Surrey Street Market marks 750 years since its 1276 charter with a lunchtime party on Friday 13 November, 12 to 1pm: children singing and extra stalls.

Surrey Street Market will hold a birthday party on Friday 13 November, from 12 to 1pm, to mark 750 years of trading. Croydon Council announced the celebration on Thursday. It goes ahead rain or shine.

The market received its royal charter in 1276, the council said in its announcement. Generations of traders, residents and visitors have kept it going since, the council said.

What is happening on the day

The council lists:

  • performances, including children singing
  • local organisations to meet
  • extra stalls alongside the regular traders
  • lunch from the market’s own traders

The council has not yet said which school or group the children come from, or which organisations will be there. We will add them here when it does.

There is no ticket and no booking. The celebration is in the market itself, in Surrey Street in the town centre, a short walk from both East Croydon and West Croydon stations.

The 750th year so far

The party is the latest in a year of work on the street. In September the council unveiled a gateway more than seven metres tall at the market, and Culture Croydon put up an 18-metre mural on the market’s history by the artist Vic Lee in the High Street. The mural stays up until 31 January 2027, so it is worth a look on the way.

Both are part of the £4.4m Amplifying Surrey Street project. Signs, new trees, shaded seating and better power supplies for traders are still to come. Our earlier report on the gateway and the mural has the full breakdown, including where the money came from.

What it means for you

If you work in the town centre or are passing through, the hour fits a lunch break. The council’s pitch is simple: buy your lunch from the traders and stay for the singing.

The market trades seven days a week, so if you cannot make Friday lunchtime, the stalls are there on any other day. Our things to do in Croydon page has its usual opening hours. Driving in? Check our parking guide first.