Following the suppression of the Guild of the Holy Cross, King Edward VI granted a charter of incorporation to the town of Stratford-upon-Avon on the 28th June 1553. The charter conferred on the inhabitants a borough constitution comprising the right to hold, and collect tolls from, a weekly Thursday market and two annual fairs.

At that time, most country dwellers wishing to exchange their farm produce for items they could not make for themselves, depended almost entirely on towns within a radius of five miles or so. As a result, places like Stratford-upon-Avon had fairs and a weekly market because it was particularly well-placed to serve as a market centre, due to the important crossing of the River Avon where several routes converged.

In 1819, the Charter Market was changed to a Friday under the authorisation of King George III. The reason for the change was to avoid competition with markets in other nearby towns.

Stratford-upon-Avon's historic Charter Market has been trading since 1196 and continues to thrive in the heart of the town every Friday and Saturday. You'll find an irresistible mix of street food, fresh fruit and vegetables, artisan bread, cheeses, olives, coffee, cakes, and patisseries. Alongside the food stalls, browse clothing, jewellery, handbags, flowers, gifts, and unique crafts. Open 52 weeks a year, the market offers a warm welcome and a personal shopping experience that keeps locals and visitors coming back.