Discover the Best Christmas Markets in Kent 2025: Festive Events & Dates
Explore the top Christmas markets in Kent for 2025 – from Canterbury and Rochester to Tenterden. Find event dates, times, addresses, ticket info, parking tips and links so you don’t miss a magical festive outing.
Updated 11/18/2025
Kent transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, with a range of Christmas market events across the county that combine charming settings, artisan stalls and festive entertainment.
Whether you’re hunting for unique gifts, sipping mulled wine under twinkling lights or enjoying a fun-fair ride near a historic castle, Kent delivers holiday spirit in full. Towns such as Canterbury, Rochester and Tenterden host events where you can browse wooden chalets packed with handmade crafts, gourmet food stalls, live performances and seasonal decorations. Many of the markets are free to enter, making them perfect for families and groups of friends. Some venues include paid attractions or booking-required experiences, so checking each event’s website in advance is wise.
With convenient links and parking tips provided below for each featured market, you can plan your visit with ease and soak up the festive atmosphere across Kent.
Canterbury Christmas Market
The Canterbury Christmas Market is one of Kent’s largest and most charming festive gatherings. Set within the historic streets and precincts of Canterbury, the market features more than 100 wooden chalets offering everything from handcrafted decorations and artisan gifts to seasonal food and drink. The scent of mulled wine and hot chocolate combines with live carol performances and the atmospheric backdrop of Canterbury Cathedral and ancient streets, creating a truly storybook setting. Visitors can wander through the market from mid-November until 24 December, enjoying extended hours at weekends when the lights sparkle and the mood is extra festive.
Date: 12 November to 24 December 2025
Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday: 9 am – 7 pm; Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Christmas Eve closes at 4 pm
Address: Whitefriars Shopping Centre & St George’s Street, Canterbury, Kent, UK Website: Canterbury Christmas Market
Tickets: Free entry (no tickets required for general access)
Parking: Talks of parking are not heavily promoted – visitors are advised to use city centre car parks and public transport for convenience
As one of the top markets in the region, it’s ideal for both last-minute gift hunting and a delightful seasonal day out in the city.
Rochester Christmas Market
Located in the historic gardens of Rochester Castle, the Rochester Christmas Market offers a grand festive experience with over 100 stalls, a Bavarian food village, live entertainment and a funfair. Running across three consecutive weekends, the market draws visitors from London and beyond for its unique combination of history and holiday cheer.
Dates: Friday 28 November to Sunday 14 December 2025 (weekends: 28–30 Nov, 5–7 Dec, 12–14 Dec)
Hours: Fridays: 12 pm – 9 pm, Saturdays: 10 am – 9 pm, Sundays: 10 am – 6 pm
Address: Rochester Castle Gardens, Rochester, ME1 1QQ, Kent, UK
Website: Visit Medway – Rochester Christmas Market
Tickets: Free entry
Parking: Parking in the centre is limited; organisers encourage use of public transport. Pay & display car parks are available nearby
Because the event takes place in the castle grounds, there’s a special ambience of medieval stone, twinkling lights and traditional festive décor. Visitors can wander among stalls selling artisan goods, enjoy parfait treats and savour the funfair rides under the stars.
Tenterden Christmas Market
The charming market in the town of Tenterden offers a relaxed, family-friendly festive outing. Taking place along the High Street, the event features street food, international cuisine, handmade crafts, clothing and jewellery – perfect for unique Christmas gifts and a cheerful wander. The market runs over two weekends with the week in between, making it longer than many other one-off events.
Dates: Friday 14 November – Sunday 23 November 2025
Hours: Fri 14 Nov: 12 pm – 8 pm, Sat 15 Nov: 9 am – 6 pm, Sun 16 Nov: 10 am – 4 pm, Mon–Thu (17–20 Nov): 9 am – 6 pm, Fri 21 Nov: 9 am – 8 pm, Sat 22 Nov: 9 am – 7 pm, Sun 23 Nov: 10 am – 5 pm
Address: High Street, Tenterden, Kent, TN30, UK
Website: Zoom Events – Tenterden Christmas Market
Tickets: Free entry
Parking: Town centre public car parks and transport stops are easy to reach; Ashford Borough Council offers free parking in town-centre car parks on selected days during the festive season
With nearby public car parks, the town’s independent shops and cafés add to the festive mood, making it a full day trip destination. Visitors are advised to arrive early if driving, as parking spaces fill quickly.
