Scan & Plan
Half a String presents
The Snowsmith
Sat 7 - Thu 19 Dec
For ages 4+
Half a String return to Gulbenkian, Canterbury with another magical Christmas treat and a daring quest to fix winter!
Book now: thegulbenkian.co.uk
What’s inside
It’s Canterbury’s most wonderful time of the year - and Christmas 2024 is the city’s biggest and brightest yet!
The historic return of the Cathedral Precincts Christmas Market alongside the much-loved wooden cabins in Whitefriars and St George’s Street adds a magical new dimension to the city’s festive sparkle.
Come and enjoy the city’s uplifting celebrations: the spectacular Light SwitchOn Parade, beautiful new Christmas lights, the award-winning Marlowe Theatre panto, a living nativity, carols, live music and much more.
Bagpuss celebrates his 50th birthday with his friends the Canterbury Bears in the Bagpuss and Bear Christmas Windows Trail - follow the stars to spot the adorable pair around the city.
This guide will help you get the most from the city during its most glorious festive season yet. Whether you live, work, study, shop or love to visit Canterbury, you’ll find gorgeous gifts, fine restaurants, stylish bars, cosy pubs and exquisite arts and crafts across the city’s distinctive quarters and historic areas. Even the snow is guaranteed - in the Marlowe Arcade at least!
Thank you to our friends at Girlings Solicitors for their support in producing this year’s MyCanterbury Winter Guide.
Contents
P6 Christmas Market 2024
P10 Bagpuss & Bear Trail
P12 Timeless Toys
P15 Light Parade & Switch-On
P16 What's On
P25 Coming Soon In Canterbury
P26 Cracking Jokes With The Marlowe Cast
P30 Game On - Group Games For Christmas
P32 City Centre Map
P36 Get Cosy For Christmas
P40 Together For ChristmasCommunity Kitchens
P44 Get Thrifty
P46 Canterbury's Shopping Quarters
P49 Win A £100 Canterbury Gift e-Card
P50 A City of Markets and Shopkeepers
P52 Picture Perfect
P54 Sock It To Them!
P56 Play That Funky Music
P60 Travel & Parking
Plan your visit
06 Christmas Market 2024
Canterbury’s much-loved Christmas Market in Whitefriars and St George’s Street will be joined this year by a magical market in the Cathedral Precincts - making the city’s Christmas Market the largest in Kent!
A historic return
First held in the Cathedral Precincts in 1383 following a royal grant by King Richard II, the Cathedral’s seasonal markets ran for hundreds of years. Reviving this centuriesold tradition for 2024, this modern Christmas fayre features picture-perfect German-style wooden huts within the Cathedral grounds, as well as delicious food and drink outlets, a vintage-style carousel ride, mini golf, interactive theatre and live music performances – including Saturday Shoppers’ Carol Services.
Free entry
There will be free entry to the Precincts during the market – sightseers only need to pay to go inside the Cathedral and Cloister during visiting hours – and there are plenty of fun low-cost and free activities.
Something for everyone
The extended Christmas Market makes Canterbury the perfect place for Christmas shopping, alongside the city’s huge range of gorgeous independent shops, luxury brands and high-street favourites. Make an early start on your present list with late-night shopping on Wednesday 27 November - when parking in Whitefriars multi-storey car park is just a pound from 4pm onwards!
Bookable Christmas Market activities
Visit canterburychristmasmarket.co.uk for dates, times and booking
Santa’s Grotto with Talking Letterbox
St George’s St (High St), near the tall Christmas tree.
From Sat 30 Nov, £10
Mrs Christmas and elves help little ones decorate beautiful letters to Santa and pop them in an enchanted mailbox! The elves take guests to meet Santa and receive a special wrapped gift.
Mini Golf Cathedral Precincts
£5
One ticket lets you play 18 holes in a single round. Simply book the number of places you need for yourself, friends & family, then turn up and play!
Dash’s Winter Wonderland Toy Workshop Rescue and Lapland Adventure (VR Ride)
St George’s St (close to WHSmith) from £5
This brand-new sleigh ride is sprinkled with more immersive interactions than you can shake a candy cane at! The ride is a quick but magical 3 minutes, the total experience time is a jolly good 5 minutes!
Breakfast with Santa
The Real Eating Company, Whitefriars from £15
Bring the little ones along to a meet-and-greet with Santa! Enjoy breakfast, Christmasthemed activities and a small gift in this magical session, around 90 mins.
Santa Paws
The Real Eating Company, Whitefriars
Sun 8 & 15 Dec, 11am
£5
Christmas isn’t just for humans - bring your (wellbehaved) dog to meet Santa himself and get a gorgeous photo taken. Very good boys and girls get a puppuccino and a treat!
Canterbury Roman Museum
Embark on a journey back in time to the enchanting world of Roman Canterbury. Explore the remains of an authentic Roman Town House, wander through the lively marketplace, and uncover hidden treasures. With each step, you’ll descend into the charming streets of Roman Canterbury, where history comes alive in a season of wonder.
Canterbury Roman Museum
Butchery Lane, Canterbury CT1 2JR
For more information visit: canterburyromanmuseum.co.uk
Museum highlights include:
One of the UK’s only remaining in situ Roman pavement mosaics
A scheduled ancient monument
Rare soldier’s helmet from the time of Julius Caesar
Original hypocaust (under floor heating system)
Exceptional examples of rare Roman glassware
Interactive children’s activities
Bagpuss & Bear trail
A highlight of the festive season in Canterbury is our grand Christmas Window Trail, which sees forty local shops transform their windows with festive décor, creating unique scenes for the family trail.
This year Canterbury’s favourite celebrity cat, Bagpuss, will be taking centre stage, accompanied by loveable local teddies, the Canterbury Bears! Bagpuss has been invited on a special Christmas tour of Canterbury by his friends from Canterbury Bears. Their trip includes visits to local shops, restaurants, salons and cafés, where you will find them sharing a cup of tea, trying on hats, reading books together and more.
The trail begins at The Beaney in the High Street, where you can collect a trail map and visit the Small Films Exhibition (home to the original Bagpuss). Then it’s time to head out and find Bagpuss and Bears to collect stamps that will be issued at each of the participating locations. Collect 5 stamps and head to Fenwick Toy Department to claim your mini prize. Those that make it to
Cosmo China (a china shop owned by the Firmin family on Palace Street) can collect a special star stamp, which means you can claim an extra prize when you visit Fenwick. The trail will run from Monday 18 November to Sunday 22 December 2024.
Bagpuss
The nation’s beloved pink and white striped cat Bagpuss first came to UK screens in 1974, as was the creation of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin through their company Smallfilms. But everyone’s cloth cat was actually born in Canterbury.
