Visit Medway

15/12/2024

Rochester Christmas Markey UPDATE
All car parks in Rochester are currently full. Visitors are advised to use free bus services or free park and rides service (follow the anchor signs). You can also use car parks in Strood and Chatham and walk in to the market.

Thank you for your understanding and we hope you have a wonderful day enjoying the festivities.

14/12/2024

Rochester Christmas Market UPDATE

All car parks in Rochester are currently full. Visitors are advised to use free bus services or free park and ride service (follow the anchor signs). You can also use car parks in Strood and Chatham and walk into the market.

Thank you for your understand and we hope you have a wonderful day enjoying the festivities.

14/12/2024

Rochester Christmas Market UPDATE

All car parks in Rochester are currently full. Visitors are advised to use free bus services or free park and ride service (follow the anchor signs). You can also use car parks in Strood and Chatham and walk into the market.

Thank you for your understand and we hope you have a wonderful day enjoying the festivities.

14/12/2024

14/12/2024

If your coming to the Rochester Christmas Market today, don't forget there is free bus travel and free park and ride. Find out more on our website

Rochester Christmas Market 2023

13/12/2024

Get ready for an amazing day at the Rochester Christmas Market!

11/12/2024

🎄✨ Getting to Rochester Christmas Market Made Easy! ✨🎄

Planning your visit to Rochester Christmas Market this weekend? Here’s how to get there stress-free:

🚗 Parking: Parking in Rochester will be limited, we encourage those who are able to use the services below.

🅿️ Park & Ride: Take the hassle out of parking! A convenient Park & Ride service will operate from the University of Greenwich Medway Campus on Saturday and Sunday, and it’s FREE! More details: https://orlo.uk/N6w4Q

🚌 FREE Bus Travel: Enjoy free bus travel all weekend across Medway! Leave the car at home and hop on a bus to join the festive fun. More info: https://orlo.uk/ZWCXq

🚆 By Train: Let the train take the strain! Visit https://orlo.uk/dEUfZ to plan your journey. Rochester Station is just a short walk from all the action.

11/12/2024

🎄✨ Your guide to local Christmas shopping in Medway ✨🎄

This season, Medway is the place to be for all your festive shopping, delicious food, and family fun. Here’s what’s coming up:

🎅 Rochester Christmas Market
📍 Rochester Castle Gardens
🕰️ This weekend!
Friday & Saturday: 10am–10pm
Sunday: 10am–6pm
Find unique gifts, enjoy live entertainment, and soak up the festive charm. Don’t miss the Funfair and the Bavarian Food Village for some extra Christmas fun and delicious treats!

🎁 Gillingham General Market
📍 Gillingham High Street
🕰️ Every Monday and Saturday (last market Mon, 23 Dec), 9am–4pm
For your everyday essentials!

🌾 Rochester Farmer's Market
📍 Blue Boar Lane Car Park, Rochester
🕰️ Sunday, 15 December, 9am–1pm
Shop fresh, local produce and artisan foods—perfect for your Christmas feast!

11/12/2024

🎄✨ Rochester Christmas Market is back this weekend with extended opening times! ✨🎄

🎅 Here’s what’s in store:

🍔 Bavarian Food Village: There’s delicious burgers, Bratwurst, vegan options, and sweet snacks!

🎁 Children’s Christmas Village: Little ones can meet Mrs. Claus and enjoy some festive cheer!

🎶 Live Entertainment: Talented bands will add to the festive spirit.

🎩 Dickensian Flavour: Keep an eye out for Dickensian-costumed characters roaming the streets—perfect for a photo op!

🎡 Funfair: Enjoy thrilling rides all weekend long, with £2 rides on Friday!

🔮 Psychic Alley: Explore the mysteries of fortune telling, available Saturday and Sunday in the Eastgate Quarter.

🛍️ Amazing Shopping Stalls: Find unique gifts for everyone on your list!