Folkestone Festive Marketplace
Nestled along the scenic sea-front of Folkestone Harbour Arm in Kent, this market brings festive cheer with an informal coastal twist. You’ll find a mix of independent boutique stalls set in the fishermen’s huts, live music, cosy food & drink stops and even outdoor cinema screenings of Christmas films. The harbour setting adds a dramatic backdrop of sea-air and twinkling lights, making it ideal for a relaxed evening outing as well as a full family day.
Dates: Open weekends from Friday 14 November to Christmas Eve ( 24 Dec) 2025 Hours: Friday to Sunday (weekends) – times vary but generally from midday into the evening
Address: Folkestone Harbour Arm, Folkestone CT20 1QH, Kent, UK
Website: Folkestone Harbour Arm Festive Marketplace
Tickets: Free entry (no general admission fee)
Parking: Yes — on-site car parks at the Harbour Arm, pay & display (ANPR system) available
The atmosphere shifts from daytime shopping to evening sparkle as the lights come on and the harbour reflects the mood. According to info, parking is available on-site at the Harbour Arm car parks.
Faversham Christmas Market Weekend
Set in the historic market town of Faversham, this three-day event turns the picturesque Market Place and surrounding town centre into a festive shopping village. It features artisan crafts, local produce, unique gift stalls, flowers and wreaths, plus live music and seasonal entertainment. It’s the kind of market that blends a small-town charm with serious festive spirit — ideal for a relaxed, browse-and-treat kind of outing.
Dates: Friday 12 – Sunday 14 December 2025
Hours: Each day from 9 am to 4 pm
Address: Market Place & Court Street, Faversham ME13 7AG, Kent, UK Website: Faversham Market – Christmas Market Weekend Faversham Market
Tickets: Free entry
Parking: Yes — town-centre public car parks (see Swale Borough Council page) — parking may fill quickly
Visitors are encouraged to support local shops as well as market stalls, with cafés and boutiques adding to the day-out appeal.
The Pantiles Christmas Market
Nestled in the elegant Georgian colonnade of The Pantiles in Royal Tunbridge Wells, this market offers a refined festive shopping experience. Expect independent traders, gourmet food stalls, live carols and jazz under the town’s charming colonnades and twinkling lights. The setting is both historic and intimate, great for strolling with a mulled wine, finding one-of-a-kind gifts and soaking up the holiday atmosphere in style.
Dates: From Friday 14 November to Sunday 24 December 2025 (weekends until early December, then daily from 18 Dec)
Hours: 11 am - 8 pm
Address: The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK.
Website: The Pantiles Events
Tickets: Free entry
Parking: Yes — public car parks available nearby; visitor tip: arrive early as spaces fill
It’s especially lovely in the late afternoon/evening when the lights come on and the ambiance turns magical.
Hever Castle Festive Fair
For a stately and premium festive outing, the Fair at Hever Castle offers luxury gifts, home-ware, decorations and fine food producers within the beautiful grounds of the historic castle near Edenbridge. It’s less about rustic stalls and more about curated high-quality presents and festive elegance — perfect for early Christmas shopping in a heritage venue that adds grandeur to the mix.
Date: Thursday 6 November 2025
Hours: 10 am-4 pm (approx)
Address: Hever Castle, Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7NG, UK
Website: Hever Christmas Fair 2025 at Hever Castle
Tickets: Entry to the castle + fair (advance booking likely)
Parking: Yes — castle visitor car park available
Visitors can enjoy the castle setting before browsing the fair, enjoying refreshments and soaking in the festive calm away from the busiest markets.
Kent offers a rich tapestry of Christmas markets—from grand castle and cathedral-backdrops to seaside charm and boutique family venues. Whether you’re after handcrafted gifts, gourmet foods, atmospheric settings or simply a festive stroll, these eight events cover every mood. Make sure to plan ahead for parking and peak times, book any required tickets early, and arrive with plenty of time to soak in the lights, music and holiday magic. Bright lights, tasty treats and joyful markets await!
