Dorchester Abbey Christmas Market
Visitors can browse more than 40 stalls offering gifts, holiday foods, floristry wreaths, and homemade cakes from the Abbey Tea Room. The market features festive refreshments such as mulled wine and bratwurst alongside all-day live music including choirs, brass, and carols. Families can also visit Father Christmas inside a sparkling grotto.
What to Expect
Over 40 festive stalls, live music, and Father Christmas inside Dorchester Abbey.
Event Details
Ages
All ages
Neighborhood
Dorchester on Thames
Timed Entry
No
Organizer
Dorchester Abbey
Food & Drink
The market offers bratwurst, mulled wine, homemade Christmas cakes and takeaway food, plus tea and mince pies.
Local Insight & Ratings
Family Friendly
Best For
Families and festive christmas shoppers
Vibe
Festive and community-focused
Energy Level
Moderate
Budget
£
Photo Friendly
Moderate
Weather Sensitivity
Moderate
Location
Know Before You Go
- Tickets: £1.
Tips & Advice
- Book a Father Christmas slot online once booking opens on 1 November, so you don't have to queue at the grotto on market day.
- Bring cash or a card for the grotto, because families are asked to pay what they can afford and the elves take payment at the door.
- If anyone in your family has dietary needs, pre-order your Christmas cake online, because dietary requirements are only catered for on advance orders.
- Order your florist-made wreath in advance and pay online, then collect it at the market or from the Abbey office the following week.
- When you need a break from shopping, get a cup of tea and a mince pie and sit down to listen to the live Christmas music.
Special Events & Promotions
- Father Christmas grotto slots can be booked online from 1 November, with pay-what-you-can on the day.
- Wreaths, Abbey Tea Room Christmas cakes and Abbey Christmas cards can be pre-ordered online to collect at the market.
Quick Actions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we book to see Father Christmas?
Slots can be booked online from 1 November so you don't have to queue. Booking is free, and families are asked to pay what they can afford on the day. The elves at the grotto door take cash or cards.
What do children get from Father Christmas?
He chats with each child in his grotto inside the Abbey and gives them small presents. The presents are good-quality second-hand books and toys, reindeer food and a Christmas gingerbread person.
What food and drink is there?
There's bratwurst and mulled wine, plus the Tea Room stall with homemade Christmas cakes and food to take away. You can also get a cup of tea and a mince pie and sit down to listen to the music.
Can I order a wreath, Christmas cake or cards ahead of time?
Yes. Order and pay online, then collect at the market or from the Abbey office the following week. Dietary requirements can only be catered for on advance orders, and only where possible. Order online, then email your requirements to the fundraising team.
How can I get a stall?
Apply using the stallholder form. Stallholders pay a 10% commission on sales and donate a raffle prize, and a second table costs extra. Stalls are always oversubscribed. They are chosen on previous year's sales and to keep a range of goods, and similar applications are first come, first served.
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Always check the official website for the most current information.
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