One of the county’s largest Christmas markets, which attracts around 250,000 visitors each year, will return this winter.
The Rochester Christmas market, held within the grounds of the town’s Norman castle, is back for three weekends of shopping, food and drink, and live music. Here’s everything you need to know before you go…
The popular Christmas market returns to Rochester Castle for 2025. Picture: Medway Council
WHAT IS THE ROCHESTER CHRISTMAS MARKET?
It’s the largest festive market in Kent and will have more than 120 stalls selling gifts, decorations, toys, clothing and more.
Families can also enjoy funfair rides and free live entertainment on the bandstand.
The town’s Dickensian Christmas Festival will also return as part of the annual festivities, taking place over just one weekend.
The weekender is a tribute to Medway’s own Charles Dickens with Victorian characters and costumes right out of the novelist’s books.
There will be a parade, street theatre and workshops, all inspired by Dickens’ best-loved stories, including the famous festive tale, A Christmas Carol.
The festival is a popular event in the town’s calendar and has drawn in around 70,000 people across the two days in previous years.
Thousands of visitors are expected to visit the market over three weekends. Picture: Sam Lawrie
WHEN IS IT HAPPENING?
The free-to-enter market opens on Friday, November 28 and will then continue on weekends until Sunday, December 14.
It’s open from 12 noon to 9pm on Fridays; 10am to 9pm on Saturdays; and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.
The Dickensian Christmas Festival takes place on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7.
The event boasts hundreds of stalls selling everything from handmade gifts to festive food and drink. Picture: Rachel Evans
WHERE CAN I EAT AND DRINK?
The market has a Bavarian food village serving everything from turkey dinner wraps to mulled wine and hot chocolate, along with pop-up bars and street food stalls dotted around the site.
The funfair will also sell sweet treats such as doughnuts and candyfloss.
There will be family activities, including a funfair and, during the Dickensian festival, workshops and parades. Picture: Rachel Evans
HOW DO I GET THERE?
There is limited parking in town over the weekend, however, the closest car parks are Cathedral Rochester and Blue Boar Lane.
Visitors are advised to use public transport when travelling to and from the market. The train station is a five-minute walk from the castle, and there are also bus routes available.
A park and ride service will be operating during the Dickensian Christmas Festival and the last weekend of the market from the University of Greenwich Medway Campus in Chatham. The 12-minute service costs £2 for a return trip and the last bus will leave Rochester at 6pm.
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