Region
By six-thirty in the morning, the gates at Kempton Park Racecourse are already open and the serious business has begun. Dealers unload vans, trade buyers move quickly between tables, and the first deals of the day are struck before most of London has finished breakfast. That early energy defines the Sunbury Antiques Market — a twice-monthly event held on the second and last Tuesday of each month, running from 06:30 to 14:00 at Kempton Park Racecourse in Sunbury-on-Thames.
The scale rewards early arrivals. More than 700 indoor and outdoor stallholders occupy three large halls and a sprawling outdoor drive-in area. The sheer range of merchandise pulls in different crowds for different reasons. Furniture dominates the big-ticket end: French farmhouse pieces, Belgian chandeliers, heavy industrial metalwork and European rustic items fill significant floor space. These are not incidental curiosities — continental European dealers make up a notable share of the stallholder mix, each bringing a regional speciality that lifts the market well above a standard British car-boot sale.
Alongside the statement furniture, more accessible finds fill the gaps. Vintage fashion, ceramics, kitchenware, cameras, books and garden ephemera offer entry points for buyers with smaller budgets or a lighter collecting habit. Gold and silverware, clocks, jewellery and paintings draw specialist collectors. The sheer variety means a single visit rarely covers everything.
The crowd reflects that range. Interior decorators and prop buyers arrive early and move with intent. Private collectors work the specialist stalls carefully. Casual browsers tend to arrive later in the morning, when the atmosphere loosens and the pace slows. The 06:30 start draws a purposeful, trade-weighted crowd early on — the energy shifts noticeably as the morning progresses, and later arrivals often find the layout easier to navigate once the first wave of trade buyers has cleared.
The market has deep roots at this venue. The Sundown Antiques team launched a sister event — the Sandown Antiques Home and Interiors Fair — in 2018, describing the Kempton Park market at that point as having run for 39 successful years. That heritage is visible in the confidence of the operation: the logistics, the stallholder mix and the international reach all suggest a market that has been refined over decades. Buyers from the United States and Asia attend regularly, a practical measure of the stock quality rather than a marketing claim.
Getting to Kempton Park is straightforward from central London. Kempton Park station sits approximately 300 metres from the racecourse and is served by South Western Railway trains on the Shepperton to Waterloo line. Sunbury station, also on the SWR Shepperton line, offers an alternative at roughly 640 metres away. A bus stop at Kempton Park Racecourse itself sits approximately 100 metres from the site, making local connections easy. By car, the racecourse address is Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 5AQ.
Sunbury suits buyers who treat antiques hunting as something closer to sourcing than leisure shopping. The Tuesday schedule, the early opening and the density of continental European stock make it a working market first. It rewards those who arrive prepared — and rewards them well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does the Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Park take place?
A: The market runs twice a month, on the second and last Tuesday of each month, from 06:30 to 14:00. Check the organizer's official page before you go to confirm the next date.
Q: Is it worth arriving early, or does it not matter much?
A: Arriving early makes a genuine difference. Gates open at 06:30, and trade buyers, interior decorators and dealers are already moving by then. The best stock in furniture and collectibles tends to shift in the first few hours. Later arrivals get a more relaxed atmosphere but a thinner selection.
Q: What kinds of stock should I expect to find?
A: The market is particularly strong on continental European furniture and interiors — French farmhouse pieces, Belgian chandeliers and industrial metalwork feature prominently. Beyond that, expect jewellery, silverware, ceramics, clocks, paintings, vintage fashion, kitchenware, cameras, books and garden ephemera across more than 700 indoor and outdoor stalls.
Q: How do I get there from central London?
A: Kempton Park station on the South Western Railway Shepperton line sits roughly 300 metres from the racecourse. Trains run from London Waterloo, making it one of the more straightforward out-of-London market journeys. Driving is also an option, with an outdoor drive-in area on site.
Q: Is this market suitable for casual browsers, or is it mostly trade?
A: Both, depending on timing. The early hours draw a purposeful trade crowd. From mid-morning onward the pace slows, the layout is easier to navigate and casual browsers can pick through what remains at a more comfortable pace. Stalls range from high-end statement pieces to accessible vintage finds, so budget range is not a barrier.
Bobbi Burrow
9th August 2015 at 11:55Huge antiques fair that happens every other Tuesday morning. Everything from furniture and rugs on the outside to jewellery and chinaware on the inside. Hey there early before 7:30am to get first pick but goes on to 2:00 pm. Don’t expect super cheap flea market prices though, but gems and bargains to be found!
Howard Newman
3rd February 2016 at 15:59This is an excellent dealers trading place for most vintage items. Extensive range of goodies from luxury furs to fabulous furniture. One if my favorites is my own premium range in The Gold Room, great costume jewellery and fabulous fur coats. Buying isn’t cheap but if you’re looking for a specialist item this Is The Place. A Fabulous day out bring loads of cash.
Richard Barrett
25th July 2016 at 17:24If you have never been – then you are missing out. First of all, it’s free. Secondly, there is just so much to look at. Granted I’m not an antiques dealer and I guess I know not what is good value and what is not but none the less, just got the visual feast it is do worth a visit.