Canterbury Christmas Market Returns Bigger, Brighter, and More Magical Than Ever!
The Christmas Market is an essential part of Canterbury’s festive season, with picture-perfect German-style wooden huts, delicious food and drink outlets, interactive characters and live music performances. It’s ideal for family days out, date nights, fun with friends or just some Yuletide You-Time!
Experience the magic of Canterbury at Christmas across the city's cobbled streets and shopping hot spots. In 2025, there will be even more stalls in the beautiful Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, doubling in size from 2024, plus extended weekend opening hours across all three zones, to make Canterbury one of the biggest Christmas Markets in the UK and the number one destination for this year’s Christmas Shopping.
Eight years ago there were just 30 wooden huts across one area, but then Herne Bay based Rockhopper Events took over the reins, growing the market year-on-year, and now into a dazzling wonderland of over 120 huts spread across three stunning locations: Whitefriars Shopping Centre, St George’s Street, and Canterbury Cathedral Precincts.
Running from 12th November to 24th December, visitors can expect an enchanting mix of 172 stallholders over the duration, offering everything from handcrafted gifts and local produce, to irresistible festive food and drink. With 84% retail & 16% food & beverage, there’s something for everyone , plus plenty of stocking fillers under £5.
This year’s opening hours are: Mon–Fri: 10am–6pm Saturday: 9am–7pm Sunday: 10am–5pm
Highlights for 2025 include:
The market has become a festive institution, and the majority of stallholders are based right here in Kent, alongside hand-picked national and international traders bringing global flavours and crafts. So whether you’re hunting for unique gifts, sipping mulled wine beneath twinkling lights, or snapping a photo in the giant snow globe, Canterbury Christmas Market promises to be the heart of the season once again.
Bookable Activities:
Lapland VR Experience
St George’s St | from £5
Race through Santa’s Christmas Wonderland using HD VR headsets.
Seats up to 6 people.
DASH’s Toy Workshop Rescue VR Ride
St George’s St | from £5
This VR sleigh ride features more immersive interactions than you can shake a candy cane at!
Breakfast with Santa
The Real Eating Company, Whitefriars | from £15
Bring the little ones along to a meet-and-greet with Santa! Enjoy breakfast, Christmas-themed activities and a small gift in this magical session, around 75 mins.
Santa’s Grotto with Talking Letterbox
St George’s St | from £12.50
Santa’s Grotto is four times bigger for 2025! Children take a magical journey through Elf Reception, through to the Activity Hut where they write their special letter and post it into the Talking Letterbox. Then it’s into the glittering, photo-friendly Enchanted Garden and onto the cosy grotto to meet Father Christmas himself and receive a special, ageappropriate gift.
Santa Paws
The Real Eating Company, Whitefriars | Sat 20 & Sun 21 Dec | 11–11.45am from £4
Bring your good boy or girl to meet Santa himself and get a gorgeous photo taken - plus a festive puppuccino and gift!
To book please visit: canterburychristmasmarket.co.uk
FREE
Address
Canterbury Christmas Market
Multiple
CT12TN
Links
