Town Square, Basildon ★★★★☆ 4.5 Wed & Sat 8am–4pm Free parking in multi-storeys
Basildon Market is proper old-school Essex – loud, colourful, and full of characters. Clothing stalls sell everything from boho maxi dresses to kids’ character onesies, sports direct clearance, and international fabrics (African wax print, Indian saris). Prices start at £3 for t-shirts and go up to £40 for decent coats.
Food stalls are banging – Caribbean, Turkish, Polish – and the market is right next to Primark and Asda if you want high-street backup.
Pros
- Dirt-cheap prices
- International fabrics and styles
- Big plus-size selection
- Easy parking and town centre location
Cons
- Quality varies wildly
- Very busy Saturdays