DAYSOUT
SEASONAL SNEAK PEEK
BRADBOURNE MISSION CHRISTMAS FOLKESTONE CHRISTMAS MARKET
CANTERBURY CHRISTMAS MARKET
4. Family Magic: Santa Visits
Christmas simply wouldn’ t be complete without paying a visit to Santa himself! On 21 and 23 December, join the team at East Malling’ s Bradbourne House( bradbournehousekent. co. uk) for a Brunch with Santa. After meeting and having your photo taken with Father Christmas, families can tuck into a delicious brunch buffet prepared by the house’ s on-site elves. If it’ s a fantastical festive adventure you’ re after, don’ t miss The Historic Dockyard Chatham’ s( thedockyard. co. uk) Mission Christmas – combining an utterly immersive elf experience with a memorable Santa meet-and-greet for a whole day of seasonal enjoyment.
5. A Gift of Kent: Christmas Markets
Offering up the perfect opportunity to tackle that all-important gift list and support local businesses too, the county’ s beloved Christmas markets are all set to make their return for 2025. Brimming with talented makers and artisan goodies, Folkestone’ s Harbour Marketplace( folkestoneharbourarm. co. uk) will kick off its renowned celebrations from 14 November, soon joined by indie havens Canterbury and Rochester as they transform from historic city centres into bustling winter wonderlands packed with endless treats and treasures.
6. Festive Feasts: Christmas Drinks & Dining
‘ Tis the season to sip, savour and celebrate with loved ones. Reserve your table between 24 November and 22 December at beautiful events venue The Ferry House
( theferryhouse. co. uk) in Harty as they present this year’ s perfectly curated festive menu showcasing delightful dishes of tasty homegrown and local produce. For larger parties, or an extra special celebration, the charmingly snug, private dining Forest Lodge adventure shacks at Elite Pubs’( elitepubs. com) finest Kentish spots- including The Farm House in West Malling and Bethersden’ s The Pig & Sty- set the perfect festive scene.
7. Glide into Christmas: Ice Skating
Wrap up warm, lace up your skates and get ready to take to the ice as SKATE( assemblyhalltheatre. co. uk) at Tunbridge Wells’ Calverley Grounds returns from 5 December- 4 January. Bringing heaps of festive cheer and suitable for both proskaters and those taking to the rink for the first time, SKATE promises an unforgettable day out for the whole family.
8. Twinkling Nights: Light Trails
There’ s nothing quite like marvelling at captivating light displays across some of Kent’ s most whimsical attractions. Running from 21 November- 31 December, booking is now open for Leeds Castle’ s( leeds-castle. com) adored annual light spectacular, where immersive installations, spectacular selfie backdrops and wondrous sights combine to thrill all ages. Betteshanger Country Park( betteshangerpark. co. uk) will also beckon families for some outdoor magic throughout December as its awe-inspiring landscapes transform for its 2025 Christmas showcase. While new for 2025, Port Lympne Illuminated( portlympneilluminated. com) is set to be
the sell-out of the season as the animal reserve is transformed like never before with dazzling light trails, a vintage funfair and forest fairy magic between 28 November and 3 January 2026.
9. Christmas Classics: Order Your Turkey
The beloved Christmas table centrepiece, reserving the finest Kentish turkey for the big day is one task you won’ t want to leave to the last minute. Free range and reared to the highest standard, Favershambased Sam’ s Turkeys( samsturkeys. co. uk) has got you covered for a festive bird with superb tenderness and flavour. Over in the flourishing fields of Biddenden and also championing taste, tradition and ethical practices, Kent Turkeys( kentturkeys. co. uk) delivers with exceptional tasting KerryBronze turkeys now available to pre-order. Kent even boasts its own musical turkey connection courtesy of JLS’ s JB Gill( jbgill. com / farm) whose North Kent farm is celebrating its tenth year of rearing award-winning KellyBronze turkeys for your Kentish table.
10. Seasonal Rejuvenation: Cosy Kentish Stays
Plan to escape the festive hustle and bustle and cosy up in one of Kent’ s warmest boltholes. If a home-from-home hideaway is calling your name, Bloom Stays’( bloomstays. com) characterful coastal, city and countryside getaways make for an excellent choice. If you’ re craving pure splendour and luxury comforts, Champneys Eastwell Manor’ s( champneys. com / hotels) roaring fires, rich interiors and splendid spa facilities offer a delightful setting for a Christmas Spa Break. www. insidekent. co. uk • 51