The county of Kent is located in southeastern England and offers a selection of cities with great attractions to visit. Canterbury is well-known for its cathedral, dating back 1,400 years, which features medieval stained-glass windows and a Romanesque crypt. Canterbury Roman Museum is also of interest. Located underground, the museum offers attractive excavated Roman mosaics. If you head to the north, Whitstable is a pretty coastal town, home to colorful cottages, while Leeds Castle is a remarkable historic landmark with a maze and a moat. Afterward, proceed to the white cliffs of Dover. The castle there is one of the oldest strongholds in England. Scroll below to find out about some of the most delightful Christmas markets in Kent, UK.
1. Leeds Castle Christmas Market
This Christmas market is held on the lawn of Leeds Castle in Maidstone, Kent, and offers a selection of stalls, both inside and out, selling gifts, festive decorations, holly wreaths, toys, and delicious food and drink items. The center of the fair hosts a variety of nostalgic fairground rides, including Big Wheel that offers a wonderful view over the castle and its surrounds, the quaint Victorian carousel, and other rides. Live music is played on the bandstand every day that the market is open to keep visitors entertained. Children will enjoy the magical Christmas grotto. Visitors can enjoy mulled wine, light lunches and mince pies at the Orangery Tearooms on site.
Leeds Castle Christmas Market
Address: Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent, UK
Website: Leeds Castle Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 23 to Dec 15: Sat - Sun: 10am - 5pm (closed Mon - Fri)
Price: From 22 USD
2. Folkestone Christmas Market
The new Folkestone Christmas Market is set to run for 24 days and will feature a festive garden, a visit from Santa Claus, and free mini-golf. A winter wonderland will be set up from Sandgate Road through to Bouverie Place Shopping Center for one of the largest local events in years. A fairy garden will feature twinkling reindeer. Around 20 huts will offer a range of items, including candles, scented soaps, flowers, vintage clothing, knitwear, home accessories, and stocking fillers. Over the run of the market, live-music weekends will be held, and stalls selling delicious food and drink will be operating.
Folkestone Christmas Market
Address: Sandgate Rd to Bouverie Place Shopping Center, Folkestone, Kent, UK
Website: Folkestone Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 29 - Dec 22: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 10am - 5pm
3. Vintage Christmas by Forget-Me-Not at Gravesend Borough Market
The eclectic Forget-Me-Not antique store will be holding a Vintage Christmas event at Gravesend Borough Market with more than 20 stalls selling collectible goods in one place. Street food will be available to eat, along with a bar serving vintage cocktails. Live entertainment is also provided, and entrance is free. You are even welcome to bring the family dog on a leash.
Vintage Christmas by Forget-Me-Not at Gravesend Borough Market
Address: Queen St, Gravesend, Kent, UK
Website: Vintage Christmas by Forget-Me-Not at Gravesend Borough Market
Opening hours: Nov 24: 10:30am - 3:30pm
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4. Dickensian Christmas
Rochester will be hosting a Dickensian Christmas, along with many stalls selling Victorian delights. Visitors will be able to enjoy lamp-lit parades through the streets, carol singing, and Santa Claus arriving on the scene with the background of Rochester’s cathedral and castle. Some of Dickens’s favorite characters from his stories will be around, and among the highlights of the event will be the Grand Parade, the Seven Poor Travellers Procession, an open-air carol concert, street performers, and a candlelit procession. The event has been held in Rochester since 1988, as Charles Dickens spent five of his childhood years in the area and returned a couple of years prior to his death in 1870.
Dickensian Christmas
Address: Rochester Cathedral, Rochester, Kent, UK
Website: Dickensian Christmas
Opening hours: Dec 7 - Dec 8: 11am - 5:30pm
5. Whitstable Castle Christmas Market
Christmas at Whitstable Castle is a traditional Christmas fair with a number of stalls selling festive gifts, decorations, candles, knitwear, toys, holly wreaths, and other items both inside the castle and outside on the grounds. There will be a magical Christmas grotto where kids can enjoy meeting Santa Claus. You can also savor a light meal of mince pie and mulled wine at The Orangery Tea Rooms, which will stay open all day.
Whitstable Castle Christmas Market
Address: Whitstable Castle, Tower Hill, Whitstable, Kent, UK
Website: Whitstable Castle Christmas Market
Opening hours: Dec 7 - 8: 11am - 5pm
6. Rochester Christmas Market
This Christmas market will be held in the gardens of the picturesque Rochester Castle on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. A number of stalls will be set up, offering unique gift ideas, Christmas decorations, and stocking fillers. A Bavarian food village will offer tasty eats and traditional beer, while live performers will provide musical entertainment. Snow is guaranteed to fall, making a beautiful scene in front of the fairy-tale cathedral and castle in Rochester. All the normal rides on the property will be half price during the event.
Rochester Christmas Market
Address: Rochester Castle, Rochester, Kent, UK
Website: Rochester Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 30 - Dec 15: Fri: 12pm - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm
7. Faversham Christmas Market
Faversham Christmas Market at The Alexander Center is a weekend market that will run in mid-December. This popular annual event will see many stalls at the historic Faversham marketplace and Guildhall, selling handcrafted gifts, including toys, jewelry, art, pottery, and clothing, as well as a selection of local produce and food. Visitors will be regaled with Christmas music and carol singing, and the kids will surely enjoy a visit to Santa’s grotto. Snacks and refreshments can be enjoyed at the pop-up tearoom. And the best part is admission to the market is free.
Faversham Christmas Market
Address: The Alexander Center, 15 - 17 Preston St, ME13 8NZ, Faversham, Kent, UK
Website: Faversham Christmas Market
Opening hours: Dec 14 - 15: 10am - 5pm
8. Whitefriars Christmas Market, Canterbury
Canterbury’s famous Christmas market will be bigger and better this year and will offer more market stalls, selling unique Christmas gifts, toys, handicrafts, knitted items, and tasty seasonal food and drinks. Santa Claus and his trusty elves will be in Santa’s grotto up until Christmas Eve, just waiting for children to tell him what they want for Christmas. Not to be left out, a Santa Paws event will happen on December 4, where locals can take their furry friends to visit Santa and have fabulous photo opportunities!
Whitefriars Christmas Market, Canterbury
Address: Whitefriars, 14 Gravel Walk, Canterbury, Kent, UK
Website: Whitefriars Christmas Market, Canterbury
Opening hours: Nov 16 - Dec 24: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 10am - 5pm
9. Tenterden Christmas Market
The Christmas market in Tenterden will have a Nutcracker theme this year and will kick off with a fun parade, where children of the town will dress up and have fun. The fair will have many great artisan stalls selling handcrafted gifts like candles, scented soaps, knitwear, toys, jewelry, and more—along with street food. Santa’s grotto will be available from November 22 to 24 for the little ones to let Santa know what they would like for Christmas and also have the necessary Santa selfie!
Tenterden Christmas Market
Address: High St, Tenterden, Kent, UK
Website: Tenterden Christmas Market
Opening hours: Nov 22 - 24: 10am - 4pm
Merry Christmas from Kent in the UK
Have fun exploring the traditional towns and cities of this pretty English county, visiting museums, art galleries, and other attractions. However, when heading here during the festive season, make sure you make time to visit some of the most delightful Christmas markets in Kent, UK!
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