Tuesday Market Place

Tuesday Market Place is the large, open square in the historic heart of King's Lynn, known as one of the most beautiful urban open spaces in England.

The square has existed since the Middle Ages and is probably the oldest of the two marketplaces in the city, with markets dating back at least to around 1400.

In the Middle Ages and the early modern period, large “marts” took place here: annual fairs with merchants from Germany and Italy, among others, but also public punishments such as hangings and the public shaming of criminals in the pillory.

Later, Tuesday Market Place got its name because the weekly market was held here on Tuesdays; that tradition still exists, although the offerings have become more modern.

Every Tuesday and during special events, the square is filled with stalls, and from April to September, a Merchants Market featuring local producers, artisan bakers, and crafters takes place on the last Saturday of the month. A very well-known tradition is the King's Lynn Mart: around Valentine's Day, Tuesday Market Place transforms for two weeks into a large fair with rides, lights, and music, a custom that has been going on for more than eight centuries.

Today, the square combines historic facades and cafes with parking and event space, with new paving and benches that refer to the local industrialist Frederick Savage, a pioneer of steam-powered fairground attractions.

Pascal Brackman