Car boot sales open in winter in Gloucestershire
Come November, most car boot fields in Gloucestershire go quiet until spring. But not all of them. A few hardy car boot sales keep going right through winter, frost, drizzle and all. Here's where you can still rummage for bargains or switch out some toys to make space for the arrival of Father Christmas!
The short answer: Gloucester's Hempsted Meadow sale runs all year, on Sundays and Wednesdays. Easter Compton, just south of the county, also runs year-round with some covered pitches.
Quick picks
Best all-rounder: Gloucester Car Boot Sale at Hempsted Meadow. Open all year, twice a week, and under-16s get in free.
Best for rainy Sundays: Easter Compton, which has some covered pitches.
Worth the drive: Ross-on-Wye's Sunday sale at the livestock market, a short hop from the Forest of Dean.
Car boot sales that run through winter
Gloucester Car Boot Sale, Hempsted Meadow (Gloucester)
The big one, and the reason this page exists. It's on firm hardstanding, so no wellies-in-a-bog moments, and there's hot food when your fingers start to go numb.
When: every Sunday and Wednesday, all year
Buyers: Sunday £3 from 9am or £1 from 10am. Wednesday £3 from 8am or £1 from 9am. Under-16s free. Cash on the gate.
Sellers: £5 per bay, no booking needed. Setup from 9am on Sundays (8am on Wednesdays), or an hour earlier for an extra £5. Tables to hire.
Good to know: free parking, disabled parking, accessible toilets, and dogs on leads are welcome.
Where: Hempsted Meadow, David Hook Way, Gloucester GL2 5LL
Source: Capital Boot Sales, Gloucester
Easter Compton Car Boot Sale (near Bristol)
Just over the line in South Gloucestershire, about 45 minutes from Gloucester. It's a proper early-morning one, and some pitches are under cover, which matters a lot in January.
When: Sundays and bank holiday Mondays, all year until mid December when they take a break until the first Sunday after new year!
Gates from 7am on Sundays, finishing around 1pm.
Buyers: £1 per person, car parking £1 (free after 11am).
Sellers: cars £10, vans £15.
Where: Washingpool Farm, Main Road, Easter Compton BS35 5RE
Ross-on-Wye Sunday Boot Sale (Herefordshire border)
A local institution that nearly closed in spring 2026, before the livestock market's auctioneers stepped in to keep it going.
When: every Sunday morning all year round
Where: Ross-on-Wye livestock market, off Netherton Road, HR9 7QQ
Times: Set up from 7am, buyers from 7:30am, finishes around 11:30am.
Sales that stop for winter (so you don't have a wasted trip)
Southam Car Boots, Cheltenham: runs from Easter until late November or December, then takes a break.
Teckels Animal Sanctuaries car boot, Fromebridge Mill, Whitminster: fortnightly Sundays in spring and summer only.
Cirencester charity and Round Table car boots: spring to autumn. Watch Cirencester Town Council's what's on page from April.
To find out more about the Cheltenham events, check out Cheltenham Rocks' Car boot sales in Cheltenham
Tips for winter car booting
Layers, a flask and gloves you can count coins in. Fingerless gloves are your friend.
Bring cash in small change. Most stalls don't take cards, and nobody wants to break a £20 for a 50p jigsaw.
Go later for bargains. Fewer buyers turn up in winter, and sellers would rather not load it all back into the car.
Give the kids a pocket-money challenge. £2 each to find the best treasure. It's remarkable how seriously a six-year-old takes this.
Selling before Christmas? Clear out the outgrown toys and baby kit now. Parents are hunting for nearly-new presents.
Check the morning of. Winter sales can be called off for heavy rain, snow or ice, so look at the organiser's page before you set off.
FAQs
Are there any car boot sales open in winter in Gloucestershire?
Yes. Gloucester's Hempsted Meadow sale runs all year, every Sunday and Wednesday. Easter Compton near Bristol also runs year-round, and Cheltenham Racecourse holds some winter Sundays between race days.
What days is Gloucester car boot sale on?
Sundays and Wednesdays, all year, at Hempsted Meadow (GL2 5LL). Buyers can get in from 9am on Sundays and 8am on Wednesdays.
Is there an indoor car boot sale near Gloucester?
There's no fully indoor weekly sale in the county that we know of. Easter Compton has some covered pitches, and Hempsted is on hardstanding, so you won't be stuck in mud. School and church "nearly new" and table-top sales pop up through winter too. Check our what's on page.
When do car boot sales start again in spring?
Most Gloucestershire field sales, including Southam, restart around Easter (28 March 2027).
