by Ethel Smith

Created on: February 04, 2008   Last Updated: February 05, 2008

Living in Kingston-Upon-Hull means that I have a city centre, with quite a fair amount of shops to visit, easily and quickly. However Hubby and I enjoy a jaunt to Beverley on a fairly regular basis and try to make many of those visits on a Saturday ,when the market is in full swing. If you travel to Beverley by bus you will find the market just around the corner from the bus station. These days we usually take the train which is a brief 11 minute journey from Hull, as opposed to the bus which takes up to 45 minutes. The train station is at the opposite end of Beverley to the Market but it is still within easy reach. Parking isn't too bad for drivers either.

For us, we either cut across and head straight for the market or make our way across from the train station to the Minster, which is very close by. From Beverley Minster there is a nice walk along a shopping area to the market. Part of this walk is pedestrianised and there are all the usual shops plus a few specialist ones and antique shops. One thing with Beverley is there are loads of book shops. Along this shopping area there are plenty of small cafes, pubs and snack shops. Here also you will come across the Wednesday Market site and there are usually a few stalls here on a Saturday also.

Beverley is a traditional Market Town, situated about 7 miles North of Hull and has managed to retain much of it's charm despite some building development. Beverley Market Place throughout the week is a large parking area. It is fringed by shops cafes and pubs. There is a pretty stone bandstand that has stood there as long as I can remember. Near here there is a second hand, come antique, sale-room located in the town's old swimming baths. There are loads of good antique shops wherever you look.

Around Christmas-time Beverley has a good display of lights and usually has a few 'rides' for the children in the Market Place. Approaching the Saturday Market from either direction I am always struck by the size of the market, for a small town, and the amount of visitors. If there is a race meeting at Beverley Racecourse the market gets even busier. The marketplace becomes a bustling hive of activity on a Saturday.

Like most traditional markets Beverley has a few of the more 'tacky' stalls these days. However there is a good diversity of stalls and it is possible to buy just about anything. The butchers van holds a meat auction throughout the morning and, although I never actually buy anything here, I find it fascinating. Meat sold

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