© Smallfilms
Dear old Bagpuss was created in Peter Firmin’s home studio in Blean. Even though only 13 episodes of the children’s TV show were ever being made, the stopmotion animation series was shown again and again over the decades and the ‘saggy old cloth cat’ became an icon. Smallfilms created multiple sets and puppets in the barn,
including The Clangers, Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine. While Firmin created the artwork and characters, Postgate created the animation and scripts, as well as performing the stories. Peter Firmin would go on to loan the original Bagpuss and many of the Smallfilms props and characters for long-term display to The Beaney. canterburymuseums. co.uk/the-beaney
Hospices for Hope
Oliver Postgate also donated to Hospices for Hope, which supports the development of palliative and end-of-life care across south and east Europe and now has The Bagpuss Children’s Wing for seriously ill children. The Hospice continues to be supported by the Firmin family and is supporting the Bagpuss and Bear Trail
Find out more about Hospices of Hope’s important work at hospicesofhope.co.uk
Celebrate the music! Bagpuss fans can also celebrate his 50th birthday with a very special live show of the music and songs from the TV show at The Gulbenkian on 29 Nov. See Page 21.
Canterbury Bears
Everyone needs a teddy to cuddle, and Canterbury Bears have been making some of the best bears in the businesses for 45 years.
Founded in 1979 by painter John Blackburn MBE, his family continue to run the bear making workshop just outside Canterbury in Littlebourne. The company specialises in creating traditional teddy bears that are both of exceptional quality and made to the highest environmental standards. Each bear captures a sense of charm and nostalgia that appeals to both collectors and those looking for a new cuddly friend. canterburybears.com
© Canterbury Bears
Timeless toys
Trends may come and go but some classics never lose their appeal. With this year’s cuddly toy-themed Christmas Trail throughout the city, we asked some of Canterbury’s fantastic toy and games emporiums to suggest timeless treasures sparkling with universal charm:
Elves & the Shoemaker Burgate elvesboutique.co.uk
It’s hard to resist pushing the lever down to get a spinning top spinning! This compact little vintageinspired top from Janod is a lovely way for tiny ones to practise their dexterity - and we’ve found that they’re surprisingly popular with older spinners! We know that spinning tops are thought to be amongst the world’s oldest known toys, they’re simple but solid favourites and all generations will have enjoyed them across the ages. They make a brilliant and classic Christmas present.
Fenwick Toy Department St George's St fenwick.co.uk
We are delighted to be stocking products by Little Dutch who create gorgeous wooden toys for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Their products feel timeless and are high-quality so will last and have been designed to help kids let their imagination run wild. Their wooden tea set is perfect for little ones to pretend-play - all the while building dexterity and creativity.
Little Dutch Wooden Tea Set Service
Moo like a Monkey
Palace St
moolikeamonkey.co.uk
We’ve always known how important soft toys are for children, and we’d estimate that a whopping third of all the toys we offer are of the cuddly variety. When we decided to stock Miffy – the instantly-recognisable bunny from the much-loved children’s books by Dick Bruna – we were happy as they are suitable from birth, so make a great gift for a new baby. We thought we’d added a new range, and it wasn’t that big of a deal. How wrong we were –it turns out that people of all ages love Miffy, including teenagers who were not a market we were originally targeting! The people of Canterbury have shown their appreciation, so we are planning on expanding our Miffy range –watch this space.
Miffy Cuddly Toy
Whirligig Toys
Sun St
whirligigtoys.co.uk
Whirligig Toys loves puppets. Interactive, talkative and with so many expressions and faces to pull. Everyone can engage with them, you can entertain little ones with a peekaboo game, and older children can create and invent their own scripts and stories. We have a huge range to play with, from finger puppets that go anywhere with you, to animals that are lovely to stroke and play with, to monsters who make loud squeaks! They are the perfect present, particularly if you don’t know the child that well, as everyone loves them.
Puppets
Light Parade & Switch-On 2024
Christmas sparkles into life in Canterbury on Friday 15 November! Come along for the evening and enjoy the spectacular city centre parade, the exciting moment of the lights switch-on, the gorgeous shop window displays and the traditional Christmas market - this year taking place both in the city centre and the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral.
The magical procession winds through the city’s streets starting from the Westgate Towers and leading into the Cathedral grounds, with music and entertainment planned for all ages.
The Parade includes
• Lord Mayor of Canterbury
• Bloco Fogo Drumming Band
• Large illuminated stars
• 200+ glowing lanterns crafted by local schools
• No Limits Street Band
• Christmas characters and Bagpuss!
Timings
6pm The Parade departs from Westgate Towers
6.45pm Parade arrives at Canterbury Cathedral Precincts
6.50pm Celebrate the start of Christmas with the Lord Mayor, Marlowe Theatre pantomime cast and live music
8pm Christmas Market closes
Route
Depart: Westgate Towers / High Street
St Margaret’s Street / Marlowe Arcade
Rose Lane / Longmarket / Burgate Buttermarket / Cathedral Precincts
Canterbury’s Christmas Light Parade 2024 is funded by the businesses of Canterbury. Canterbury BID would like to say a huge thank you to Miles and Barr for their continued sponsorship of this event and Happy 25th Anniversary!
What’s on in Canterbury Winter 2024
It’saspectacularfestiveseasoninthecitythisyear,witha magicalextendedmarket,livemusic,big-namecomedy, concerts,lightshows,crafting,cocktailworkshops,collectors’ fairs and a ho-ho-whole lot more!
The Beaney
Curious Stories: Exploring and Collecting at the Museum
To Sun 16 Mar 2025
Delve into where in the world museum objects come from.
➜ canterburymuseums.co.uk/the-beaney
Make Mini Mosaics
Canterbury Roman Museum
Throughout Nov, Dec & Jan
Recreate a piece of Roman Canterbury with a mini mosaic (£5) - a great gift idea!
➜ canterburymuseums.co.uk/canterburyroman-museum
Nish Kumar: Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe
Marlowe Theatre
Wed 6 Nov, 7.30pm
Brand-new show from one of the Guardian and Telegraph’s 50 Best Comedians of the 21st century.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Festive Shop & Craft
Happy & Glorious, Burgate
Thu 7 Nov, 6.30-8.30pm
Drinks, nibbles and a felt robin workshopplus goody bag with a £15+ spend!
➜ happyglorious.co.uk
Watercolour Workshop
Cowling & Wilcox, St George’s St
Thu 7 Nov, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm
A wintertime workshop in watercolours – beginners are welcome!
➜ Book in-store
Carlos Acosta’s Nutcracker in Havana Marlowe Theatre
Fri 8 & Sat 9 Nov, 7.30pm, Sat matinee 2.30pm
Set to an exuberant Cuban version of the Tchaikovsky score.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Canterbury Cathedral
Organ Open Evening
The Quire
Fri 8 Nov, 6.30pm
An introduction to the Cathedral organ and a chance for keen organists to play.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Stained Glass Windows Tour
Canterbury Cathedral
Fridays 8, 15 & 29 Nov, 11.15am-12.15pm
See the oldest stained glass in England, along with 20th century work.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Rising Tide Craft Beer Festival
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge
Fri 8 & Sat 9 Nov
A brand new festival,with street food, DJs and free Cathedral entry.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
The Canterbury Society’s Heritage EXPO 2024
Westgate Hall
Sat 9 Nov, 11am-4pm
Discover heritage events going on in the city.
