We checked 15 Broadland shops, from Roys of Wroxham to the bookshop and chocolatier on Aylsham's Red Lion Street, for opening hours and Christmas dates. Updated November 2026.
Broadland has 15 places worth a Christmas shopping trip in 2026, and this guide puts them in one place with opening hours, late nights and what each one sells. Most people head for Roys of Wroxham in Hoveton, with its department store, food hall and separate toy shop, or for Red Lion Street in Aylsham, where a bookshop, a chocolatier, an illustrator’s shop and an art gallery sit within a few doors of each other.
These are regular hours: only Salle Park and Aylsham Garden Centre have posted Christmas dates so far, so ring nearer the day for late openings and Christmas Eve.
Dates for the Christmas shopping diary
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Fridays, 8.30am to noon | Aylsham Country Market, cakes, crafts and plants | Aylsham Town Hall |
| Thursday 19 November, 5pm to 8pm | Late night shopping at Aylsham Garden Centre, with the Aylsham Band | Norwich Road, Aylsham, NR11 6UD |
| Saturday 21 November | Salle Christmas Shop opens, daily 9am to 5pm to Christmas Eve | Salle Park, NR10 4SG |
| Saturday 21 November, 11am to 8pm | Fairhaven Christmas Market, free | South Walsham, NR13 6DZ |
| Friday 27 November, 5pm to 9pm | Aylsham Christmas lights switch-on, lights on at 6pm, stalls on Red Lion Street and late-night shopping | Aylsham town centre |
| Saturday 5 December, 4pm to 7pm | Christmas in Reepham: about 30 stalls, shops open late, free grotto at the Kings Arms; main road closed 1pm to 9pm | Reepham Market Place and Town Hall |
| Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, 10am to 3pm | Wroxham Barns Christmas Maker’s Market, free | Tunstead Road, Hoveton, NR12 8QU |
The Reepham details come from Reepham Life (24 October 2026). The market dates are in our Christmas markets guide, which has stallholder and entry details for each one. For Santa visits, see our grotto guide, and for the trains and buses over the holiday, our Christmas travel page.
Aylsham: Red Lion Street and the Market Place
Most of Aylsham’s independent shops are on Red Lion Street, which runs downhill from the Market Place. Our parking guide has the town’s car parks.
1. The Book Hive, Aylsham
The Book Hive is the multi-award-winning Norwich bookshop that opened a second branch on Red Lion Street in 2022, as North Norfolk News reported at the time. Visit Aylsham describes it as selling fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and gifts, with hand-written recommendations, author events and special orders.
Its website covers the Norwich branch and its publishing imprint, Propolis Books; the Aylsham hours below are Visit Aylsham’s.
Open Mon 10am to 5pm; Tue to Fri 9.30am to 5pm; Sat 9am to 4.30pm; Sun closed
Call 01263 479275
Address 18 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, NR11 6ER
Website thebookhive.co.uk
Good for books, children's books, special orders, gifts
2. One Fox
One Fox is run by the children’s author and illustrator Kate Read and is named after her debut picture book. Her website describes it as “a brick and mortar shop” selling “a playful range of gifts, illustrated goods, prints, jewellery, greetings cards and toys” for all ages, with her studio above the shop.
The web shop is not open yet, so this one is in person only. Visit Aylsham gives its hours as “usually open 10ish to 4ish”.
Open usually Mon to Sat about 10am to 4pm; Sun closed
Address 5 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, NR11 6ER
Website kateread.co.uk/one-fox-shop-studio
Good for picture books, prints, toys, cards, children's gifts
3. Carousel Chocolates
A family-run chocolate and confectionery shop that sells luxury chocolates and its own gift-boxed Norfolk truffles. Visit Aylsham says the counter holds more than 50 varieties, including no-added-sugar and vegan options, with Harris & James gelato, fudge and loose sweets alongside.
Its website takes orders for pre-selected and pick-your-own boxes. Last year’s last posting date for Christmas was Friday 19 December, and the shop then closed for its annual holiday until mid January; it had not posted 2026 dates when we checked.
Open Mon to Fri 9.30am to 4.30pm; Sat 9am to 4pm; Sun closed
Call 01263 735737
Address 6 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, NR11 6ER
Website carouselchocolates.co.uk
Good for chocolate boxes, Norfolk truffles, vegan and no-added-sugar options, online orders
4. Maná Art Gallery
A contemporary gallery showing work by local and international artists. Visit Aylsham lists original paintings, handmade jewellery, sculpture, glasswork and limited-edition prints, and the gallery’s own website lets you browse by artist and category before you go.
The gallery’s own site gives only email and WhatsApp contacts.
Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 4.30pm; Sun closed
Call 01603 515703
Address 20 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, NR11 6ER
Website manaartgallery.com
Good for original art, handmade jewellery, glass, prints
5. Bon Bons
A traditional sweet shop with jars of classic British sweets and a pick-and-mix. Visit Aylsham says it also sells greeting cards, premium chocolates, soft toys and small gifts.
It has no website, only an Instagram page.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm; Sun closed
Call 01263 733015
Address 22 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, NR11 6ER
Website instagram.com/bonbonsaylsham
Good for pick-and-mix, stocking fillers, soft toys, cards
6. Cobble Yard Store
A homeware and gift shop. Visit Aylsham describes its stock as handcrafted ceramics, textiles, local art and home accessories, chosen to be pieces “you won’t find elsewhere”.
It has no website, only an Instagram page, and its hours on Visit Aylsham are marked as approximate. It is one of the few Aylsham shops listed as open on a Sunday.
Open Mon to Sat about 10am to 4.30pm; Sun about 10am to 2pm
Address Red Lion Street, Aylsham, NR11 6ER
Website instagram.com/cobbleyardstore
Good for ceramics, home accessories, local art, Sunday opening
7. Celebrations
The town’s independent card and gift shop on the Market Place. Visit Aylsham lists cards for every occasion, wrapping paper, ribbons and tags, gifts and keepsakes, and balloons and party accessories.
It has no website, only Facebook and Instagram pages, and no published street number.
Open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm; Sat 9am to 4pm
Address Market Place, Aylsham, NR11
Website instagram.com/celebrations.aylsham
Good for Christmas cards, wrapping paper, balloons, small gifts
8. Aylsham Country Market
A not-for-profit co-operative that sets up in the Town Hall every Friday morning. Visit Aylsham says around 25 regular producers sell home-cooked cakes, savouries, handcrafted gifts and plants, with a café alongside.
It has no website, only a Facebook page.
Open Fridays 8.30am to noon
Call 07765 934850
Address Aylsham Town Hall, Market Place, Aylsham, NR11 6EL
Website facebook.com/AylshamCountryMarket
Good for home baking, handmade gifts, plants, café
Around Aylsham
9. The shop at Blickling Estate
The National Trust’s page for Blickling says the shop sells “tasty treats and unique seasonal gifts” every day of the week: jams, chutneys and biscuits to build your own hamper, homeware, and cookery, history, gardening and children’s books, including titles about Blickling and Anne Boleyn. The estate also has a volunteer-run second-hand bookshop and the only National Trust stamp shop, open Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm.
Visit Aylsham gives the main shop’s usual hours, which the Trust says can change with the season.
Blickling’s evening Christmas Garden of Lights is ticketed separately.
Open usually daily 10am to 5pm; stamp shop Tue, Thu and Sun 11am to 3pm
Call 01263 738075 (second-hand bookshop)
Address Blickling Estate, Blickling, NR11 6NF
Website nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blickling-estate/eating-and-shopping-at-blickling-estate
Good for local food, books, homeware, second-hand books, stamps
10. Aylsham Garden Centre
A garden centre on the Norwich Road edge of town with a giftware department, a farm shop and a restaurant. Its late night shopping evening is on Thursday 19 November, 5pm to 8pm, with live music from the Aylsham Band, food tastings and a raffle for Aylsham Care Trust; the restaurant will serve pizzas, snacks and drinks.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm; Sun 10am to 4pm
Call 01263 687005
Address Norwich Road, Aylsham, NR11 6UD
Website aylshamgardencentre.co.uk
Good for giftware, farm shop, late night 19 November, restaurant
Wroxham and Hoveton
The Roys shops are in Hoveton, across the bridge from Wroxham itself, a short walk from Hoveton and Wroxham station on the Bittern Line.
11. Roys of Wroxham
Roys was founded in 1895. The department store on Stalham Road has a Christmas department with real and artificial trees, decorations, lights, wreaths, crackers and table dressings, and the food hall is next door.
Its website was running a fragrance and gift offer when we checked, and its Santa’s grotto at the garden centre is booked online. Roys Garden Centre is on Newey’s Way, round the corner.
Food hall hours are longer: 8am to 8pm on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, 8am to 9pm Wednesday to Friday, and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. The garden centre opens 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.
Open Mon to Fri 9am to 8pm; Sat 9am to 6pm; Sun 10.30am to 4.30pm
Call 01603 782131
Address Stalham Road, Hoveton, NR12 8DB
Website roys.co.uk
Good for Christmas decorations, food hall, fragrance and beauty, late weekday opening
12. Roys Toys
Roys’ separate toy shop on Church Road. When we checked, Roys was ending a 20% off selected toys event over £20, which it billed as a chance to “get Christmas wrapped up early”.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 6pm; Sun 10.30am to 4.30pm
Call 01603 777055
Address Church Road, Hoveton, NR12 8DE
Website roys.co.uk/toys
Good for toys, games, Sunday opening
13. Wroxham Barns
A craft and shopping village in converted barns on Tunstead Road. Its own list of studios and independent shops includes Bee Creative, Courtyard Confectionery, Dotty Pottery, Gallery Gifts, Just Sew Small, the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre, Pats Wooden Crafts, Penney’s Flowers & Crafts, Sue’s Jewellery & Gems, The Kids Kiosk and Wroxham Antiques.