⏰ Opening Times:
Friday & Saturday: 10am–10pm
Sunday: 10am–6pm

✨ Bring your family, your friends, and your festive spirit to Rochester this weekend. Don’t miss out on the Christmas magic! 🌟

10/12/2024

What’s on in Rochester this weekend? (Fri 13, Sat 14 & Sun,15 Dec)

Whether you’re after the perfect Christmas gift, a tasty bite to eat or something to quench your thirst, Rochester town centre has it all.

There will be something for everyone this weekend – Rochester Castle Gardens and the historic High Street will be full of a variety of stalls, as part of Rochester Christmas Market (13, 14, 15 Dec), Artisan Market (14 & 15 Dec) and Farmers’ Market (15 Dec).

Walk along Rochester’s picturesque High Street and enjoy viewing the festive-decorated window displays and step inside to find a special gift or enjoy a relaxing pit stop. Don't forget to swing by the Eastgate Quarter where you’ll find the enchanting Psychic Alley, brought to you by Rochester City Centre Forum.

Step back in time at The Guildhall Museum and Eastgate House, or climb the steps of Rochester Castle and overlook the impressive Rochester Cathedral whilst listening to live performers in the castle gardens.

What’s more is you can travel to Rochester free this weekend thanks to Arriva offering free bus travel in Medway on Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 December or use our free park and ride from the University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime Campus, from 9am to 6pm on Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 December.

If you are heading to Rochester, we’d advise travelling by public transport where possible - there will be reduced parking on Sunday due to the farmers’ market in Blue Boar car park.

For more information about Christmas in Medway, visit: https://orlo.uk/FzJEG

10/12/2024

NEWS just in: This weekend is the final chance to visit Rochester Christmas Market, including the fun fair and Children’s Christmas Village, and we’re excited to announce that working with Rochester City Centre Forum we have...

>> On Rochester High Street the Artisan Market (14 & 15 Dec) and Farmers’ Markets in Blue Boar car park (15 Dec) alongside the independent shops, restaurants and bars.

>> Dickens characters, Morris sides and performers
Although the Dickensian Festival was cancelled due to strong winds from Storm Darragh, we are excited to confirm that visitors will be able to see some of the costumed characters and enjoy performances from Morris dancers and performers who will be roaming the markets and High Street on Saturday and Sunday.

Although there won’t be a parade or carol service, we are grateful to those who will bring a flavour of the Dickensian themed event this weekend, whilst visitors enjoy all that Rochester has to offer in the run-up to Christmas.

>> Market open for longer
The Christmas Market’s opening hours are being extended, giving you even more opportunity to find the perfect gift, enjoy a tasty bite to eat or quench your thirst with a mulled wine or hot chocolate.

Thanks to the support of our stallholders, local businesses and the Rochester City Centre Forum the extended market hours are:

Rochester Christmas Market – Rochester Castle Gardens
Friday and Saturday: 10am - 10pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm

Artisan Market
Along Rochester High Street: Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 5pm
In Kings Head car park: Saturday, 10am – 8pm and Sunday, 10am - 5pm

>> Free bus travel – extended hours
We are also grateful to our friends at Arriva and Nu-Venture who have extended the hours of free bus travel in Medway this weekend (Sat, 14 & Sun, 15 Dec) in line with the later Rochester Christmas Market finishing times.

You will also be able to travel on ASD, Chalkwell and Red Route buses in Medway this weekend for free until 8pm.

>> Free park and ride
We are pleased we have been able to reorganise park and ride, and what’s more is that it’s free.

On Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 December, from 9am to 6pm, from the University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime Campus ME4 4TB.

All buses are wheelchair accessible and will be dropping off and collecting passengers from the Adult Education bus stop on the A2 Corporation Street, Rochester. Please follow the anchor signage for The Historic Dockyard Chatham and then follow the yellow park and ride signage for the university campus.

>> Rochester High Street businesses trading outside
This weekend you’ll see some of the businesses working outside on the cobbled streets, selling something to quench your thirst. Do also take a look inside and see what Rochester’s shops, restaurants, bars and pubs have to offer.

Don’t miss out – visit Rochester and have a memorable time with friends and family this weekend.

