600-year-old Christmas Fayre To Return To Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury’s Christmas celebrations are revealed as the festive market returns to the historic Cathedral.
Top Image Christmas Market 2023, Matt Wilson / Canterbury BID
The stunning medieval city is the perfect Christmas destination for visitors in search of a magical experience – and with the return of a 600-year-old fayre to the grounds of the Cathedral, the city’s Christmas Market will now be the largest in Kent.
Canterbury is one of the UK’s most popular destinations for festive breaks, with the world-famous Cathedral, cobbled streets, and medieval landmarks within one hour’s train journey from central London.
The traditional festive market and Christmas lights have been delighting visitors and residents for years, but 2024 is shaping up to be its most magical year yet.
Launching on Friday 15th November 2024 with the traditional Christmas Light Parade – which attracts thousands of visitors, and will culminate for the first time ever within the Cathedral’s historic Precincts – the city’s medieval streets will dazzle with six miles of twinkling lights, delightful festive window displays, a dozen Christmas trees, snowfall in Rose Square (days and times vary), and visits from Father Christmas at Fenwick department store.
Image Canterbury Christmas Parade 2022, Matt Wilson / Canterbury BID
Historic Christmas Market returns
First held in the Cathedral Precincts in 1383 following a royal grant by King Richard II, the Cathedral’s seasonal markets were hugely popular and ran for hundreds of years.
Reviving this centuries-old tradition for 2024, the modern Christmas fayre will feature a range of picturesque German-style wooden huts and will (for the first time since the 1800s) extend into the Cathedral Precincts. Stretching across the high street, Whitefriars open air shopping area and into the stunning cathedral grounds, the market will feature delicious food and drink outlets, a vintage-style carousel ride, mini-golf, interactive theatre and live music performances including Saturday Shoppers’ Carol Services.
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.
Image Canterbury Cathedral Christmas Market artist visualisation, created by R3NDER
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 on Wednesday 27th November with shops and market stalls staying open until 8pm, and Whitefriars Shopping Centre offering parking for £1 from 4pm.
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!
Bagpuss and Bear Window Trail
Canterbury has the most fantastic Christmas Window displays along its cobbled streets, and what better way to explore them than to take part in the Bagpuss and Bear Window Trail. Everyone’s favourite cloth cat Bagpuss (created in Canterbury) turned 50 this year and to celebrate he will be going on a tour of the city’s Christmas windows with his friends the Canterbury Bears (also in their 45th year).
Starting at The Beaney, meet the original Bagpuss in the Smallfilms exhibition, take a tour of the windows to collect special stamps, and finish at Fenwick where you can meet the Canterbury Bear family. There will also be a special performance of music from the Bagpuss series at Gulbenkian Arts Centre on 27th November.
There will be even more for families to enjoy, including a special children’s service at the Cathedral (including an appearance by St Nicholas) and the award-winning Marlowe Theatre panto, Beauty and the Beast and a brand-new family musical My Pet Star.
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Christmas services at Canterbury Cathedral
From large traditional carol services lead by the world-renowned Cathedral Choir, to stories and songs at the brand-new weekly Teatime Carol service, and 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.
Inspired by this year’s theme of ‘Journeys’, there will be the welcome return of the living nativity (including a donkey!) at the Festival of Carols, and of course it wouldn’t be Christmas in Canterbury without the appearance of St Nicholas.
The life-size nativity crib scene within the Cathedral’s magnificent Nave will be accessible for free after school from 3pm-5pm, Monday to Friday from 25th November to 20th December.
Laughing all the way!
You can get to Canterbury faster than Father Christmas this year with Southeastern highspeed trains taking just 55 minutes from London. And like Santa, it means you can enjoy a warming spirit during your visit.
So, bring your friends and family, and enjoy a magical time to Canterbury!
Key dates
15 Nov: Christmas Light Parade and Christmas Market Launch (6pm-8pm)
15 Nov: Twilight Christmas Market at Westgate Hall
16 Nov – 23 Dec: Whitefriars Snow Showers (days and times vary)
18 Nov – 22 Dec: Bagpuss and Bear Christmas Window Trail
22 Nov – 12 Jan: Beauty and the Beast at the Marlowe Theatre
25 Nov – 20 Dec: Life-size Crib, Canterbury Cathedral
27 Nov: Late-night Shopping (5pm-8pm, markets and shops)
26 Nov – 17 Dec: Tea-time Carols at the Crib (4pm each Tuesday)
27 Nov: Bagpuss: The Songs and Music at Gulbenkian Arts Centre
30 Nov – 24 Dec: Breakfast and Afternoon Tea with Santa (Fenwick)
7 Dec – 4 Jan: My Pet Star Family Musical at the Marlowe Theatre
7 – 19 Dec: The Snowsmith at the Gulbenkian Arts Centre
13-21 Dec: Luxmuralis at St Augustine’s Abbey and The King’s School
23 Dec: Cathedral Carol Service (5pm) at Canterbury Cathedral
24 Dec: Family Crib Service (10am) / Cathedral Carol Service (5pm) / Midnight Mass (11pm) at Canterbury Cathedral
24 Dec: Lord Mayor’s Carol Service (6.15pm, Rose Square)
25 Dec: Christmas Day Services at Canterbury Cathedral (9.15am / 11am with the Archbishop of Canterbury / 3pm)
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