Rochester Christmas Market 2026

Rochester station is the one to use, and Visit Medway, the council's tourism arm, says it is a five-minute walk from Rochester Castle Gardens. The station is managed by Southeastern and National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms. The council encourages visitors to come by public transport because parking in the centre of Rochester is limited. Note that the station car park is small, with 110 spaces and no accessible bays listed.

Medway Council runs the car parks around the castle and they are small, so expect them to fill early on market days. Charges apply 7am to 1am every day and Blue Badge holders park free, though at the number plate recognition car parks (Corporation Street, Blue Boar Lane and the multi-storey) the badge must be registered before you drive in. The multi-storey on Cory's Road is the largest and the only long-stay one listed here. Visit Medway says extra travel and parking arrangements for the 2026 market will be published later, and that park and ride details for big events come out nearer the time. Prices were read in October 2026.

The council runs "quiet shopping time" sessions for people who want a gentler visit: no music, fairground sounds or bangs, reduced capacity and daylight hours. The dates listed are Friday 27 November, 12pm to 3pm; Sunday 29 November, 10am to 11.30am; Fridays 4 and 11 December, 12pm to 3pm; and Sunday 13 December, 10am to 11.30am. The page heading still says 2025, but the days of the week match the 2026 market, so treat them as provisional until the council updates it. Blue Badge spaces are available in all the council's pay and display car parks.

The Dickensian Christmas Festival takes over Rochester on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, the market's middle weekend. It is free, with costumed parades, carol singers, bell ringers and street theatre based on Dickens characters. The council puts attendance at about 70,000 over the two days, on top of the market crowd, so that weekend is the fullest of the three.

Rochester's centre is one long High Street running from the bridge past the castle and cathedral, and all of it is within ten minutes' walk of the Castle Gardens. Strood, across the bridge, is about fifteen minutes on foot. Chatham is the next town along and is one stop away by train rather than a comfortable walk.