Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival
Rochester High Street and Castle Gardens, Rochester · 5 December to 6 December 2026
Image: Visit Medway (Medway Council)Image: Visit Medway (Medway Council)
Historic Rochester turns Victorian for a weekend, with costumed Dickens characters, parades and street performers filling the town centre. A Christmas market runs at Rochester Castle alongside a Bavarian-style food village and a funfair, and the organisers promise snow. Parking in the centre is limited, so the organisers recommend public transport.
Highlights
- Costumed parades and Dickens characters on the streets
- Christmas market at Rochester Castle
- Guaranteed snow, street entertainment and live performances
- Bavarian food village and funfair
Good to know
- Town centre parking is limited; Rochester station is about five minutes' walk from Castle Gardens
- Coaches and minibuses must pre-book parking
Getting there
Rochester High Street and Castle Gardens, Rochester town centre and Rochester Castle Gardens, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1SW
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against visitmedway.org, medway.gov.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the organiser before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Image: Rochester CastleRochester Castle
Rochester Castle is an imposing medieval fortress guarding an important crossing of the River Medway, with a complex history of destruction and rebuilding. Climb through the great keep for views over the river and city, then explore the cathedral and historic high street close by. Allow an hour or two.
Image: Rochester CathedralRochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral stands close to the castle in the heart of historic Rochester and is free to visit. Explore the cathedral and its medieval crypt, where there is a café, and see the Textus Roffensis exhibition. Pair it with the castle for a half day in Rochester.
Image: Visit MedwayRochester Guildhall Museum
Rochester Guildhall Museum on the High Street packs in local history, from a 200,000-year-old hand axe to a gallery on Charles Dickens. Climb to the Main Chamber, see Rochester Castle under siege in 1215 and walk aboard a reconstructed prison hulk. It suits families and history fans and pairs well with the castle and cathedral nearby.