North Weald Market — Local services in Epping Forest

North Weald Market has gotten smaller and more expensive, but a few tips: (1) don’t buy the first thing you see! You’ll find that the stalls closest to the start are more expensive than the stalls further in. It pays to be patient. (2) Try getting there early. On a Saturday it opens at 8am. Anytime between 8-9:30am is a pleasant time to go, but much past this the queue to get in is horrendous and the parking, while free, becomes difficult. Having said that, I have heard you can get cheaper deals towards the end of the day so that stalls don’t have to take stuff home with them. But I’ve always preferred a quieter experience. (3) A quick point on parking - make sure you know where you’ve parked! There’s no identifiable signs to help you find your car, so it would be best to park close to the grass or some kind of landmark like a gate/fence/path to help you - otherwise you’ll struggle as many others have! (4) Last tip, make sure you check prices on your phone. They aren’t as cheap as they used to be and naturally, they’re trying to make as much money as possible. So if you see something you like, either know what you normally pay for it or do a quick search online i.e. want a tub of Vanish, check the Asda website to make sure you’re getting a cheaper deal. Or want that perfume, do a quick Google search. It definitely pays to shop around!

Last few useful bits: It is children friendly (ish), but can get busy, so it’s harder for younger children, especially if they get lost, so be careful. Dogs are welcome. They do have toilets for men, women and disabled, and they are pretty good for public toilets, although I can imagine they get pretty grim as the day goes on.

Overall, not a bad little morning out. I would definitely recommend. There are bargains to be had and the place...

May 2024 Another cracking visit to the North Weald Market. Luckily we picked another super sunny day, so everyone had huge smiles on their faces after the months of rain and cold weather. It's grown even larger than before with more stalls at the entrance to the market from the parking area (which is huge). It's free parking and you'll always find a space. I counted three Chinese eateries this time, all good value for money and quick service. You need to expect to spend the day here. It's so large (Europe's largest market). There are three long avenues with stalls either side. We only managed to cover two thirds of the market on this visit. A word of warning though. It starts at 8.00 and they start to pack up around three so get there early. Also there are signs that dogs are no longer allowed.

September 2023. We were lucky to choose a warm sunny day to have another day out at this amazing market. It appears to have grown in size since we were here last. More stalls more excellent bargains and more places to eat. It's only eleven miles away from Enfield and well worth a visit. You will not be disappointed. There's plenty of free parking and clean toilets - even for the disabled. Take your radar key if you have one.

2022 Fantastic market full of characters with stalls to suit all tastes. Make a day of it - there's lots to see and plenty of places to eat and rest your feet. I can recommend the Royal Chinese Restaurant van. Good value food with lots of choice and generous portions. There used to be a regular car boot sale but haven't seen it since the pandemic - maybe it will return at some stage. Some stall holders come from hundreds of miles away to make this Europe's Largest market. Well worth a visit. You won't be...

We are beyond disappointed with North Weald Market. After a 2-hour journey—with friends who we brought along specifically to show them the market—we were turned away at the entrance simply because we had our dog with us. Seriously? An open-air market, and dogs are not allowed? Is this a joke?

We’ve been coming here for years with our dog, always spending generously and enjoying the day. Suddenly, dogs are banned with no clear signage or prior notice? This is not only ridiculous but feels like a slap in the face to loyal customers—especially in a country that prides itself on being pet friendly.

Why are responsible dog owners being punished like this? There was no consideration, no courtesy, just a blunt "no dogs allowed." Well, if that’s the policy now, you’ve just lost several loyal customers. We won’t be returning, and we’ll be making sure others know as well.

North Weald Market used to be a great day out. Now it’s just another place that doesn’t care about...