➜ westgatehall.org/events
A Sense of Belonging
The Beaney
Sat 9 Nov-Sun 5 Jan 2025
Art exhibition by local organisation Bemix.
➜ canterburymuseums.co.uk/the-beaney
Wonky Plonky Electronk
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sat 9 Nov, 7pm
Electronic, experimental and avantgarde music.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
John Bishop: Back At It
Marlowe Theatre
Sun 10 Nov, 4pm & 8pm
The comedy superstar’s new tour comes to Canterbury.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Dyeing with Flowers Workshop
Happy & Glorious, Burgate
Mon 11 Nov, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Create your own beautiful botanically dyed garments or bag.
➜ happyglorious.co.uk
Come From Away Marlowe Theatre
Tue 12 Nov - Sat 16 Nov, 7.30pm, Wed, Thu & Sat matinees: 2.30pm
The smash-hit show of the incredible real-life story.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Wine-tasting: Wines for Gifting Corkk, Burgate
Thu 14 Nov, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Find the perfect match of bottle to recipient. ➜ corkk.co.uk
Makers Market Christmas Lights Special Westgate Hall
Fri 15 Nov, 4pm-8pm
A special twilight event for the Parade and Lights Switch-On.
➜ westgatehall.org/events
Christmas Light Parade & Light Switch-On 2024
Canterbury City Centre
Fri 15 Nov, 6pm-7pm
One of the city’s biggest and brightest highlights, with drums, music, local schools, Marlowe panto cast, Lord Mayor, festive characters and Bagpuss! See Page 15
➜ canterbury.co.uk
Check details and prices with venues before you travel.
Canterbury Cathedral
Christmas Market
Canterbury Cathedral Precincts
Fri 15 Nov-Tue 24 Dec
The 600-year-old market returns to the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral! Gifts, food and drink outlets, entertainment, activities and free entry to the Precincts. See Page 06.
➜ canterburychristmasmarket.co.uk
Christmas Market
Whitefriars & St George’s St
Fri 15 Nov-Tue 24 Dec, 10am-7pm
Canterbury’s city centre Christmas cabins open for festive business! Gift ideas, decorations and food and drink.
➜ canterburychristmasmarket.co.uk
Whitefriars Snow Showers (15 min flurries)
Rose Sq, under Primark balcony
Sat 16 Nov-Tue 24 Dec
Snow is guaranteed in Canterbury this Christmas - and we can even tell you when!
Every Sat & Sun from Sat 16 Nov, 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm
Every Thu from Thu 21 Nov, 5pm
Mon 23 Dec, 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Tue 24 Dec, 11am, 1pm & 3pm
You Are The Sun
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sat 16 Nov, 11am, 1pm & 3pm
A folk-inspired opera for little ones with gentle classical singing and sensory play.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Giving Tree
Marlowe Arcade
Sat 16 Nov-Sun 15 Dec
Help make Christmas special for local children who may not receive a gift. Take a tag from the Giving Tree and return it with a new gift to The Elder Tree shop.
Royal School of Needlework:
Pilgrims Christmas Stockings
Community Studio, Cathedral Visitor Centre
Sat 16 Nov, 10am-4pm
An RSN Tutor teaches you to stitch a stunning decoration inspired by the medieval glass of the Cathedral.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
School of Rock - The Musical
Gulbenkian Theatre
Sat 16-Sun 17 Nov
Based on the smash hit movie, this amateur youth group production brings a fresh energy to this hilarious story.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Westgate Hall Makers Market
Westgate Hall
Sat 16 & Sat 30 Nov, Sun 1 & Sun 15 Dec, 11am-4pm
Shop local for Christmas! Locally-made produce, crafts, jewellery, homewares and more.
➜ westgatehall.org/events
Antiques, Vintage & Brocante Fair
Westgate Hall
Sun 17 Nov, 9.30am-4pm
Unique and unusual gifts: antique, vintage, memorabilia, salvage and more.
➜ westgatehall.org/events
Canterbury Music Club - Rachel Podger
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sun 17 Nov, 3pm
Rachel Podger joins lute and harpsichord players for Biber’s improvisational 1681 Sonatas.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Canterbury Christmas
Window Family Trail
City-wide
Mon 18 Nov to Sun 22 Dec
Bagpuss and his pals the Canterbury Bears are the Christmas Trail stars this year! Collect a stamp from 5 or more and claim a prize! See Page 10.
➜ canterbury.co.uk
More Than a Nail Man: Modern art installations in Canterbury Cathedral
Clagett Auditorium
Tue 19 Nov, 10.30am-11.30am
Explore Stephen Cox’s altar and water stoup and Anthony Gormley’s ‘Transport’.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Bemix Pop-Up Café
Westgate Hall
Tue 19 Nov & Tue 10 Dec, 12-2
Enjoy delicious fare and support the wonderful work of Bemix, helping adults with and without learning difficulties develop catering skills. See Page 41.
➜ westgatehall.org/events
Stand-Up Comedy Night
Stag Coffee & Kitchen, Marlowe Arcade
Thu 21 Nov
Hilarious comedy in the convivial atmosphere of Stag Coffee & Kitchen.
➜ stag-coffee.com
BeautyandtheBeast
Marlowe Theatre
Fri 22 Nov-Sun 12 Jan
2024's fun-filled fairytale pantomime, with lavish sets, fantastic music, beautiful costumes, hilarity, magic and mayhem!
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Festive Cocktail Masterclass
Happy & Glorious, Burgate
Fri 22 Nov, 7pm-9pm
Make three scrumptious cocktails using fresh, local ingredients.
➜ happyglorious.co.uk
Dervish
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sat 23 Nov 2024, 7:30pm
Legendary Irish folk music band: ‘an icon of Irish music’ (BBC).
➜ Book at canterburyfestival.co.uk
Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight
The Quire
Sat 23 Nov, 7.30pm
The girl choristers and Lay Clerks of Canterbury Cathedral are joined by The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen, and a stellar line up of soloists.
➜ Book at canterburyfestival.co.uk
The Big Drag Brunch
Westgate Hall
Sat 23 Nov, 12.30pm-3.30pm
Check details and prices with venues before you travel.
Wreath-Making Workshop
Join Delilah and Anita for bottomless
Prosecco / Mimosa, meal, cabaret, games and disco.
➜ westgatehall. org/events
Platform, St Dunstan’s St
Sun 24 Nov & Sun 1 Dec, 10am-1pm
Create a stunning everlasting wreath with seasonal foliage, berries and dried blooms.
➜ platform-shop.co.uk
Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time
Gulbenkian Theatre
Sun 24 Nov, 7.30pm
A ‘delicate, sensitive high-wire act of a show’ (Mail on Sunday).
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Skandinavian Skies
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sun 24 Nov, 6pm
Canterbury Symphony Orchestra welcomes local soloist George Needham for Grieg’s immortal Piano Concertoia.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Worth The Weight Vintage Kilo Sale
Westgate Hall
Sun 24 Nov, 10am-4pm
Planet-friendly partywear and winter wardrobe: vintage, retro and brands by the kilo.