Wroxham Barns says each shop sets its own hours, so check before a special trip. The adventure farm closed on 2 November for the winter apart from the ticketed Christmas Experience, but the shops and cafés stay open.
The Christmas Maker’s Market is on 5 and 6 December, 10am to 3pm.
Open Courtyard Café daily 10am to 5pm; each shop sets its own hours
Address Tunstead Road, Hoveton, NR12 8QU
Website wroxhambarns.co.uk/shopping-village/discover-the-studios
Good for crafts, pottery, jewellery, children's books, Christmas Maker's Market
Reepham and Salle
14. Salle Christmas Shop
The Salle Park estate’s Christmas shop sells trees grown on the estate, which it says are cut less than half a mile from the shop: Nordmann fir and Norway spruce from 3ft to more than 15ft. Inside, the estate describes “our little Christmas Shop” as “a celebration of local businesses and all things Christmas”, and Reepham Life reports wreaths from local makers, mistletoe, baubles, felt decorations, lights and tree stands, with delivery and tree reservation available.
The estate’s own page says it is open until Christmas Eve; Reepham Life’s 29 October report gave 23 December.
For other places selling real trees, see our Christmas trees guide.
Two miles away, Christmas in Reepham fills the Market Place and Town Hall with about 30 stalls of gifts, wreaths, trees and cakes on Saturday 5 December, 4pm to 7pm, with several shops open for the evening, including Bread Source.
Open from Sat 21 November, daily 9am to 5pm until Christmas Eve
Call 01603 870499
Address Christmas Tree Shop car park, Salle, NR10 4SG
Website sallepark.co.uk/christmas
Good for real trees, wreaths, decorations, delivery
South Walsham
15. Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden gift shop
The charitable garden’s gift shop describes its stock as “unique, locally inspired gifts you won’t find on the high street”, from cards and artisan treats to keepsakes, with a plant sales area beside it. Fairhaven says the shop and plant sales have level access and wheelchair ramps.
Its free Christmas Market is on Saturday 21 November, 11am to 8pm, and its Christmas Lights Walk runs on December evenings.
Open garden open daily from 9am
Call 01603 270449
Address School Road, South Walsham, NR13 6DZ
Website fairhavengarden.co.uk/facilities
Good for local gifts, plants, step-free access, Christmas Market 21 November
How we chose
There is no single shopping street in Broadland, so this guide covers the places with the most independent shops: Aylsham’s Red Lion Street and Market Place, Roys and Wroxham Barns in Hoveton, plus the estate shops at Blickling, Salle and Fairhaven. Aylsham’s shops come from the town council’s Visit Aylsham shopping list; we left out the supermarkets, butchers, florists and electrical shop, and two clothes shops. Each entry was checked on 5 November 2026 against the shop’s own website, or Visit Aylsham where the shop has none. We also used Reepham Life’s reports, the National Trust’s Blickling pages and North Norfolk News. We left out Beeyutiful Home & Gifts in Aylsham because we could not find its address and its website would not load. For more ideas, see things to do in Broadland, what’s on this month, Christmas dinner in Broadland and our business directory.
Run a shop that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@broadsnews.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@broadsnews.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.
Frequently asked questions
Is there late night Christmas shopping in Broadland in 2026?
Aylsham Garden Centre holds a late night shopping evening on Thursday 19 November, 5pm to 8pm, with the Aylsham Band. Christmas in Reepham runs from 4pm to 7pm on Saturday 5 December, with about 30 stalls and several town centre shops staying open. Aylsham’s Christmas lights switch-on evening, when Red Lion Street shops trade late, is on Friday 27 November, 5pm to 9pm.
When does the Salle Christmas Shop open in 2026?
Salle Park says its Christmas Shop opens on Saturday 21 November 2026 and is open 9am to 5pm every day until Christmas Eve. It sells Nordmann fir and Norway spruce trees from 3ft to over 15ft, grown on the estate, plus wreaths and decorations.
Where can I buy toys for Christmas near Wroxham?
Roys Toys is on Church Road in Hoveton, opposite the main Roys store, and opens 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sunday. In Aylsham, One Fox on Red Lion Street sells illustrated toys, books and gifts, and Bon Bons sells soft toys alongside its sweets.
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