An Engraved Double Page from the well known Victorian Newspaper THE GRAPHIC date April 16 1887. Barnet Fair is an annual horse and pleasure fair held near Mays Lane, Barnet, England, on the first Monday in September. Barnet Horse Fair takes place over three days starting on the 4th September. It still operates under its royal Charter which is issued by Barnet council.The fair began in 1588 when Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the Lord of the Manor of Barnet to hold a fair twice yearly, in addition to the weekly Barnet Market. The focus in the present-day Barnet Fair is no longer on horses and other livestock but it is rather a pleasure fair instead.