➜ westgatehall.org/events
Life-size Crib
The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral
Mon-Fri, 25 Nov-20 Dec, 3pm-5pm
Visit the much-loved nativity scene throughout the Advent and Christmas season.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Canterbury in the Time of Daniel Defoe and Jane Austen
Clagett Auditorium
Tue 26 Nov, 10.30am-11.30am
The city’s transformation from Daniel Defoe’s visit in 1724 to Jane Austen’s, ¾ century later.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Tea Time Carols at the Crib
The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral Tuesdays between 26 Nov-17 Dec, 4pm-4.30pm
Join the clergy for storytelling and songs for little ones and their adults (all welcome).
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Late Night Shopping & Fenwick Winter Warm-Up Launch
Wed 27 Nov until 8pm
Park at Whitefriars for just £1 from 4pm! Enjoy live music, character walkabouts and Secret Santa within Whitefriars as you browse the shops and Christmas Market.
Salvation Army Band Wed 27 Nov, 7pm-8pm
Join in this cherished event in Rose Square.
Wine Tasting: Wines for Christmas Corkk, Burgate Thu 28 Nov, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Food pairing advice across omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian dishes.
➜ corkk.co.uk
Kids Gingerbread Decorating & Adults
Sparkling Cream Tea Fenwick, St George’s St Thu 28 Nov-Mon 23 Dec
Two festive activities side by side: kids decorate their own gingerbread and enjoy a delicious Mini Tea, while you relax with a glass of sparkling wine, mini fruit scones and tea or coffee.
➜ fenwick.co.uk/events
Sandra Kerr: Bagpuss:
The Songs & Music - Live Gulbenkian Theatre
Fri 29 Nov, 7pm
Sandra Kerr wrote the songs and music for Bagpuss with John Faulkner - in this special 50th year of Canterbury’s favourite furry friend, she presents musical highlights and stories from the beloved children’s TV programme.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
UK Soul Choirs presents ‘Candlelit soul’
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Fri 29 Nov, 7.30pm
A night of festive inspired soul and pop classics by candlelight.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Star Decoration Making
Viewing Gallery, Canterbury Cathedral Sat 30 Nov, 11am-3pm
A drop-in session for little ones to craft decorations for the ‘Children’s Christmas Tree’ in the Nave.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Breakfast with Santa / Afternoon Tea with Santa
Fenwick, St George’s St
Sat 30 Nov-Tue 24 Dec
A festive morning or afternoon feast and a magical meeting with Santa for a special picture and Christmas gift!.
➜ fenwick.co.uk/events
Plate Decorating Workshop
Fenwick, St George’s St
Sat 30 Nov-Sat 21 Dec
Turn a plate into a masterpiece! Includes mulled wine or spiced apple juice and mince pie for adults, drink and cookies for children.
➜ fenwick.co.uk/events
Shoppers’ Carol Service
Cathedral Christmas Market
Event Stage
Saturdays between 30 Nov21 Dec, 12.30-1pm
Sing along with musicians, choristers and staff in the Cathedral Christmas Market.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Advent Carol Service
Clagett Auditorium Sun 1 Dec, 5.30pm-6.15pm
A beautiful service with music, readings and the lighting of candles.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Festive Dried Flower Wreath workshop
Happy & Glorious, Burgate Mon 2 Dec, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Create a fabulous, dried flower wreath to last for decades.
➜ happyglorious.co.uk
Christmas at the Cathedral Tour Thursdays 5, 12 & 19 Dec, 11.15-12.30
Learn how Christmas was celebrated by the Benedictine monks, how a popular carol can be traced in stained glass in the Crypt; and how the Puritans banned Christmas in 1647!
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Festive Stained Glass Windows Tour
Canterbury Cathedral Fridays 6,10 & 20 Dec, 11.15-12.15
From medieval to modern, with a focus on windows depicting the Nativity Story.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Concert Band and String Sinfonia
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Fri 6 Dec, 7.30pm
The opening concert of the Gulbenkian’s December weekend.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Christmas Show: The Snowsmith
Gulbenkian Theatre
Sat 7 Dec-Thu 19 Dec
Half a String create a world of breathtaking puppetry, live songs and folk music. 4+.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
University of Kent Chorus and Orchestra: 'Winter Journeys, Winter Nights'
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Sat 7 Dec, 7.30pm
Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Prokofiev, a UK cantata premiere and the Polar Express concert suite.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
My Pet Star
Marlowe Theatre
Sat 7 Dec - Sat 4 Jan
A family musical about kindness, friendship and caring, packed with original songs.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Christmas Crafting Saturdays
Various Cathedral locations
Sat 7, 14 & 21 December, 11am-3pm
Special festive crafting drop-ins, from shimmering stars to tree angels.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
St Nicholas Family Service
Various Cathedral locations
Sun 8 Dec, 5.30pm-6.15pm
Join over 200 local school children to celebrate the story of St Nicholas.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Christmas Swingalong 2024
Colyer-Fergusson Hall
Wed 11 Dec, 5.15pm
The University Big Band, conducted by Ian Swatman, returns with its annual festive cracker.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Peter Pan
Malthouse Theatre
Wed 11 Dec-Sat 4 Jan 2025
High-flying panto with West End cast, glittering sets and costumes and side-splitting comedy.
➜ malthousetheatre.co.uk
Luxmuralis presents Fantastic Tales and Where to Find Them
St. Augustine's Abbey and the King's School
Fri 13 Dec-Sat 21 Dec
A spectacular sound and light show against St Augustine’s Abbey and The King’s School.
➜ canterburyfestival.co.uk
Canterbury Postcard and Collectors Fair Westgate Hall
Sat 14 Dec, 9am-5pm
Perfect presents for collectors: stamps, coins, antiques, toys, books, and more..
➜ westgatehall.org/events
Festival of Carols with Living Nativity
Canterbury Cathedral Sun 15 Dec, 5.30pm-6.30pm
Music and readings with a nativity scene of adults and children from the congregation.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Canterbury Music Club : ‘Les Rois Mages’: ‘Journey of the Magi’
Colyer-Fergusson Hall Sun 15 Dec, 5.30pm-6.30pm
Alexander Rider, harp and The Festive Chorale, director Grenville Hancox.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Albion Christmas Band
Gulbenkian Theatre
Sun 15 Dec, 7.30pm
Seasonal songs and tunes, humorous readings and the occasional silly dance.
➜ thegulbenkian.co.uk
Sunday Lunches at Canterbury
Cathedral Lodge
Refectory Restaurant
Sundays 15, 22 & 29 Dec, between 12.30-3.30
A three-course traditional Sunday lunch in lovely surroundings.
➜ canterburycathedrallodge.org
Demelza House Carol Service
‘Celebration of Christmas’
The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral Mon 16 Dec, 7.30pm-9pm
An annual carol service to raise money for Demelza House Children’s Hospice.
➜ Book online at demelza.org.uk/events
The Nutcracker
Malthouse Theatre
Mon 16 Dec, 4.30pm & 6.30pm
Accessible, fun performances for families. Have after-show photos with the dancers!.
