There’s a flavour of Christmas coming to Kent from this weekend as festive markets start to set their stall out.

ROCHESTER CASTLE MARKET

Rochester’s popular Christmas market is back for its first weekend of the year on Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26.

Held in Rochester Castle Gardens, it will feature a Bavarian food village including German Bratwurst sausages. There will be a hog roast and churros – and the chance to wash it all down with mulled wine.

There will be a host of stalls selling crafts and goodies, handmade gifts and stocking fillers, as well as artisan chocolates, a traditional funfair and guaranteed snowfall with a snow machine.

The popular market will be open from 10am to 6pm both days and there will also be an area for parents with babies to change them and feed them, run by the National Childbirth Trust. There are car parks nearby, but the event is very popular and they are likely to fill up quickly.

The Christmas market returns next from Friday, December 1 to Sunday, December 3, and again from Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 10. For more details, visit new.medway.gov.uk.

LEEDS CASTLE, NEAR MAIDSTONE

There will also be plenty to tempt you as the Christmas market at Leeds Castle returns this weekend.

The market on the Cedar Lawn overlooking the castle will feature seasonal gifts and specialist food and drink, plus live music while you eat. The market will be on Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26, but also the following three weekends.

Visitor are advised to bring cash as not all stallholders are able to take card payments. Details at leeds-castle.com

DOCKSIDE, CHATHAM

Bratwurst, mulled wine and crafts can all be found at the German Christmas market at Chatham Dockside outlet which opens this weekend.

Browse the stalls and pick up hand-decorated gifts for adults, children and even pets.
The market opens on Friday, November 24, with a lights switch-on event on Saturday, November 25 with live music. The fair runs until Christmas Eve.

GRAVESEND BOROUGH MARKET

Gravesend holds Christmas markets every Saturday until Saturday, December 16. There will also be a vintage fair at the Gravesend Market on Sunday, November 26. For details go to visitgravesend.co.uk/christmas