Overview

Over 800 traders attend the recently renovated Kirkgate Market, housed in impressive Edwardian buildings, which are famous for their ornamental dragons as well as the huge open air market outside.

Almost every type of foodstuff from the mundane to the exotic is available in this, the largest indoor market in Europe, and there is a wide array of specialist units selling leather goods, cosmetics, electrical equipment, motor accessories, greetings cards, bedding, lighting, Asian and Oriental foods, homebrew, china/earthenware, TV/radio/Hi-Fi, jewellery, DIY goods, fabrics, needlework goods, cake ingredients and many more.

Outside is the lively open-air market where Michael Marks first opened his Penny Bazaar (1884) which was to lead, ultimately, to the founding of Marks and Spencer, in 1890. Today the open-air market still offers goods at surprisingly low prices and some stall-holders are not averse to a spot of haggling.