➜ malthousetheatre.co.uk
Friends’ Carol Service
The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral
Wed 18 Dec, 7pm
The Cathedral bells ring out to greet you at this friendly traditional service.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Philharmonia Orchestra: Brass
At Christmas
Marlowe Theatre
Wed 18 Dec, 7.30pm
Join the brass ensemble for an uplifting evening of seasonal music.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
Canterbury Choral Society
Family Carols
The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral Thu 19 Dec, 7pm-8.30pm
Join the Society, CCS Youth Choir and Festival Brass Ensemble with Richard Cooke conducting.
➜ canterburychoral.co.uk
Canterbury Cathedral Carol Services
The Nave, Canterbury Cathedral Mon 23 & Tues 24 Dec, 5.30pm-7pm
A highlight of the Cathedral’s year, with music by their world-famous choir and readings to tell the story of the birth of Christ. This is a popular service; queues likely.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Christmas Afternoon Tea
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge Mon 23 & Tues 24 Dec at 2.45pm, 3pm or 3.15pm
A festive-themed afternoon tea before one of two Cathedral Carol Services..
➜ canterburycathedrallodge.org
Family Crib Service
Canterbury Cathedral Tue 24 Dec, 10am
A short, joyful service for children and families with music and carols.
➜ canterbury cathedral.org
Open Air Community Carol Singing
Outside Marlowe Arcade Tue 24 Dec, 6.15pm
Join the fun and sing ‘Canterbury’s own carol’ with the crowds! A collection will be taken in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Christmas Gift Fund.
➜ christmasgiftfund.co.uk/canterburyevents.php
Check details and prices with venues before you travel.
Midnight Mass
Canterbury Cathedral Tue 24 Dec, 11pm-12.10am
The Cathedral’s traditional communion service, marking the dawn of Christmas Day.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
Christmas Day Services
Canterbury Cathedral Wed 25 Dec
9.15am: Said Morning Prayer
11am: Christmas Eucharist with the Archbishop of Canterbury
3pm: Evensong with carols.
➜ canterbury-cathedral.org
New Year’s Eve Gala
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge Tue 31 Dec, 6.30pm-1am
Prosecco and canapés on arrival, fivecourse gala dinner, DJ and dancing with the popular seven-piece band ‘CoCo’, followed by a glass of Prosecco and a Scottish Piper at midnight.
➜ canterburycathedrallodge.org
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Marlowe Theatre Wed 22 Jan-Sun 2 Feb
The multi-award-winning show comes to Canterbury, with Joe McElderry as the roof-raising Pharaoh.
➜ marlowetheatre.com
What's 0n in Canterbury
Café St Pierre
Celebrating 29 years in business, this
o ers generously-filled, innovative baguettes, quiches, salads, cakes and pastries plus family-owned cafe near Westgate Towers
• To be enjoyed in a friendly atmosphere
• Try the typical French ‘Petit dejeuner’ served till noon
• Open 7 days a week - 8am - 6pm (Sun - 9am - 5.30pm)
• Outdoor seating in the wonderful garden
• Take-away service available
A bientôt! Alan, Maria and the team
Coming soon...
Coming up in Canterbury this winter! Two exciting projects are set to light up the city centre The Canterbury Tales Immersive Experience St Margaret’s St canterburytales.co.uk
The legendary Canterbury Tales attraction is being completely reimagined for 2024 into a ground-breaking immersive experience for all. Explore Geoffrey Chaucer’s timeless tales in a thrilling blend of medieval worlds and modern innovation, bringing history to life through sights, sounds and smells! You can even enjoy a medieval-inspired menu in a themed tavern, as well as uniquely crafted beverages with a modern twist.
Streets Ahead Collective Burgate
instagram.com/streetsaheadco
An inspiring initiative by Rock Paper Scissors, Catching Lives and EKC, Streets Ahead Collective in Burgate will be a creative hub for community engagement and youth empowerment, a shared space where art converges with local people. The multi-functional building will include an arts and crafts shop, gallery, community hub, classroom and print studio, featuring guest speakers and offering work experience opportunities. Want to get involved? Visit their socials to find out more.
Cracking jokes!
It’s a tale as old as time – reading out cracker jokes at Christmas and hearing the groans rumble round the table! MyCanterbury brought two much-loved festive traditions together and asked the Marlowe Theatre’s panto stars to tell us their favourite (or most awful)
HowdidMaryandJoseph
knowhowheavybabyJesuswas? Theyhadaweigh inamanger!
Candlestick Tyler Collins
What’s the Archbishop’s favourite fruit? A Canter-berry
Cupid Jocasta Almgill
Did Rudolph go to school? No, he was elf-taught!
What is Santa’s favourite pizza? One that’s deep-pan, crisp and even!
What kind of music do elves listen to in their workshop? Wrap!
Don’t miss the Marlowe Theatre’s fun-filled fairy tale pantomime! Beauty and the Beast runs from Fri 22 Nov - Sun Book your tickets at marlowetheatre.com
Belle Maisie Smith
Danton
Richard David Caine
Game on
Nothing brings festive smiles (and friendly squabbles) to group get-togethers like a good game. From family classics to sci-fi strategy, retro consoles to comedy cards, Canterbury has a brilliant choice of places to browse, buy and play games of all kinds. We asked some of the city’s gaming gurus for their recommendations.
Dice & Destiny
The Borough diceanddestiny.co.uk Looot
Looot resources and building materials from the mainland and get it back to your Fjord for victory points! Send your Vikings out to loot and pillage areas, whilst strategically blocking your opponents from taking what they need. Take advantage of the longships that come into port for bonus point multipliers. Looot was a special release for us at Tabletop Scotland Sep 24, and has been our top recommended family game for this Christmas. With easy to learn mechanics but hidden strategy, it’s perfect for all ages.
Level Up Games
Palace St facebook.com/levelupgamescanterbury Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo In keeping with our retro vibe for all the family, then you certainly cannot go wrong with the Super Mario games. Lots of nostalgia there and even kids that don’t play older consoles know of Mario. Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo has always been a favourite of ours.
Stag Coffee & Kitchen
Marlowe Arcade stag-coffee.com
Trivial Pursuit Family Edition This is very popular with customers over coffee and cake. We really love trivia games and the Family Edition of Trivial Pursuit is an absolute classic - perfect for everyone to join in with.
The Long Rest Board Game Cafe
Butchery Lane thelongrestcanterbury.com
We recommend the ‘Murdle’ board game, inspired by the popular online game and book series. We recommend this game as it’s a great combination of competitive and cooperative gameplay. Quick to learn for all ages, you need to work with your fellow detective to piece together all the clues for the case. However, try not to reveal too much, or the other players will solve the case before you!
Marlowe Kit
The Cathedral Quarter
The Castle Quarter
Curzon Cinema
Guided Tours
West End
Canterbury city centre has free Wi-Fi access Riverside
Based in the heart of Canterbury, Tiny Tim’s Tearoom is a characterful building with an olde-worlde feel. A popular spot where you can while away an afternoon and sample a range of delicious sweet treats, pastries and cooked meals, and a brewed-to-perfection pot of your tea of choice .