For more information about Christmas in Medway, visit: https://orlo.uk/AfVrQ

10/12/2024

There's plenty of festive fun for the family at The Guildhall Museum❄

The elves are back and up to their usual mischief, can you find them all on our Elf Trail? Or instead of being a detective, maybe you're feeling creative and want to enjoy our weekly festive crafts every Saturday🎨

Learn more👉 https://orlo.uk/1dS0n

09/12/2024

🔔 Update following the cancellation of Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival 🔔

Unfortunately Storm Darragh meant the cancellation of events across the country, including our beloved Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival on Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 December. A great deal of organisation goes into holding large-scale events and we understand how disappointing it would have been for everyone involved, including our residents, visitors, local businesses and performers. Thank you for your understanding.

There are no plans to rearrange the festival or hold any parades or carol concerts this coming weekend. However, we really want to support local businesses, costumed characters, stall holders and performers as much as possible for the final weekend of Rochester Christmas Markets (13, 14 & 15 Dec) which includes the Artisan Market in Rochester High Street (14 & 15 Dec) and Farmers’ Market in Blue Boar Car Park (15 Dec), and help make the weekend even more memorable for all our visitors.

We are currently developing a plan with partners, including the Rochester City Centre Forum, to see what is possible and we hope to announce details on Tuesday, 10 December and throughout the week.

For more details on Christmas in Medway, visit: https://orlo.uk/tTBhT

08/12/2024

Rochester High Street is open as usual and bursting with festive charm - stop by all the wonderful shops, cafes and pubs to see what they have to offer!

For those who had planned to visit Rochester this weekend, there's still plenty to do on the high-street! 🛍️🍽️🍻

Rochester remains a magical place to visit ✨, and the wonderful selection of shops 🛒, restaurants 🍴, bars 🍸, and pubs 🍺—as well as Eastgate House 🏰 and the Guildhall Museum 🖼️—will be open as usual along Rochester’s historic High Street.

Learn more: https://orlo.uk/mHZHJ 🌐

Photo by Steve Hartridge

08/12/2024

Rochester High Street is open as usual to help you get into the festive spirit!

Although Rochester Christmas Market is closed and the Dickensian Festival is cancelled today (Sun, 8 Dec) due to the weather, you can still do some festive shopping in the historic town’s bespoke shops.

Don’t forget to visit our beautiful and festive decorated Eastgate House too!

If you’re feeling peckish, why not take cover from the rain and wind in one of the High Street’s delicious restaurants or enjoy a tipple in one of the pubs or bars.

For more information about Christmas in Medway, visit: https://orlo.uk/Rgdam

08/12/2024

>> REMINDER: Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival remains cancelled and Rochester Christmas Market remains closed

Just a reminder that Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival remains cancelled today (Sunday, 8 December) due to the forecasted high winds.

Rochester Castle Gardens – including Rochester Christmas Market, Children’s Christmas Village and funfair – also remains closed today (8 Dec).

We appreciate how disappointing this will be for those who had planned to visit this weekend. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is necessary to ensure the safety of our visitors and everyone involved with the market, Children's Christmas Village, funfair and festival.

Rochester remains a magical place to visit and the wonderful selection of shops, restaurants, bars and pubs, as well as Eastgate House and The Guildhall Museum, will be open as usual along Rochester’s historic High Street.

Ticketholders to the Children’s Christmas Village are being contacted directly by Medway Tickets Live box office to arrange a refund or alternative date to enjoy the festive experience.

Rochester Christmas Market, the Children’s Christmas Village and funfair are due to reopen as scheduled from Friday, 13 December.

For more details of what’s on this Christmas in Medway, visit: https://orlo.uk/94Hsn

07/12/2024

For those who had planned to visit Rochester this weekend, there's still plenty to do on the high-street! 🛍️🍽️🍻

Rochester remains a magical place to visit ✨, and the wonderful selection of shops 🛒, restaurants 🍴, bars 🍸, and pubs 🍺—as well as Eastgate House 🏰 and the Guildhall Museum 🖼️—will be open as usual along Rochester’s historic High Street.

Learn more: https://orlo.uk/cBcBf 🌐

Photo by Steve Hartridge