With vendors selling locally produced food and charming arts and crafts, this square is a pleasant place to experience the sights, sounds and smells of Cambridge.
Cambridge Market Square is the beating heart of this quaint city. Here, stalls full of colourful fruit and vegetables stand beside plants, artwork and all sorts of second-hand goods. Make your way through the stands browsing the trinkets and shopping for food, with the impressive Church of St. Mary the Great in the background.
The plaza is also known as Market Hill and has been functioning since the Saxon era. It was once full of buildings, until a major fire in 1849 cleared the area. Take photos of the traditional market stalls with the church’s late Perpendicular-style spire towering over the square. The streets around the market are pedestrianized making it perfect for exploring on foot.
Peruse the stalls to discover some of Cambridge’s most talented painters, photographers and sculptors. Fresh fish, meat and health foods are also for sale. You’ll even be able to find second-hand bikes and kiosks full of old books and jewellery.
Be sure to check out the Gothic Revival fountain, which was built in 1855 on the spot where the Hobson’s Conduit waterway used to bring fresh water to the market. The original structure, which dated back to 1614, has been moved to south Cambridge.
If you visit Great St. Mary’s Church, which faces the plaza, make the ascent up the tower to look down at the elegant patterns of the stalls’ roofs. They are all white, with green, red and yellow lines.
The Cambridge Market Square is located in the heart of the city. Visit during the week and you’ll find that the bazaar resembles a traditional market. Go on Sundays, however, and you’ll be treated to a wider range of products, such as antique furniture and exotic food. After exploring the market, stop by the nearby Cambridge Tourist Information Centre to find out more about the city. The market is just a short walk from King’s College.
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