Oh Come All Ye Faithful: The Dickens Christmas Markets

Feeling festive? Fantasising about throwing caution to the proverbial wind and going to lovely German Christmas markets? Live near anywhere at all near Kent? Well, do I have the market for you.

The Dickens Christmas Markets will run for 17 days (!) in the picturesque grounds of Rochester Castle from the 3rd to the 19th of December. It’s already been snowing in a fairly delightful way there and I could almost be persuaded to guarantee that it’s going to be the best thing in the world universe. There’s going to be German chalets, roasted chestnut stalls, and, get this, a carousel that adults are allowed to ride on. People even dress up!

So much about this makes me enthusiastic about life. There’s going to be carollers, handmade delights to buy, and of course, the best kinds of food stalls. There’s disabled access, entertainment, toilets, it’s walking distance from Rochester train station, and the best bit? It’s free entry. It’s as though Charles Dickens himself wants you to get your Christmas on with as minimal bank-balance-emptying as possible. I think that’s rather honourable of the former Rochester resident.

Gates open at 4pm on Friday, but 10am - 7pm every other day (dependent on the weather), so if you find yourself at a loose end in the next fortnight, come on down! I’ll be the girl that’s casually loitering around the glühwein. Hehe. Glühwein.

Edit: Due to current weather conditions the opening of the markets has been delayed until 10am on the 4th of December. I do apologise for any inconvenience caused!

Images from The Dickens Christmas Market Official Website