What's Coming Up In Kent, Sussex & London
Here we dig out some of the best events going on in Kent & Sussex – as well as some further afield that are well worth the travel – and offer inspiration for your days out. So get booking these great dates now...
Photo by Colin Lloyd on Unsplash
Until September 2025: The Bognor Regis Time Portal, The Promenade opposite the Place St Maur
Created by local artist Matt Reed, The Bognor Regis Time Portal is an immersive experience that is free for anyone to use, located on The Promenade opposite the Place St Maur. Take a look at what life in the 19th century was like using this augmented reality technology, where they say “recreations of the wooden bathing machines that once lined the beach brought back in three dimensions for you to explore”. Plus you will have the chance to meet Victorian celebrity Mary Wheatland through a life-sized hologram.
To find out more click here.
Selected dates until 22nd December: The Pantiles Christmas Markets, Tunbridge Wells
Go and immerse yourself in a winter wonderland at The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells this Christmas and explore the festive pitches, enjoy the live entertainment with performances from talented musicians, choirs and local theatre groups, stare in awe at the Christmas tree installation and twinkling lights on the bandstand and don’t forget to take the little ones to meet Santa too. Open from Thursdays to Sundays, from 10am to 7pm, the markets will begin on 15th November and run until 22nd December, plus the market is also open Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th December.
To find out more click here.
Until 29th December: Illuminate, Tonbridge Castle, Kent
Returning from 24th November, Christmas at the Castle will bring the historic location aglow with festive colour and cheer. Illuminate is back with a brand new extended trail, which will showcase even more of the historic grounds of the castle. And there’s just as much fun to be enjoyed in the day and as the sun sets with the free to enter Tonbridge Christmas Village which offers a selection of Christmas market stalls located around Cannon Lawn as well as a spacious food and drink court with an extended seating area under the tree canopy. Support local and pick up some presents from the 20 talented traders offering a treasure trove of unique gifts and festive products. The market stalls are open every Thursday- Sunday from 24th November to 15th December and every day from 16th until 23rd December (Monday- Friday: 3pm- 8pm, Saturday- Sunday 10am- 8pm), with the food and drink court open from 24th November to 29th December (Monday- Friday: 3pm- 8pm, Saturday- Sunday 10am- 9pm).
To find out more click here.
Until 5th January: Curtain Up, Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst
Curtain Up is this year’s celebrations at Christmas at Scotney, where you are offered the chance to escape reality and step into a glittering world of performance, entertainment and nostalgia. During their Late Nights & Lights sessions on selected dates you will see the house illuminated inside and out, enjoy glittering trees, sparkling decorations and beautiful lights with the focus of the illuminations on the mansion house and its immediate surrounds rather than being a full light trail. There will also be the chance to toast marshmallows (small separate charge applies), browse the shop for gifts and Christmas homeware, and enjoy some tasty treats in the cosy tea-room.
To find out more click here.
7th December: Christmas Makers Fair, Shoreham-by-Sea
The Christmas Makers Fair returns to Shoreham for its eighth year on 7th December at The Shoreham Centre, in Shoreham-by-Sea between 10am and 3.30pm. There is free entry to this event which offers the chance to immerse yourself in a world of creativity and craftsmanship, as you browse the unique creations of the talented artists and makers that have come to display their works. This is an ideal event for one-of-a-kind gifts, handmade decorations and treats, including hand crafted jewellery, ceramics, designed textiles, home wares and artwork. Plus Truffle Witch will be attending with the delicious homemade chocolates to buy as a gift – or for yourself! There will also be live performances, and delightful tasty treats, both savoury and sweet, to try as there will be a pop-up cafe run by local baker Seashore Bakes. There will also be the chance to take part in a wreath making workshop with Bunches of Sussexs.
To find out more click here.
