Bampton Charter Fair

Bampton Fair is held on the last Thursday in October. For centuries there were two annual livestock fairs, including one in Whitsun week which ended in the mid-nineteenth century. Though once three days long, they later became one-day events. Since 2004, Bampton Charter Fair and ‘After the Fair’ have revived the tradition, extending celebrations through the weekend.

Bampton Charter Fair, originally St Luke’s Fair, dates back to at least 1212. A Royal Charter in 1258 granted the right to hold the fair around St Luke’s Day, mainly for livestock, with later charters expanding fairs and establishing a weekly market.