Offering a quintessentially British ambience, Tiny Tim's is great for intimate lunch gatherings with friends and family. The tearoom suits all tastes with savoury treats like a full English breakfast, fishcakes, soups and the chef’s signature quiche served alongside handmade cakes, scones and other baked goods. Tiny Tim’s highly popular afternoon tea is served all day, comprising sweet and savoury delights including finger sandwiches, as well as freshly baked scones and a choice of tea or coffee from the extensive range.
Discover what's on your doorstep
With thousands of years of history, there are secrets, romances, battles and ghosts waiting to be discovered around every corner in Canterbury. Our expert guides will amaze you with a Canterbury you never knew!
Treat your friends or family with the gift of history
Gift vouchers are now available for both daily and private tours - the ideal present for loved ones this Christmas!
Suitable for all ages. Well-behaved dogs welcome. Private tours available for groups of any size. Tours operate daily at 11am, whatever the weather! (except Christmas Day). Additional 2pm tour until 31 Dec.
Get cosy for Christmas
Snuggle up with a hottie Happy & Glorious is a champion of beautiful, British-made products for the home - cosy up on the sofa with their hot water bottle, made extra luxurious with a Liberty fabric cover, softly padded layer and luxurious white fleece fabric lining.
Happy & Glorious Burgate happyglorious.co.uk
Winter is all about the cosy and warm: festive fragrances, comfy surroundings, soft lighting and an air of calm. Create your own hygge haven at home with a few carefully chosen pieces from some of Canterbury’s gorgeous homeware shops.
Wrap up in style
Violet Elizabeth is an independent clothing brand, designed and made in Kent using fair-trade and sustainable materials from around the world. Their soft and sumptuous robe is bursting with vibrant colours to brighten up a wintery evening.
Violet Elizabeth Burgate violetelizabeth.com
Fill the air with fragrance
Turn Off The Lights is a small-batch, ecoconscious candle company in Sun St that hand-pours soy candles into repurposed vintage-style tins. Try the gorgeous, cosy notes of their Enchanted Library candle, evoking leather-bound tomes, polished wood, parchment and ink.
Turn Off The Lights Sun St
turnoffthelights.co.uk
55hr burn time. 40cl.
Cushioned comfort
Platform is nestled next to Canterbury West station: a lifestyle shop, event space and gallery showcasing work by artists and makers from Kent and beyond. Relax into their Margo Selby Suki feather cushion, loom woven and made in Whitstable.
Platform St Dunstan’s St platform-shop.co.uk
Shine a light
BoConcept’s elegant Danish furniture and accessories help create a calming place to relax. Add a gentle glow to your cosy haven with their warm grey Dawn table lamp from Frandsen Design Studio.
BoConcept Orange St boconcept.com
Together at Christmas
Canterbury has incredible social enterprise cafés and restaurants, all offering delicious food in friendly surroundings. They each share a mission to support the community, from training and employability to social connection to healthy, fresh meals for those who need it most. Here’s a closer look at four key initiatives in the city and how you can support them.
Chatterbox Community Café Castle Street
Chatterbox is more than just a cafe with a delicious menu - it’s a space that fosters conversation and connection. It provides expert catering and service training to neurodivergent students. Chatterbox operates a ‘pay what you can’ system and you can ‘ask for Sam’ if you need a drink or a meal and can’t afford to pay. It’s dog-friendly too, and has a lovely outdoor space.
How to support
Donate Contributions go towards keeping the café running smoothly and ensuring meals remain accessible to all. Pay it forward If you’d like to pay for a drink or meal for someone who needs it, just let the team know.
Pop in Stop for a coffee, arrange a business meeting there or enjoy a meal with friends. facebook.com/chatterboxcommunitycafe
Canterbury Umbrella
St Peter’s Place
Canterbury Umbrella is a community hub that welcomes everyone, especially those finding things difficult or feeling isolated. Relax, meet friends, receive support and enjoy lunches, snacks and puddings at affordable prices, with meal packs available for those in need. Become a member for a small annual fee and enjoy classes and groups as well as reduced meal prices.
How to support
Donate Small or large, all donations help Canterbury Umbrella to continue its work. Get involved If you have a few hours to spare, ask about helping out at the centre.
Buy Christmas cards
A win-win - get lovely cards to send out and support the centre at the same time. canterburyumbrella.org
Lily’s Social Kitchen Guildhall Street
Now in their gorgeous new building in Guildhall Street, Lily’s Social Kitchen focuses on inclusivity, providing a place for those who are neurodiverse, autistic or have learning disabilities to gain valuable training and work experience. The cafe also works with King’s School and Catching Lives to help prepare meals for the homeless.
How to support
Donate For the price of a coffee you can become a friend of Lily’s and make a monthly donation of £3.50 to support their mission.
Pay it forward When you visit the cafe, tell a member of the team that you’d like to pay for a hot meal, sandwich or drink for someone who may not be able to afford one
Bemix Discovery Catering Cafe
Westgate Hall
Bemix is a social enterprise that supports people with learning difficulties and/or autism in learning the skills to produce seasonal, responsibly sourced and nutritious meals. They run a monthly Tuesday pop-up cafe at Westgate Hall with delicious menus at affordable prices. Bemix not only serves great food, but helps develop real-world skills in catering, customer service and business.
How to Support
Donate Contributions and fundraising help Bemix continue its vital work, check their website for ways to help.
Volunteer Pop them a message via the volunteer form on their website. lilyscommunity. org
Visit Check westgatehall.org/events to see which Tuesday in the month the cafe pops up.
Volunteer If you have experience in catering, you could volunteer to help teach valuable skills. bemix.org
produced on site from scratch.
• Celebrate with us!
Christmas menu served from 18th November -21st December. Advanced booking only.
• See us at Canterbury Christmas Market in Whitefriars and the Cathedral Precincts from 15th November - 24th December The perfect Christmas gift! 5* Rated Tour and Tasting Experiences £25pp
The Foundry Brew Pub, Canterbury www.canterburybrewers-distillers.co.uk 01227 455899
For large table bookings or private tours/events please email: manager@thefoundrycanterbury.co.uk
Are you looking to make some major savings this holiday season while also doing a good deed? Canterbury's local charity shops have got you covered. From vintage clothing to toys, find the perfect gift for your loved ones from the our handy
Get
Our guide to Charity Shop Gifting
1. Pilgrim's Hospice
Clothing, toys & homeware
78 St Dunstan's Road
2. Age UK
Clothing, toys & homeware
13A St Peter's Street
3. Store 50
Curated, trendy
second-hand fashion
50 St Peter's Street
4. Oxfam Bookshop
Antique and collectable books
51 St Peter's Street
5. The Children's Trust Shop
Clothing, toys & homeware
5A St Peter's Street
6. Oxfam
Clothing & ethical handmade gifts
13 Best Lane
7. Canterbury Vintage & Retro Shop
Vintage clothing & haberdashery
19 Burgate Lane
8. Demelza
Clothing, toys & homeware
18 Burgate Lane
9. Cancer Research
Books, clothing & homeware
61 Burgate Lane
10. Burgate Books
Books for all ages and genres
10B Burgate Lane
11. British Red Cross
Trendy second-hand clothing
10A Burgate Lane
12. British Heart Foundation
Clothing, decor & books
12 St George's Street
13. Catching Lives Charity
Bookshop
Antique books & novels
28 Palace Street
14. Shelter
Clothing, homeware & toys
51-52 Northgate
How to donate unneeded items this holiday season
If you have some items that you no longer use around the house, why not pass them along for a good cause?
