Canterbury Christmas Market
Visitors can explore traditional wooden chalets spread across the Cathedral Precincts, Whitefriars, and St George's Street, browsing for handcrafted ornaments, decorations, and holiday gifts. The market offers seasonal treats like mulled wine, hot chocolate, and marshmallows to toast over an open fire. Guests can also enjoy live music, festive photo points, character meet-and-greets, and bookable virtual reality adventures.
What to Expect
Kent's largest Christmas market, featuring over 120 wooden huts.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
City Centre
Timed Entry
Yes
Organizer
Rockhopper Events Ltd
Food & Drink
Find festive food and drink offerings, including mulled wine, hot chocolate and festive treats; visitors can also toast marshmallows over an open fire.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and christmas-market shoppers
Vibe
Festive and lively
Energy Level
Moderate
Budget
Free
Photo Friendly
High
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: Free admission; no tickets required except for bookable activities.
- Hours: 10 am.
- Parking: There are numerous car parks available both within the city walls and park and ride. Roads and car parks in and around Canterbury can become extremely busy in the festive season.
- Accessibility: The Canterbury Coach Park, about a 10-minute riverside walk from the market, has toilets including disabled facilities.
Tips & Advice
- Book Santa's Grotto, Breakfast with Santa, Santa Paws or the VR rides ahead, because these are the only parts of the market that need tickets.
- Allow plenty of time if you are driving, because roads and car parks around Canterbury get extremely busy in the festive season, and consider using park and ride.
- Visit between Thursday and Sunday to catch live music, which plays on those days alongside the festive piped music across the three areas.
- Walk all three sections: Whitefriars and St George's are a minute apart, and the Cathedral Precincts are a few minutes along The Parade via Mercery Lane.
- Use the postcode CT1 2TF in your satnav, which brings you close to several car parks, including the one at Whitefriars shopping centre.
Special Events & Promotions
- New this year: an extended section in the Canterbury Cathedral Precincts.
- Santa is in residence at his grotto from November 28 on selected dates, booked separately.
- Santa Paws is a bookable visit to Santa for pets.
- Breakfast with Santa is booked separately.
- The Lapland VR Experience and Dash's Toy Workshop Rescue VR ride are booked separately.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which activities need booking?
Santa's Grotto with talking letterbox, Santa Paws, Breakfast with Santa, the Lapland VR Experience and Dash's Toy Workshop Rescue VR ride all need booking. Bookings open on October 1.
Can we meet Santa?
Yes. Santa is in his grotto from November 28 on selected dates, where children can share their wish lists.
Is there live music?
Yes. Live music plays on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and festive piped music plays across all three areas.
What else is there to do besides shopping?
You can toast marshmallows over an open fire and meet costumed characters. There are also photo points and competitions to spot along the way.
How long does it take to walk between the market sections?
Whitefriars and St George's Street are a minute apart. The Cathedral Precincts are a few minutes' walk along The Parade, turning right at Mercery Lane.
More Christmas Events Near Canterbury
More Christmas Events near Canterbury
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.