7th December: Tunbridge Wells Santa in the City fun run
On 7th December, a Santa in the City 3K fun run is being held in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park in Tunbridge Wells. Why not take part in this really festive, community event with Mike Martin MP welcoming guests at the start, West Kent Radio, a tombola, carol singing, mulled wine and much more? This 3km route is designed with adults and children in mind and is suitable for all abilities. Every adult runner is provided with a five-piece Santa Suit (hat, beard, jacket, trousers and belt), runner number and medal. Mental Health Resource has a limited number of charity places for a reduced registration fee of just £5. Participants racing on their behalf will also need to commit to fundraising a minimum of £50. Kids run for free!
To find out more click here.
14th & 15th December: The WonderWorks Events for Families, Margate
10am-3pm: Christmas Bauble Making. Join the team for a special bauble-making workshop where you can paint your own Airfix soldier to place inside a Christmas bauble. This unique craft makes for a perfect gift or decoration for the holiday season.
To find out more click here.
21st December: Burning The Clocks, Brighton
To mark the shortest day of the year Same Sky is aiming to bring the city of Brighton together in a community event where people parade through the city with paper and willow lanterns which they have made themselves to a bonfire located on Kemptown beach. The theme of this year’s event, which is funded by Arts Council England, is Voyager. Lantern Packs can be purchased at Infinity Foods Coop, Book Nook Hove, and their online shop.
To find out more click here.
26th December: Boxing Day Walk
Join the National Trust for a walk around the Ightham Mote Estate after a light breakfast in the café (A sausage and bacon, or vegan bap and a hot drink is included in the ticket price.). The walk lasts around 60-90 minutes.
To find out more click here.
24th-25th January: Gravesham Light Festival
Held in various locations across the borough, this popular event is back for January 2025. The theme this year for Gravesham Light Festival is the Circus of Life, aiming to “illuminate the streets of Gravesend in the dark days of winter with a joyous, ambitious celebration of fun and creativity, interaction and installation” and will include a promenading Disco Turtle, trapeze artists suspended on a travelling storm ship, plus circus performers and a canopy of illuminated jelly fish.
To find out more click here.
Until 2nd March: Lost Gardens of London, Garden Museum, Lambeth
Did you know that Southwark once had a zoo? That for a short spell Britain’s first ecological park was built within a stone’s throw of Tower Bridge? Or that one of the capital’s most celebrated botanical garden now lies beneath the platforms of Waterloo station? This October the Garden Museum’s new exhibition Lost Gardens of London will reveal the secret history of some of London’s most beguiling forgotten gardens.
Thousands of gardens have vanished across London over the past 500 years – ranging from princely pleasure grounds and private botanical gardens, to humble allotments and defunct squares, artists’ gardens, eccentric private menageries and the ecological parks of the 20th century. Lost Gardens of London will explore this legacy and reveal tantalising glimpses of some of the rich and varied gardens that once embellished the metropolis.
The exhibition’s guest curator, landscape architect and historian Dr Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, has assembled a wide range of unfamiliar illustrative material, including paintings, prints, drawings, photographs and maps, to bring these lost gardens to life. The gardens depict changing trends and fashions in gardening while exploring London’s enduring love affair with nature, demonstrating how green spaces have always been a vital part of life in the capital.
In every borough, parks, gardens and green open spaces have succumbed to new roads, street-widenings, railway encroachments and new buildings, or have simply been swallowed up by suburbia. Accompanying public programmes will explore how the remaining green spaces that may be taken for granted in London today have survived thanks to protests, community action and legal protections being put in place. The exhibition is a timely reminder of the vulnerability of urban gardens and access to nature.
Lost Gardens of London coincides with a new book by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan of the same name, to be published by the Modern Art Press (and distributed by Yale University Press) in October 2024.
To find out more click here.
1st-8th February: “Titternick” By Ian Tucker-Bell, The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge
Michael has written a stage musical of the hit film “Titanic”, which is quickly taken up by Bogham Players – a village-hall drama group with far more spirit than ability. When concerns are raised about infringing the film’s copyright, the society quickly start making changes to the story to avoid any ramifications… what could possibly go wrong?
To find out more click here.
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