Clothing
How to donate
Books
Choose a charity shop and then check their website. Some shops prefer that items are delivered during opening hours and may not accept items left at the front door.
Canterbury's shopping quarters
Canterbury is made up of diverse, distinctive areas and quarters just a few minutes’ walk from each other, each with their own character and history.
THE KING’S MILE
Easily spotted by its red banners, a colourful collection of streets alongside the cathedral and King’s School, abundant with handcrafted jewellery, fresh produce, arts, games, clothing, food and drink.
THE CASTLE QUARTER
THE CATHEDRAL QUARTER
The historic heart of Canterbury on the doorstep of the Cathedral and the Buttermarket and up to the top of Burgate, home to independent specialist shops, bars and restaurants.
From the castle ruins to the high street, a rich mix of thriving creative businesses, independent makers, bars, restaurants and the city’s own brewery, The Foundry.
CANTERBURY’S WEST END
A buzzing creative and foodie quarter: from Canterbury West Station through St Dunstan's and the Westgate Towers, along the lower high street up to the The Marlowe Theatre and Eastbridge Hospital.
WHITEFRIARS SHOPPING CENTRE
Major brands for serious seasonal shopping here, headed at the top of the town by Fenwick and comprising a huge range of the UK’s leading fashion and lifestyle retailers.
THE RIVERSIDE
The Riverside is a pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood with a five-screen Curzon cinema, cafés, bars and restaurants, and a new public square and 220 undercroft parking spaces.
Canterbury Cathedral Lodge is a unique hotel situated in the city centre of Canterbury. The Lodge is renowned for its stylish and comfortable accommodation, that boasts the best views in Canterbury, overlooking the idyllic Canterbury Cathedral.
Rates start from £105 per night for a double or twin room, with breakfast and complimentary Cathedral entry included.
Visit our Lounge Bar – serving drinks every day until 10pm. Or, have a bite to eat from our light lunch and snack menu – served daily from 10am-4pm.
The Canterbury Gift Card is a brilliant way to treat someone and support local businesses at the same time. You load it with the amount of your choice and they choose where to spend it, from a huge range of over 135 shops , restaurants, cafes and salons across the city.
NEW for Christmas 2024
The Canterbury Gift e-Card
The Canterbury Gift Card is now available as a digital card, which means it’s easier than ever to gift it to someone special. The e-card is a great choice for people who prefer to pay with their phone. If you like to give a physical card though, don’t worry - these are always available to collect in town and load at home, or order online to send direct.
3 easy ways to buy and give a Canterbury Gift Card
Buy an e-card: canterburygiftcard.co.uk
Order a physical card to send direct: canterburygiftcard.co.uk
Collect a physical card in town to load at home from:
To celebrate the launch of the Canterbury Gift e-Card, MyCanterbury is giving away a preloaded e-Card worth £100 to one lucky winner. Treat yourself or someone special to a delicious meal out, a new outfit, evening cocktails or a show at the Marlowe Theatre - the options are endless!
The Beaney, High St | Wrapped!, Burgate Hampton by Hilton, St Margaret’s St Dice & Destiny, The Borough WIN! A Canterbury Gift e-Card worth £100! 49
To enter, head to canterburybid.co.uk/ mycanterbury. 18+, one entry per person. Good Luck!
Canterbury: A City of Markets and Shopkeepers
The description of England as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’ is a phrase that many have heard but perhaps fewer of us have really thought about in depth.
Often attributed to Napoleon, the expression was in common usage during the eighteenth century, and first appeared in print in Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations in 1776. Despite perhaps sounding pejorative, for Adam Smith the phrase was intended as a positive recognition of the important role that small businesses and merchants play in our economy.
During this period, Canterbury’s bustling traders had a greater lean towards agriculture, with livestock, cereals, fruits, and vegetables being brought to market from the surrounding countryside. But even walking the narrow streets of the city today, it is not too much of a leap to imagine the bustle of markets alongside the traditional activities of brewers, tanners, weavers, and cartwrights.
With all these historic connections to traders and merchants, it’s exciting that this year’s festivities in Canterbury feature the extension of the regular Whitefriars
Christmas Market into the Cathedral precincts. Visitors will be able to enjoy food and drink, carousel rides and live music, as well as gaining easy access to the Cathedral for Christmas services.
As well as the broader historical connections, the Christmas market within the Cathedral precincts has its own fascinating past dating back to 1383 –when it was first instituted by the Royal Grant of King Richard II. The Cathedral market’s eventual demise in 1813 followed concerns about indecency and tumultuous conduct!
At Girlings Solicitors, we very much welcome the presence of the expanded market, together with the lights and other seasonal initiatives that make the City feel so special over the Christmas period. We also feel a strong sense of connection to the city’s economy and shopkeepers. Whether helping traders to secure a business deal, arranging the lease for a commercial property, or providing advice on an employment matter, we understand that our work plays an important part in supporting the local economy.
Of course, businesses are also nothing without the great people behind them, and our personal law services help those same individuals to complete tasks like making a Will, moving house, or resolving family matters. This type of work also has an indirect economic benefit for our clients: enabling them to manage their private affairs in a way that frees them to concentrate their efforts on their work and business activities.
We very much hope that locals and visitors to Canterbury enjoy and embrace the Christmas market, and we greatly appreciate the work that the team from Canterbury Business Improvement District (among others) have put into promoting the city throughout 2024. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2025!
