Shopping and Markets

Teesdale is a world away from city high streets. It is a great place to potter for souvenirs, work by local artists and fresh local produce. Family-run businesses offer a personal service.

The Teesdale Mercury is England’s last remaining independent newspaper.

Farm shops such as Thorpe Farm Peel House offer a range of local and exotic produce to suit all tastes.

And if you can’t resist a visit to the high street stores Teesdale is within easy reach of the bigger centres of Darlington (30 minutes), Durham (45 minutes), Newcastle/Gateshead and the Metro Centre (70 minutes) and York (90 minutes).

Speciality shopping

The historic market town of Barnard Castle is full of character and a joy to visit.

In this day of retail parks and shopping malls, it is refreshing to find a town which offers its visitors shopping as it was meant to be.

One of the best antiques centres in the North of Englans, Barnard Castle also offers a host of speciality shops specialising in providing traditional, top-quality merchandise with a truly personal service.

Barnard Castle is justifiably proud of its reputation for its excellent antique shops, many of which are located on "The Bank", a steep street leading downhill from the Market Cross with early 16th and 17th century buildings on either side. Together the shops can offer antique hunters a tremendous selection of furniture, books, decorative items, clocks, cutlery, ironwork, silver and jewellery.

Contemporary crafts and art, including ceramics and woodwork, are also on offer in many of Barnard Castle's shops.

Markets

A FARMA accredited Farmers' Market is held on the first Saturday of each month on the cobbles in the centre of Barnard Castle. Local producers gather to sell a wide range of quality fresh local produce.

Each Wednesday there is a weekly market in the centre of Barnard Castle offering an assortment of competitively-priced goods, from fruit and vegetables to clothing.