TWO seaside markets in Wales have been named amongst the top 10 in the UK, according to new research.
Famous for its Welsh cakes, Swansea Market ranked first in Wales and second across the country, closely followed by Abergavenny Market in sixth place overall.
For locals – or frequent visitors – it will come as no surprise that Swansea Market ranked so highly. Celebrated for being the largest indoor market in Wales, its award-winning stands offer everything from antiques to live music entertainment.
Meanwhile Abergavenny Market, 42 miles away is known for its trading history and vibrant atmosphere, with a selection of indoor and outdoor stalls where you can find local produce and even musical instruments on sale.
Researchers identified the top UK coastal markets by analysing 32 markets in coastal locations on a number of factors, including Tripadvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags, TikTok views and Google searches which were weighted to establish a final index.
With Google searches for ‘seaside markets near me’ skyrocketing by 168.29% in the last three months alone, compared to the three months before, the study by market stall gazebo suppliers, Gazeboshop, aims to give Brits a comprehensive list of the best seaside markets to visit over the summer.
Racking up over 56,900 views on TikTok and receiving a review score of 4.5 on Tripadvisor, Swansea Market is held Monday to Saturday 8am – 5pm, with seafood delicacies, retro games and a garden area to enjoy under their impressive glass-roof.
One visitor took to Tripadvisor to praise Swansea Market, commenting: “This traditional market is easy to find, offers a good range of stalls with something to interest most shoppers. The fresh fruit and veg is particularly good and the centre stalls are not to be missed, especially the local cockles. If you visit Swansea you should come to the market and enjoy the atmosphere, there are few better markets left in the UK.”
With another adding: “I don’t often leave reviews for indoor markets, but this is a good one. It’s great to stroll around on a wet day. Wish we had something similar where we live!”
Representing the North East, the analysis revealed that Tynemouth Market is the best seaside market in the UK, with Swansea Market following in second place and Fleetwood Market in Lancashire taking third for the different ranking factors.
The top 10 UK seaside markets ranked
| Rank | Market Name | Location | Tripadvisor reviews | Instagram hashtags | TikTok views | Google searches (per month) |
| 1 | Tynemouth Market | Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear | 4.5 | 27,560 | 1,400,000 | 8,100 |
| 2 | Swansea Market | Swansea, (W) | 4.5 | 4,896 | 56,900 | 3,600 |
| 3 | Fleetwood Market | Fleetwood, Lancashire | 4 | 294 | 34,100 | 6,600 |
| 4 | Brighton Open Market | Brighton, East Sussex | 4 | 8,239 | 40,000 | 3,600 |
| 5 | Clevedon Market | Clevedon, North Somerset | 4 | 811 | 6247 | 5,400 |
| 6 | Abergavenny Market | Aberdovey, Gwynedd (W) | 4.5 | 1,653 | 6159 | 2,900 |
| 7 | Deal Saturday Market | Deal, Kent | 4 | 799 | 585 | 3,600 |
| 8 | Southport Market | Southport, Merseyside | 3.5 | 2,032 | 74,800 | 4,400 |
| 9 | Sheringham Market | Sheringham, Norfolk | 5 | 28 | 284 | 590 |
| 10 | Lymington Saturday Market | Lymington, Hampshire | 4.5 | 1,912 | 447 | 1,300 |
Next in the coastal market rankings came Brighton Open Market then Clevedon Market in Somerset was named the fifth best in the UK.
Commenting on the study, Luigi Pannozzo, managing director at Gazeboshop, said: “We feel it’s important to support the independent businesses at these markets. They sit at the very heart of each community, not only contributing to the growth and reputation of the local area but providing unique and memorable gifts for those who enjoy browsing the stalls.
“For this reason, our research comes at the perfect time for families and friends looking to organise some fun activities over the summer holidays. With more and more people searching for nearby seaside markets, this interest only grows over the warmer months and typically peaks in August so it’s well worth visiting the best spots before the school term starts back up again!”
To figure out where to head this summer, find out where your nearest seaside market ranks in the full list here.
