People who are not familiar with the antiques business in the UK sometimes ask where the ‘biggest’ or ‘best’ antiques fairs in the UK take place.

When it comes to the biggest antique and collectors fairs in the UK, there is no competition: The International Antiques and Collectors Fair at Newark is the biggest in the UK. It takes place six times a year at the Newark & Nottinghamshire Showground and attracts up to 4,000 stallholders at each event.

Buyers come from all over the UK and from continental Europe and North America – it has a reputation as a trade fair and many buyers are looking for stock for their own antiques businesses, although there are a great many collectors, too.

Organised by IACF, the Newark fair also has a number of siblings, each of which is large in its own right. Here’s a list of each of IACF’s UK fairs, together with its first 2012 date:

• Newark: 2-3 February
• Ardingly: 10-11 January
• Swinderby: 12 March
• Shepton Mallet: 20-22 January
• Newbury: 26 March
• Redbourn: 2 July

Ardingly, Swinderby and Shepton Mallet are all very large and well-established fairs that have been running for decades, and are popular with trade buyers and collectors alike. I’ve been to Newark and Ardingly many times and they are massive – if you are at all interested in antiques and collectables, as a dealer or collectors, they are well worth a visit.

For more details about all IACF fairs, visit www.iacf.co.uk.

Need to hire a van or minibus for transport to one of the IACF 2012 fairs? Click here to compare van hire quotes.