Christmas In Canterbury 2025
Canterbury is the perfect Christmas destination for visitors in search of a magical experience in 2025, with the biggest Christmas market in Kent, sparkling lights across the city, and beautiful traditional wooden huts under the glow of the world-famous cathedral.
You can experience the best of the season in our cosmopolitan yet historic city, within one hour from central London.
Here's what's happening for 2025, and and remember you can get to Canterbury faster than Father Christmas with Southeastern highspeed trains taking just 55 minutes from London - or make it a winter break and book a room direct with one of our beautiful hotels and traditional B&Bs.
For the best way to give the gift of Canterbury, take a look at the Canterbury Gift Card (available as digital and physical cards)
Get ready for the sensational celebration of Christmas in Canterbury with the Christmas Light Switch On!
Launching on Friday 14 November 2025 the event attracts thousands of visitors as the city’s medieval streets will dazzle with six miles of twinkling lights, delightful festive window displays, Christmas trees, snowfall and live entertainment at different stages across the city - including within the Cathedral’s historic Precincts.
There are 12 themed locations stretching from Westgate Hall to Whitefriars, where you can see the lights twinkle from any location.
Attractions: Christmas Markets * Snow machines * Frozen Characters and Trail * Outdoor Cinema * LEGO Trail launch * Live Music and Performances * Santa and his Sleigh * Selfie Opportunities and more!
The switch on starts at 5pm in the city with full details available HERE.
Kent's Biggest Christmas Market!
Canterbury's Christmas is a joy to behold, with traditional wooden huts dotted across the city and within Canterbury Cathedral's precincts.
The modern Christmas fayre will feature a range of picturesque German-style wooden huts, stretching across the high street, Whitefriars open air shopping area and into the stunning cathedral grounds.
Expect beautiful stalls with gift ideas as well as delicious food and drink outlets, plus:
- Santa’s Grotto & Breakfast with Santa
- Live music and piped music throughout
- Virtual Reality Sleigh Ride
- Christmas Games & Carousel
- Marshmallow Toasting
- Giant Snow Globe Bauble
- 25ft Christmas Tree and twinkling lit archway
- Magical snow falls
- Character walkabouts
- Two Makers’ Huts showcasing nearly 40 Kent based makers and producers
- Late Night Shopping on Saturday 13th December
There will be free entry to the Precincts during the market, and sightseers will only need to pay to go inside the Cathedral and Cloister during visiting hours.
This year’s opening hours are: Mon–Fri: 10am–6pm Saturday: 9am–7pm Sunday: 10am–5pm
Shopping for everyone
Shoppers can be sure of finding that perfect gift thanks to a host of luxury brands, high-street favourites, boutiques, and artisan makers in the historic city, including over 120 retailers in the Christmas Market’s German-style huts.
There will be a late-night shopping event during the season, check back for exact dates and times.
Traditional cheer continues into the evenings with a wide choice of entertainment venues and a huge range of fine-dining restaurants, stylish bars, cosy pubs, eateries, and amazing street food stalls across the city’s distinctive quarters and historic areas - even the most demanding foodie can enjoy a festive feast!
Christmas Window Trail - LEGO!
Canterbury has the most fantastic Christmas Window displays along its cobbled streets, and every year a special window trail featuring themed displays is organised to allow families to explore them and win little prizes.
And this year's theme is...LEGO!
Full trail details will be announced here nearer the time, but visitors will be able to tour the windows and collect special free stamps at every stop in exchange for small prize - and there will be the chance to win a huge prize with Fenwick too!
There will be even more for families to enjoy at Christmas, including a special children’s service at the Cathedral and the award-winning Marlowe Theatre panto, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs
Christmas services at Canterbury Cathedral
From large traditional carol services lead by the world-renowned Cathedral Choir to a range of family-friendly craft activities throughout the season, there are a huge number of Advent and Christmas services and special events at Canterbury Cathedral.
Head to the Canterbury Cathedral website for details of seasonal services
Did you know?
- It takes more than 6 miles of twinkling festive lights, and over 118,000 LEDs, to decorate Canterbury’s medieval streets and buildings at Christmas. The lights are organised by Canterbury BID with support from partners across the city
- Canterbury Cathedral’s festive market ran from 1383 until 1813 when, following concerns of ‘indecency and tumultuous conduct’, it closed for the final time.
- Christmas has always been hugely important in Canterbury. When the Puritans banned Christmas in 1647, the people of the city rebelled, and a Christmas Day game of football descended into full-blown rioting. Ultimately, the city’s Plum Pudding Riots, as they came to be known, led to a revolt by Royalists across Kent and the second round of the English Civil War.
- It is always free to attend a service of worship or to go into Canterbury Cathedral to pray. Donations given at the Cathedral’s two traditional carol services, and at all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services will, after deduction of costs, be shared equally between the Cathedral and The Social Justice Network.
