Things to do in Kent
The Christmas countdown is well and truly on!
If you're looking to keep the kids amused this weekend there is plenty of festive fun to tempt them outside.
We've rounded up seven events taking place across Kent that your family might enjoy:
1 Chartwell Christmas Market
Thursday, November 22 to Sunday, November 25.
Due to its overwhelming popularity the National Trust is extending the market to four days for the first time. There will be stalls with a wide range of gifts from local businesses from chocolates to candles and jewellery to antiques. It will be open from 10am to 4pm daily and is free to browse, though normal admission applies to the gardens, exhibition and studio.
2 Faversham Christmas Night Market
Saturday, November 24
Father Christmas is kicking off this popular event in Faversham on Saturday evening which begins at 5pm with the switching on of the Christmas lights. At 6pm the night market will follow and families are advised to wrap up warm in plenty of layers to enjoy everything the annual festive event has to offer.
Delicious food and drink and entertainment galore is promised. Blankets are also recommended for those not dancing!
The night market will be open in the town until 10pm. Learn more here.
3 Leeds Castle Presents 'Once Upon A Time at Christmas'
From Saturday, November 24
Paddington will join the festive stories being told through a series of gorgeous illustrations at Leeds Castle this Christmas. Once Upon a Time at Christmas opens this Saturday for the festive period.
See the magnificent Castle rooms beautifully displayed with glittering decorations and fragrant pine trees styled around a selection of well-known and much loved traditional winter tales.
The journey through classic Christmas stories will see visitors recognise characters from The Nutcracker, The Snow Queen and Sleeping Beauty. And lookout for Scrooge in the depiction of A Christmas Carol!
To learn more about the enchanting event and the Castle's Christmas market, which also opens this weekend and is running on all weekends in the run up to Christmas, click here.
4 Rochester Christmas Market
Saturday, November 24 and Sunday, November 25
Rochester's popular Christmas Market attraction returns for the festive period this weekend. Find unique and unusual gifts, stock up on stocking fillers, enjoy mulled wine, artisan chocolate and other festive treats. There is also live performances, a fun fair, food village and on Fridays all rides cost £1. There will also be a guaranteed snowfall!
The market is open from 10am until 6pm on Saturday and Sunday and noon until 8pm on Fridays.
5 Santa at Howletts Wild Animal Park
Saturday, November 24 and Sunday, November 25
Santa is joining the big cats and the elephants at Howletts as he prepares to bring some festive joy to visitors enjoying the popular wild animal park.
Along with his elves, Father Christmas will be meeting youngsters and their families within his grotto, giving out Christmas gifts and posing for photographs.
His grotto will be open every weekend from this Saturday. Entry is £10 per child, or £8 for members which includes a special festive gift and free admission into the grotto for adults.
Visit www.aspinallfoundation.org/howletts to learn more
6 Christmas at Hever Castle
Traditional Christmas Tales will enchant visitors to Hever Castle from this weekend as the Kent attraction gets ready for Christmas.
Beautifully decorated Castle rooms, welcoming log fires and twinkling Christmas trees will be celebrating the traditional Christmas tales. Outside in the grounds discover the festive trail themed around the Charles Dickens classic novel ‘A Christmas Carol’ and wander through the illuminated gardens as dusk falls.
You can also ride the carousel and enjoy vintage fairground stalls, meet characters along the Christmas trail and meet the huskies. To learn more all about the festive events that begin this weekend click here.
7 Tankerton Christmas Market
Sunday, November 25
Santa Claus in his grotto, Punch and Judy and Pip the Clown will all be amongst the guests at Tankerton Christmas Market. The event at Whitstable castle starts at 11am and finishes at 4.30pm.
Stalls will be spread across three floors of the castle and its grounds, there will also be fairground rides, magic tricks and lots of entertainment for youngsters.
