Key Points
- Hounslow Council’s Designed and Made in Hounslow craft market will return for its sixth consecutive year on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
- The event will take place at Bell Square, Hounslow High Street, from 11am to 3pm.
- The market is run by Learn Hounslow, the council’s adult and community education offer.
- Stalls will include paintings, pottery, jewellery, baking, cake toppers and other handmade craft items.
- The stalls are managed by learners from creative courses who are exploring self-employment or starting a business.
- Learn Hounslow student Maria will return this year after previously selling handmade decoupage bottles and later more than 100 handmade decoupage candles through social media.
- Councillor Madeeha Asim said the market helps learners build confidence and business skills, while showcasing community creativity.
- From September 2026, Learn Hounslow will offer qualification courses in English, Maths and digital learning, alongside vocational programmes including creative arts, teaching assistant, childcare, SEND-related pathways, health, bookkeeping and accounting.
- Assessment sessions for vocational, digital skills, ESOL, English and Maths courses begin on Thursday 9 July and resume again in September.
Hounslow (West London News) June 24, 2026, has confirmed that its Designed and Made in Hounslow craft market will return to Bell Square on Wednesday 8 July, giving local adult learners another opportunity to sell handmade goods and build practical business experience.
Where is the craft market taking place?
Hounslow Council said the market will be held at Bell Square, Hounslow High Street, between 11am and 3pm on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
The council described the event as the sixth consecutive year of the craft market, which it says showcases handmade arts and crafts from adult learners. The event is organised through Learn Hounslow, the borough’s adult and community education offer.
The market will be open to the public, who can browse and buy locally made products while supporting the borough’s lifelong learning community.
The council said visitors will also be able to find out more about Learn Hounslow courses and how they may support professional and personal development.
What will visitors be able to buy?
The council said stalls at the market will feature a range of handmade products, including paintings, pottery, jewellery, baking, cake toppers and other craft items.
These stalls are run by learners from creative courses who are exploring self-employment or starting a business. According to the council, the market offers them real-world experience in trading and customer engagement.
The event is also intended to connect makers with craft enthusiasts and help learners develop further confidence in their work.
Hounslow Council said the market gives participants the chance to gain practical knowledge that can be useful beyond the classroom.
Who is taking part this year?
One returning participant is Maria, a Learn Hounslow student, who previously sold handmade decoupage bottles at the market.
She said the experience boosted her confidence and helped her develop sales skills. Maria added that she later used the decoupage techniques learned on a floristry course to sell more than 100 handmade decoupage candles through social media.
Councillor Madeeha Asim, Cabinet Member for Children and Young Futures at Hounslow Council, said Learn Hounslow empowers over 2,000 adult learners each year to build essential skills into further study or employment. As reported by Hounslow Council, she said the craft market is
“a fantastic opportunity to showcase the creativity within the community, whilst helping learners build their confidence and business skills”.
What courses are being offered?
The council said Learn Hounslow will offer qualification courses in English, Maths and digital learning from September 2026. It also said residents will be able to access vocational programmes in creative arts, teaching assistant, childcare, SEND-related areas, health, bookkeeping and accounting, among others.
The council added that initial assessments are required for some courses to help identify the right course and provide additional support for learners.
Assessment sessions for vocational, digital skills, ESOL, English and Maths will take place in July from Thursday 9 July, and then again in September.
Residents can speak to staff at the craft market, book an assessment by calling 020 8583 6000, or visit the council’s adult education page for more information.
Why does the council hold the event?
The council presents the craft market as both a public-facing showcase and a training opportunity. It allows adult learners to move beyond theory and test their products in a real market environment.
The council also uses the event to promote lifelong learning and signpost residents to further education routes.
By linking the craft market with course promotion, Hounslow is combining community engagement with skills development.
The event also reflects the council’s focus on adult education as a route into employment, self-employment and continued study.
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Background of this development
Designed and Made in Hounslow has become an annual platform for adult learners to display handmade work in a public setting.
The 2026 edition follows previous council promotions of the market and continues its role as part of Learn Hounslow’s wider education offer. The council says the initiative supports learners who want to upskill, gain qualifications or start a business.
Learn Hounslow also provides access to a range of courses and assessments across the year, with contact options including its phone line and adult education website.
The latest announcement confirms that the craft market remains a key way for the council to connect residents with both creative activity and future learning pathways.
Prediction: How may this affect residents?
For adult learners, the event may provide a low-risk opportunity to test products, gain confidence and practice customer engagement before moving into wider sales.
For residents interested in retraining, the market may make Learn Hounslow’s courses more visible and encourage more people to attend assessment sessions in July and September. For the local community, the event may strengthen interest in handmade goods and keep attention on adult education as a practical route into work or self-employment.
