Abingdon's Country Market (formerly the WI Market) takes place every Friday morning in the Roysse Room in the Guildhall from 9.30 am - 11.00 am.

It's well worth a visit to pick up local products such as fruit and vegetables, jam and honey, bread and crafts. There is usually also a plant stall outside.

Entry is free, and all the stall holders are friendly and knowledgeable - the market is one of Abingdon's best kept secrets.

The Merry Miller was one of the first pubs in Abingdon to go non-smoking - long before the non-smoking law was passed. As such it has a nice clean atmosphere. The decor is traditional, with wooden furniture and beams, but the menu is up-to-date and based on fresh and local ingredients.

With free wi-fi it's a popular lunch spot and there are special events each week. Tuesday is Curry night, Thursday is Pie night and there's a carvery on Sundays. Food is good, portions are generous and the service is friendly.

Added Ingredients is a real foodie emporium - it's not a big shop, but it has nooks and crannies and every inch is stacked with foodie treats. I couldn't even begin to list all the things they sell, but there's a deli, a selection of fine wines, and even a cookware section. They do catering and there's even a tiny cafe. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and it's well worth wandering in for a look if you have a few minutes.

Local Roots is a new store that has recently opened in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. It's aim is to only sell products produced within 30 miles, including local produce straight from the farm and local art, gifts, crafts, furnishings.

On our visit we were made very welcome by the shop owner, who was happy to chat. As well as a good range of products (we bought locally produced apple juice and fresh bread, but you can even buy local ready meals for those days you just can't face cooking, and fresh produce) there's a big table where you can chill out and have a cup of tea or coffee and browse local newspapers and magazines.

If you can't make it into the shop then they run a local delivery service - by bike! It's lovely to see such an environmentally conscious and community-driven business start up.

Millets Farm Shop is a local treasure. You can do your entire grocery shop there is you want to - they have locally produce fruit and vegetables (some from the farm itself) as well as produce from further afield, a fish counter, cooked meats, fresh meats (there's a lovely range of BBQ stuff in the summer), a bakery and a cheese counter. There's also a frozen food section and milk and other dairy products in fridges - and local ice creams! Add to that a selection of wines and pantry items (again, many from the local area) plus household items and gifts and there's not much they've missed out.

The quality of the goods is high, and the shop is very popular - which can be a problem at busy times because it gets very crowded. At the same location there's also a restaurant, a children's farm, a craft shop and a good garden centre (Frosts). Parking is free and plentiful and it's a lovely place for a picnic. I think there's even a trout farm and they run events through the summer, such as a Maize Maze or bouncy castles.