Description: One of the best things to do in Nelson is the weekly Saturday markets in Montgomery Square. Every Saturday morning the square fills up with stallholders from about 9 or 10am, depending on the weather. They open till 1pm and - unlike many other markets - they do seem to hang around until that time. The closing time for markets tends to be the time when the last stall packs away but this one keeps operating right up till it's time to go. Be warned though that if the weather is really bad (which is very rare indeed in Nelson) then the market may not show up at all, so if you're counting on it then check the weather in advance and cross your fingers that they weather forecast is actually right for a change.
There's a broad array of wares on offer. There's loads of food stalls, all offering different stuff - from chinese kebabs to french crepes and toasted nuts - and it all smells wonderful. It's very hard to choose from all the options on offer, but everything I tried was wonderful so whatever your choice I don't think you can go far wrong.
The stallholders are the same bunch every week and many of them have been coming for years. There's loads of handmade stuff, from jewellery to mustards, from furniture and ornaments to candles and honey. Many of these people are craftspeople and artists, so they're always very happy to discuss their products with you and the level of quality is very high indeed. There are magnificent works of art on display and beautiful woodwork too.
Don't miss the markets if you're around Nelson on a Saturday. It's well worth your time and you may well pick up a serious bargain if you have the time to browse around.
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