Fodor's Expert Review St. Nicholas Markets

In the heart of Bristol's former financial district, St. Nicholas Markets have been trading goods since 1743. The main part of the indoor market, the Corn Exchange, was designed by John Wood the Elder—best known for his architectural work in Bath—and today houses dozens of stalls selling crafts, jewelry, old postcards, accessories, and clothes. Behind it, the maze of lanes holds small shops and a cornucopia of cafés and street food outlets of every hue, perfect for a snack or quick lunch. The four truncated pillars outside the main entrance, known as "The Nails," are said to be where the expression "pay on the nail" originated.