Christmas Markets in Kent 2026

In 2026 Folkestone Festive Marketplace and The Pantiles Boutique Christmas Markets in Royal Tunbridge Wells open first, both on Friday 13 November. Folkestone Festive Marketplace runs to Thursday 24 December: it is open Fridays to Sundays until 20 December, then every day from Monday 21 December. Chiddingstone Castle's fair falls on Saturday 21 November. Rochester Christmas Market is open Friday to Sunday on three weekends, from 27 November to 13 December, and Maidstone Museum's craft market is a single Saturday, 5 December. The cards give each market's dates.

At Folkestone and Rochester, yes, on a lead, but pet dogs aren't allowed at Chiddingstone Castle's fair. Dogs are welcome on Folkestone's Harbour Arm provided they stay on a lead throughout, though not in every indoor business there, and Rochester welcomes dogs on a lead and notes that the market can get busy. Chiddingstone keeps pet dogs out because its fair is indoors and expected to be busy, though service dogs are welcome. Maidstone Museum welcomes service dogs and gives no rule for other dogs.

Rochester Christmas Market and Maidstone Museum Christmas Craft Market are both free to enter. Chiddingstone Castle Christmas Fair sells tickets, and all the profit from them goes to the castle's independent charitable trust, which cares for its buildings, collections and grounds. Folkestone Festive Marketplace has not published an entry charge.

Yes, though the arrangements differ. Parking at Chiddingstone Castle is free on fair day, on the North Lawn, which can be soft underfoot. Folkestone's main Harbour Arm car park charges standard tariffs, Blue Badge holders included, and the Fremlin Walk pay and display car park stands directly opposite Maidstone Museum. Rochester's centre has limited parking, and Medway Council asks visitors to come by public transport where they can.

Yes, for several. Rochester railway station is five minutes' walk from the Castle Gardens, and Maidstone East station is about two minutes from the museum on foot, through Brenchley Gardens. From Folkestone Central the Harbour Arm is a signposted walk of about 25 minutes, and buses run from the station to the harbour. For Chiddingstone Castle, the nearest stations include Penshurst, Edenbridge and Tonbridge, and the castle suggests booking a taxi ahead.

Access differs from one market to the next. Maidstone Museum's ground floor is fully accessible and lifts take visitors up to the top-floor stalls, though the wheelchair lift is not available to electric mobility scooters. On Folkestone's Harbour Arm, ramps and slopes reach most of the site, though wheelchair and scooter users are advised against the boardwalk, and accessible toilets stand at Harbour Station, in The Goods Yard and on the Arm itself. Chiddingstone Castle can be reached by ramp, but its first-floor rooms are up stairs, with no lift. Rochester has not published access details.