair, Saturday 14 November and Saturday 12 December, 9am to 5pm, The Square, SY1 1SS. Handmade work by Shropshire artisans; the December fair is the last of the year (Made in Shropshire).
  • Shrewsbury Farmers Market Winter Fair, Saturday 21 November. The market lists the date but not the hours (Shrewsbury Farmers Market).
  • Gander’s Christmas Market, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am to 4pm both days, The Square, SY1 1LH. More than 50 independent makers selling ceramics, jewellery, candles, clothing, homeware and art, plus street food and mulled drinks; the food line-up is still to come. Free, no tickets. Dogs on leads are welcome, and Gander suggests bringing some cash as most but not all stalls take cards (Gander).
  • Shrewsbury Farmers Market Christmas Market, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December. The regular first-Friday farmers market also runs on Friday 4 December, 9am to 3.30pm (Shrewsbury Farmers Market).

Gander’s page talks about the Christmas lights being newly switched on that weekend. Shrewsbury Town Council has not yet announced its 2026 switch-on date; when it does, it will be on our Christmas lights page.

Ludlow: four Christmas markets and Tinsel Tuesdays

Ludlow Market, which Ludlow Town Council runs on Castle Square, SY8 1AX, lists Christmas markets on Sunday 29 November, Thursday 3 December, Sunday 13 December and Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December. It describes artisan stalls, lights and seasonal food (Ludlow Market).

On top of those, Tinsel Tuesday markets run every Tuesday in December up to Christmas: the 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd. Tuesday is normally the market’s day off (Ludlow Market).

The Christmas market listings do not give hours. The market’s usual hours are 9am to 4pm. The market office is on 07800 555 692.

The town’s Winter Festival runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November, so the first Christmas market falls on its last day. The festival programme is not yet published; what is known is on our Christmas lights page. Father Christmas is at Ludlow Castle on 5 and 6, 12 and 13, and 19 and 20 December, booked in time slots from 10am to 3.50pm (Ludlow Castle).

Craven Arms Frost Fair: 14 and 15 November

The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, School Road, SY7 9RS, holds its Frost Fair on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, 10am to 4pm. It is a craft fair of handmade Christmas gifts from Shropshire makers, with mulled wine and mince pies. Entry is free (Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre).

Walcot Hall: Sunday 6 December

Walcot Hall, Lydbury North, near Bishop’s Castle, holds its Christmas market on Sunday 6 December, 11am to 4pm, with local makers, artists, food and drink producers. The hall says tickets are “coming soon”, so the price is not yet known (Walcot Hall).

Oswestry Christmas Live: Friday 4 December

Oswestry has no separate Christmas market. Christmas Live, on Friday 4 December from 5pm, fills the town centre with fairground rides, Santa’s grotto, live music, entertainers, market stalls and late night shopping (Oswestry Town Council). The weekly street market runs every Wednesday and Saturday on the Bailey Head.

Wem’s and Shifnal’s switch-ons on Saturday 28 November both include Christmas market stalls; times and details are on our Christmas lights page.

Parking and getting there

In Shrewsbury, Gander points visitors to Frankwell and Abbey Foregate car parks and the park and ride. Tariffs, and which car parks are free on Sundays, are on our parking in Shropshire page. Check roadworks and travel before a December Saturday, when town centre traffic is at its heaviest.

Questions

Is the Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre on in 2026? Yes. The organisers have confirmed Saturday 5 December, 10am to 5pm.

Does Shrewsbury have a Christmas market? Yes, on several days rather than one long run: Gander’s on 5 and 6 December, the farmers market’s Christmas Market on 18 and 19 December, and Made in Shropshire fairs on 14 November and 12 December, all on the Square.

When is Ludlow Christmas market? Sunday 29 November, Thursday 3 December, Sunday 13 December and Thursday 24 December, on Castle Square, plus Tinsel Tuesday markets on 1, 8, 15 and 22 December.

Are the markets free? Much Wenlock, Gander’s and the Frost Fair are free to enter. Walcot Hall has not yet published ticket prices.

This page is updated as organisers publish hours and programmes. Running a Christmas market in Shropshire? Email hello@shropshiretoday.co.uk.

Sources