The Market Place is the social heart of Abingdon — a wide, irregular space framed by the County Hall, St Nicolas Church, and a parade of Georgian and Victorian shopfronts. Markets have been held here continuously since the eighth century, when the abbey held the charter; today's general market runs on Mondays and Fridays, with a smaller farmers' market on the third Friday of each month.
This is also where Abingdon performs its quirkier traditions: the Michaelmas Fair in October sees the square taken over by a full-blown travelling funfair, and the bun-throwing from the County Hall roof draws thousands whenever there is a royal occasion or town anniversary.