Marlborough offers a wide variety of shops from small independents to larger chains; from butchers and bakers to clothing and gifts; anything you could want (well, nearly). There are twice weekly markets held in the High Street plus the occasional visiting market from France or Germany as well as organic farmers markets. Every July there is the Marlborough Jazz Festival held across various venues in the town. Also in July is the Marlborough Summer School held at Marlborough College. People come from all over the world to stay in the college and take classes in pretty much anything you could think of. There are the Mop Fairs held over two weekends in October. These were historically for the hiring of agricultural workers but now are just fun fairs. Again at the college and in October is the Feast of Food which promotes the best of Wiltshire’s produce.
There is quite a café culture in Marlborough with everyone having their favourite place to sit with a latte and catch up with the gossip. The Polly Tearooms is one of the oldest having been first opened in 1912. Restaurants range from the chains; Pizza Hut, Prezzo etc to Michelin star establishments. The Harrow At Little Bedwyn just outside Marlborough is one such example.