Oxford Covered Market: Shops, Food, History & Visitor Information

Located in the heart of Oxford, the historic Covered Market is one of the city’s most beloved landmarks, a bustling hub of independent vendors, cafés, bars, and craftspeople that’s been trading for nearly 250 years. Regardless if you are an Oxfordshire local or a visiting tourist, it’s a must see visit on your trip.

First opened in 1774, the Oxford City Council–owned site is home to more than 50 specialist traders, offering a uniquely Oxford retail experience. It’s a photogenic heritage site that is charming to browse, even if you’re not shopping.

Here, you can find everything from artisan cheese and handmade soaps to global street food and fine jewellery, all within a beautiful traditional setting of glass roofs, iron beams, and historic shopfronts.

The Covered Market is for the independents and personal service, small but special rather than big-brand retail.

Opening Hours

Many cafés and restaurants open earlier or stay open later, especially during evening events. Although some traders may close earlier, so check individual hours.

Tip: Best times for a quiet wander the Georgian-era building is early morning (around 9am on Saturdays); lunchtimes and weekends get busy and lively.

The Covered Market Shops & Traders

The indoor market’s charm lies in its variety of stalls offering an eclectic mix of food producers, craftspeople, and lifestyle retailers, all offering high-quality goods and personal customer service. The charming narrow lanes are like going back in time.

The Covered Market’s 50+ stalls blend heritage brands, family-run shops and new independents arriving all the time.

Categories include:

Eat & Drink

Arbequina (coming soon), Lula’s Ethiopian Café & Deli, Sasi’s Thai, Donburi Inn, Sartorelli’s Pizza, Pieminister, The Market Tap by Tap Social, Gulp Fiction, Moo-Moo’s Milkshakes, Ben’s Cookies, iScream Gelato, and The Market Cellar Door wine bar.

Produce & Specialities

Oxford Cheese Company, David John Butchers, The Garden of Oxford (florist), Colombia Coffee Roasters, Jemini Flowers, Cardew & Co Tea Merchants, and OxUnBoxed (zero waste store).

Lifestyle, Fashion & Crafts

The Oxford Soap Company, John Gowing Jewellers, Again Garments (vintage fashion), Leonard Jay tailors, Crystal Spirit Emporium, Y.O.U Underwear (B-Corp), Oxford Market Barbers, and Covered Arts & Framing Services.

Many of these vendors have been in the same family for generations, making this a living piece of Oxford’s retail history.

You can browse the full trader list via our interactive table below, information correct as of 10/10/25, please check official covered market website for updates

Food, Cafés & Bars

If you’re hungry, you’re in the right place for a quick bite or delicious sit down meal. The Covered Market’s restaurants and cafés serve flavours from across the globe, from traditional English breakfasts to Ethiopian platters, sushi, and Thai curries.

Tip: Peak lunch hours (12–2pm) are bustling; early lunch or mid-afternoon is quieter.

• Brown’s Café: Oxford’s favourite for hearty fry-ups and student hangouts.
• Georgina’s Café: An upstairs gem serving mezze, wraps, and coffee.
• Sasi’s Thai: Family-run institution for authentic, home-style dishes.
• The Market Tap by Tap Social: Craft beer and relaxed evening drinks.
• Gulp Fiction: Coffee, cocktails, and a love of good books.
• Ben’s Cookies: A sweet Oxford classic, freshly baked on site.

During late opening nights (Thurs–Sat), the market’s bars and restaurants come alive with music, comedy, and after-work gatherings, blending shopping, life, and leisure in one atmospheric area.

A Short History

Built in the 1770s and designed by architect John Gwynn (who also designed Magdalen Bridge), the market was originally created to bring Oxford’s outdoor traders under one roof and bring order to Oxford’s previously “untidy and unsavoury” street stalls.

It was part of a civic effort to modernise the city centre and improve hygiene, and it started with 20 butchers’ shops and quickly grew into a central marketplace supplying the city with meat, fish, and produce.

The original 1774 market was expanded in 1834–40, under Thomas Wyatt Jr., with further rebuilding and additions in the 1880s and 1890s. Many shopfronts were altered in later periods, but fragments of the original 18th and 19th-century façades remain.

Over time, it evolved into a thriving community site where generations of people have shopped, met friends, and enjoyed Oxford’s daily rhythm. Many of today’s traders, like Brown’s Café and David John Butchers, have served customers here for decades.

Restoration & Future Plans

Oxford City Council has committed to preserving this heritage site while ensuring it remains a vibrant space for the future.

• 2020–21: Oxford Preservation Trust restored historic units 46–48, uncovering 18th-century features like original floors and ironwork.
• 2023: A £6.87m regeneration plan was approved, with new public spaces, improved access, and sustainability upgrades.
• Evenings & Events: Regular night openings now feature local music, artisan markets, and craft workshops.

Sustainability & Local Life

Sustainability has long been part of the market’s DNA. Most vendors source locally, reduce packaging, and reuse materials wherever possible.

Recent traders like OxUnBoxed (zero waste) and Y.O.U Underwear (ethical fashion) reflect a growing eco-conscious ethos. The market also supports EAV bike deliveries for local shoppers, an innovative, green service delivering fresh produce and chilled items straight to your door.

Getting There

Architect John Gwynn designed the High Street frontage and its four graceful archways. Today, visitors can still enter through these original Georgian arches, or from Market Street and Golden Cross Alley, which links the market to Cornmarket Street.

The design was so successful that it’s now recognised as part of Oxford’s protected Grade II listed heritage.

📍 Address: Oxford Covered Market, Market Street, Oxford OX1 3DZ
📞 Telephone: 01865 252870

• By Foot: Right between High Street and Cornmarket, near St Michael’s Tower.
• By Bus: Major local stops (High Street, Queen Street, St Aldates, Gloucester Green) are all within a 5-minute walk.
• By Train: Oxford Station (10 minutes on foot).
• By Bike: Racks available along Market Street and Turl Street; easily accessed from the National Cycle Network.
• By Car: Use Park & Ride services (Seacourt, Pear Tree, Thornhill, Redbridge). Nearest parking is Gloucester Green or Westgate.

Accessibility & Amenities

• Step-free entrances at 7 of 8 points.
• Public toilets on Market Street have one step; nearest accessible toilets signed just outside the market.
• Blue Badge parking available on Broad Street (3-minute walk).
• Assistance dogs welcome.

Events & Experiences

Beyond shopping, the market hosts a full calendar of events that breathe new life into its centuries-old walls:

• Evening Markets: Music, comedy, and late-night shopping Thurs–Sat.
• Workshops: Crafts, cooking, and floral arranging with local artisans.
• Christmas Market: Twinkling lights and festive food each December.

Why Visit the Covered Market?

In recent years, Oxford City Council has invested heavily in preserving the market’s structure, including a £1.6 million restoration for roof repairs, paving, and signage improvements.

This commitment, alongside the upcoming £6.87m regeneration plan, shows that Oxford intends the market to remain the beating heart of the city’s retail and community life.