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Picture perfect
A carefully chosen painting, sculpture or print makes a beautiful, thoughtful keepsake that will last for years to come. What’s more, an original artwork doesn’t have to break the bank either - especially if bought as a shared gift. Canterbury has a huge range of art galleries offering work by international,
Salvador Dali and David Hockney. Lilford Gallery & Framing on Castle Street is three floors of gallery space and a framing studio with a master craftsman who has framed works by Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein. It’s also home to Annie Designs jewellery and silversmith workshop studio and is a pop-up space for artists to rent. lilfordgallery.com
Castle Fine Art in Burgate is an expansive, airy space in the Cathedral Quarter, with work from popular artists such as Richard Rowan, Scarlett Raven and Billy Connolly. castlefineart.com
Canterbury Fine Art | Sun St WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS
Mark Edwards
40.5 x 40.5 cm
Soho Fine Art | Marlowe Arcade KING OF COOL
Scott Tetlow
Limited Edition
75.4 x 88.4cm
Clarendon Fine Art | High St YOU HAVE MY HEART
Doug Hyde Framed: 94 x 94cm
Clarendon Fine Art in the High Street exhibits the latest fine art: original works, limited editions and sculpture from contemporary artists and modern masters. clarendonfineart.com
Soho Fine Art in the Marlowe Arcade showcases diverse artwork that’s rooted in tradition but sparkles with contemporary style. sohofineart.co.uk
Canterbury Fine Art in Sun Street is a welcoming space that curates artistic excellence, such as Edward Seago, Albert Goodwin, Donald Hamilton Fraser and John Piper canterburyfineart.com
Stark Gallery in Castle Street shows home-grown, innovative art including paintings, sculptures and prints, plus an expert framing service, in a friendly informal setting. starkgallery.com
Platform in St Dunstan’s Street is a champion of local Kent artists, illustrators and photographers, with original art, edition prints and three dimensional work. platform-shop.co.uk
Happy & Glorious in Burgate, creator and curator of design-led products for the home, hosts seasonal themed exhibitions of UK artists. happyglorious.co.uk
Rock Paper Scissors in Stour Street is a lifestyle store and gallery space, showcasing makers and artists from the South East and hosting creative workshops. rockpaperscissors.co.uk
Castle Fine Art | Burgate OVER THE BRIDGE AND FAR AWAY
Paul Corfield
Framed: 46.5cm x 46.5cm
Sowley-UK in St Peter’s Street is a vibrant store offering bespoke framing, original art, jewellery, hand-made craft and gorgeous gifts. sowley-uk.co.uk
Lilford Gallery | Palace St THE WIND CHIMES AT WESTGATE Adam De Ville Framed: 540mm x 285mm
Lilford Gallery | Castle St MAURICE
Sarah Crouch 27.5 x 26.5cm
3. County Clothes
Swole Panda Bamboo
Scooters Socks
Rev their footwear up a gear with these super-cool scooter socks
Spicy socks from for those who like a dash of heat on their feet Sock it to
Fun and funky footwear is the ultimate failsafe present! You’ll find eye-catching socks all year round in Canterbury’s clothes shops but Christmas is their real time to shine. Here are some dazzling designs we found in the city.
1. Mountain Warehouse The Parade mountainwarehouse.com
Monster Kids Grippy Socks
Roarsome snuggly socks for little ones with non-slip grip for indoor adventures
St. Margaret’s Street countyclothesmenwear.co.uk
These Barbour socks from Slater Menswear point to a great sense of style 1 2 3 6 5 8 7
2. Slater Menswear Longmarket slaters.co.uk
Barbour Pointer Dog Sock Gift Set
5. Typo Whitefriars cottonon.com/uk/typo-home
Typo Snooker Ball Socks
Cue a big smile when these Typo toe warmers are opened on Christmas morning
6. Boots Whitefriars boots.com
Threads by Totes Snowman Ankle Sock
Frosty feet will be banished with this cheery chappies wrapped around them
4. Primark Marlowe Arcade primark.com
7pk Mixed Socks
7. Canterbury Tails Cat
Cafe Mercery Lane canterburytails.co.uk
Cat Socks
Paw-fectly gorgeous cat socks from Canterbury’s feline HQ
8. FatFace The Parade fatface.com
Red Women’s Guinea Pigs Socks
Wrap up these cutie pies from FatFace for an adorable stocking filler
Weddings
Let's celebrate
Large adjacent car park
Accessible facilities
Amazing support. Excellent staff. Effortlesss. Highly recommend.
Westgate
Carlos Dominguez | Tekaani Media
Photography:
Play that funky music...
In winter, Canterbury comes alive with festive tunes and joyous performances. In addition to the beautiful music at the Cathedral, show-stoppers at the Marlowe and gigs at the Gulbenkian, the city’s pubs, bars and clubs offer a medley of musical merriment in more intimate surroundings. From live music to open mic to lively karaoke, there's something for everyone!
TurnLive Music Spots
The Christmas Market in the Cathedral precincts and Whitefriars is a haven for festive shopping but also a hub for live music. Enjoy performances from local artists while you sip on mulled wine and soak in the seasonal spirit. For a more intimate atmosphere, head to one of Canterbury's vibrant venues such as The Penny Theatre, The Cosy Club, Fruitworks or The Lady Luck, where you'll find live music from jazz to punk. You can also check out upcoming bands and solo acts at HMV on Saturdays.
Open Mic Nights
Fancy giving your musical talents a go? Several places in Canterbury host open mic evenings, offering the perfect chance to join in the festive fun. The Ballroom, The Dolphin and The Black Griffin regularly host open mic sessions, welcoming everyone from seasoned performers to first-timers. Grab your guitar or warm up your vocals, and give them a show!
Explore Canterbury’s fantastic nightlife venues and browse ideas for themed nights out with the Canterbury Nightlife Guide
Cosy Club
it up!
Karaoke Christmas Fun
If singing along to your favourite Christmas hits is more your style, Canterbury has several spots where you can unleash your inner pop star. Matches Sports Bar, The Pound, Tokyo Tea Rooms and Boom Battle Bar all offer a vibrant karaoke experience, complete with festive tunes and plenty of holiday cheer. Whether you're belting out Mariah Carey or sticking to a classic, you're guaranteed a jolly good time.
Boom
Matches
London
Hop on board a Southeastern train to London
Download the Southeastern app, buy your tickets and manage your journey all in one place. Plus, no booking fees when you buy from us!
Travel in the city
Local bus services
Canterbury district is served by Stagecoach South East buses, based at Canterbury City Centre in St George’s Lane CT1 2SY.
Check times, fares and more at stagecoachbus.com or download the Stagecoach Bus App.
Park & Ride
Park all day for just £4 per car with up to six passengers, then hop on one of our frequent, low emission buses direct to Canterbury city centre. Plus, by registering online, Canterbury district residents can now save 20% across our Park & Ride services and enjoy all day parking for only £3.20. Our three Park & Ride sites are:
• New Dover Rd CT1 3EL
• Wincheap, Ten Perch Rd, CT1 3TQ
• Sturry Rd, CT1 1AD
For more details visit canterbury.gov.uk/parkandride
Parking
With Canterbury’s new colour-coded car park bands, you can easily plan your journey to avoid congestion and pay less. Plus residents can now save 10% in all ANPR car parks in bands 2 and 3 with a parking permit account.
Here are a few insider tips to help you find cheaper parking spots:
If you plan to visit Canterbury through its original medieval gateway in the St Dunstan’s area, park at Station Road West for £1.90 per hour (band 3) and walk through the Westgate Towers like visitors have done for centuries.
For those wishing to start their visit with a trip to the Creative Quarter, or The King’s Mile, you will find parking at £2.70 per hour at Northgate Car Park (band 2) and a lovely walk past some of our finest independent retailers.
And finally, why not park right next to Canterbury Castle and enjoy a walk through the Castle Quarter with plenty of shops to visit and quick access to some of our premium retailers – Castle Street multi-storey charges £1.90 per hour (band 3).
For further details visit canterbury.gov.uk/parking
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