Tonbridge Christmas Fest
27 November – 13 December 2026
Tonbridge Castle, Tonbridge, Kent(TN9 1BG)
Tonbridge Christmas Fest turns the grounds of Tonbridge Castle in Kent into a Christmas market and festival over three weekends. You walk in along Candy Cane Lane, a tunnel of lights, to a Market Village of gifts, many handmade, with decorations and home baking, edged by ten lit trees with elves hiding in their branches. Post a letter to Santa at the North Pole post box, toast marshmallows beneath the Christmas lights, and catch choirs and singers in the Christmas Lounge marquee, where the snow machines nearby start up on the hour. The Food Village runs from bratwurst and waffles to hot crumble and custard, and the Candy Cane Bar pours mulled wine. Walking in is free and needs no ticket; Father Christmas sees families in his Christmas Cabin, booked in advance.
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What to expect
Date & times
27 November – 13 December 2026
Getting there
Tonbridge Castle, Tonbridge, Kent (TN9 1BG for sat nav)
Dogs
Dogs welcome on a lead
Accessibility
Available: Step-free access, Accessible toilets, Accessible parking / blue badge parking. Not confirmed: Wheelchair accessible, Accessible viewing areas.
Stalls
Stall list coming soon
Live schedule
Full timetable available when market goes live
Interactive map
Site map with GPS location available when market goes live
Live announcements
Real-time updates available when market goes live
Dogs at this market
Dogs are welcome at this market, on a lead.
Notes
Well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout the outdoor Market areas, on a short lead. They cannot go to ticketed events or into the Christmas Lounge. Registered assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas by law.
Accessibility
Confirmed:
- Step-free access
- Accessible toilets
- Accessible parking / blue badge parking
Not confirmed:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accessible viewing areas
Notes
Most public areas, including the Christmas Lounge, have step-free access, and there are accessible toilets on site. Disabled bays are available at all three car parks. Some paths in the grounds are uneven and can be slippery in wet or icy weather.
Frequently asked questions
When is Tonbridge Christmas Fest in 2026?
It runs over three weekends: Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November, Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December, and Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 December 2026.
What are the opening times?
The festival lists weekdays as 1pm to 7pm and weekends as 10:30am to 7pm. On Sunday 29 November only, the festival closes early at 5:30pm because of the Tonbridge High Street Christmas Light Switch-On. General admission has no last entry time; ticketed events have their own times on the booking confirmation.
Is it free to get in, and do I need a ticket?
Entry is completely free: the Christmas Market, the Food Village and the festive atmosphere need no ticket. Some experiences are ticketed: the Christmas Cabin visit with Father Christmas is £15 per child plus a booking fee, children's shows and workshops are priced per child and per adult plus a booking fee, meet and greets are £5 per child with adults free, and the evening shows are for over-18s, from £22.50 per adult. Prices are for 2026.
Where is Tonbridge Christmas Fest?
At Tonbridge Castle, Tonbridge, TN9 1BG.
What is there to do?
The free areas include the Market Village, with traditional Christmas goods, handmade gifts, decorations and homemade bakes, Santa's Post Office, the Food Village, the Candy Cane Bar, Marshmallow Corner, Candy Cane Lane, a parade of ten lit Christmas trees and snow machines near the Christmas Lounge every hour, on the hour. The Christmas Lounge is a marquee with daily live entertainment, from choirs and singers to children's workshops and meet and greets.
What can I eat and drink?
The Food Village has noodles, smash burgers, waffles, hot fruit crumble and custard, boozy hot chocolate, bratwurst and a pick 'n' mix. The Candy Cane Bar serves mulled wine, Guinness, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Outside food and drink cannot be taken into the Christmas Lounge, but food from the on-site traders can. Bars and food outlets take cash and card; market traders may take card only, and this varies by stall.
Can I visit Father Christmas?
Yes, at the Christmas Cabin, a private family visit with letter writing and a gift for each paying child. It costs £15 per child plus a booking fee and is booked in advance in 15-minute arrival windows. In 2026 it runs on selected dates: Fridays from 3pm to 7pm, Saturdays from 10:30am to 7pm and Sundays from 10:30am to 5pm, and is closed on Thursday 3 and Thursday 10 December.
Are dogs allowed?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome throughout the outdoor Market areas, on a short lead. They cannot go to ticketed events or into the Christmas Lounge. Registered assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.
Is it accessible?
Most public areas, including the Christmas Lounge, have step-free access, and there are accessible toilets on site. Disabled bays are available at all three car parks. Some paths in the grounds are uneven and can be slippery in wet or icy weather.
How do I get to Tonbridge Christmas Fest by train or bus?
Tonbridge station has regular trains from London Charing Cross taking about 45 minutes, and the Castle is roughly a 10-minute walk from the station via the High Street. Local buses serve the town centre. The Tudor Trail, a largely traffic-free route along the River Medway, runs through Tonbridge, and there are bike racks outside the Castle grounds.
Where do I park for Tonbridge Christmas Fest?
Parking in the Castle grounds is limited. The nearby car parks are pay and display, run by Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council: Castle Grounds (TN9 1BH, on site), Upper Castle Field (TN9 1BH, about 5 minutes' walk) and Lower Castle Field (TN9 1HR, about 5 to 10 minutes' walk). Disabled bays are available at all three.
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