Wrap up in your winter coat, grab a glass of mulled wine and enjoy an afternoon at one of Kent’s amazing Christmas markets.

From spectacular stocking fillers to festive food and drink, we’ve got the perfect markets to get you into the Christmas spirit.

AYLESFORD, The Friars

This village Christmas Fayre returns to Aylesford with all your favourite traditions. Alongside the many festive food stalls and arts and crafts stands that make up the market, there will also be a Santa’s grotto, raffle, train rides and a chance to meet Bjorn, the animatronic polar bear.

When: Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27 at The Friars in Aylesford. Market open from 10am to 4pm. Tickets cost £4.50 per adult and can be purchased at the gate.

CANTERBURY, Whitefriars

This festive fair sprawls out across the city, but the heart of the market can be found in Canterbury’s shopping district of Whitefriars, where you will discover rows upon rows of wooden huts selling Christmas wares. Tuck into hot food including German bratwurst and sugary doughnuts and browse the stalls for that perfect gift. This year there is no Santa’s grotto, but a whole host of new activities, such as a virtual reality sleigh ride through Lapland, Letters to Santa workshops and live entertainment, will be available.

When: Friday, November 11 to Christmas Eve in Canterbury City Centre. Market open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and 11am to 4pm on Sundays. Entry is free, no need to book.

Also, if one market in the city isn't quite enough, don't forget to visit Westgate Hall in Canterbury on Saturday, November 19 and Saturday, December 17 for an indoor market housing more than 30 Kent producers selling handcrafted creations, homeware, food, art and more - perfect for the lead up to Christmas.

DARTFORD, Hall Place and Gardens

This arts and crafts fair is a great place to find a unique gift for someone special. From traditional crafts to contemporary artwork, there will be a huge selection of stalls from local artists and craftspeople from further afield. There will also be a farmers’ market with fresh produce and a miniature railway offering rides for children each day.

When: Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13 at Hall Place and Gardens in Dartford. Market open from 10am to 4pm. Entry is free, no need to book.

FAVERSHAM, Market Place

Faversham is known for its bustling markets, and during the festive season the town will be packed with its regular traders as well as a selection of Christmas arts, crafts, gifts, food and drink. On Friday and Saturday, the much-loved Charter Market will offer household essentials, clothes, trinkets, flowers, fruit and vegetables. If you’re only visiting on Saturday, you will also find the Best of Faversham Market in Preston Street, which showcases the best local food and drink producers with a festive twist. And finally, on Sunday, there will be a special Christmas Market to celebrate the season.

When: Friday, December 9 to Sunday, December 11 at Market Place in Faversham. Market open from 9am to 3pm. Entry is free, no need to book.

FOLKESTONE, Harbour Arm

For its second year, the Folkestone Festive Marketplace will be almost double the size and is expecting even bigger crowds of shoppers. There will be twice the amount of market huts filled with independent traders and two late night shopping experiences, so you have plenty of chances to browse each and every stall. There will also be a pop-up food village, carol services, live music and Christmas films being shown on a big screen, so you can really make the most of your day.

When: Weekends from Saturday, November 19 to Christmas Eve at the Harbour Arm in Folkestone. Market open from 11am to 6pm. Late night shopping takes place on Thursday, November 24 and Thursday, December 15 from 5pm to 9pm. Entry is free, no need to book.

MAIDSTONE, Maidstone Museum

Step inside the county town’s eclectic museum and take a look at the range of gifts on offer during this year’s Christmas Craft Market. The one-day market will welcome local arts and crafts producers to share their festive goodies with visitors. Then, once the shopping is over, the museum and its galleries will be open for you to explore.

When: Saturday, December 10 at the Maidstone Museum. Market open from 10am to 3pm. Entry is free, no need to book.

PENSHURST, High Street

Since launching in 2011, this village market has helped raise almost £40,000 for local charities. This year, it hopes to boost its fundraising with indoor and outdoor stalls from more than 30 Kent businesses, as well as live music and street entertainment, mulled wine, a BBQ and Christmas lights.

When: Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 at Penshurst Town Centre, near Tunbridge Wells. Entry is free, no need to book.

ROCHESTER, Rochester Castle

One of the county’s biggest Christmas markets returns to the historic castle grounds this month. The Rochester Christmas Market, which takes place in the beautiful gardens, will be held over three weekends and boasts a number of stalls selling gifts from independent, artisan producers. There will be traditional Christmas treats such as mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, as well as a Bavarian food village, a childrens’ funfair and an arts and crafts tent.

During the second weekend of the market, the Dickensian Christmas Festival will also take place, bringing a programme of live entertainment, street performers and Victorian costumes to the town.

When: Weekends from Saturday, November 26 to Sunday, December 11 at Rochester Castle. Market open from 10am to 6pm, with some exceptions. You can find full opening times here. Entry is free, no need to book.

SEVENOAKS, Reuthe's The Lost Gardens

This year, the Sevenoaks market kicks off with a very special breakfast. The Lost Gardens’ onsite cafe, the Woodland Bistro, will be hosting a childrens’ breakfast with unlimited milk and squash, during which there will be a morning visit from Father Christmas himself. He will be meeting children and handing out gifts ahead of the market opening with its range of festival stalls.

When: Saturday, December 3 at Reuthe’s the Lost Gardens in Sevenoaks. Market open from 10am to 2pm, breakfast takes place from 9am to 10am. Entry is free, however the breakfast must be booked online in advance and costs £12.50.

STOCKBURY, Village Hall

This community fair brings together local businesses, artists, producers and residents to get into the Christmas spirit. The fair, hosted in the village of Stockbury, near Maidstone, will be selling a variety of gifts, pottery, jewellery, bags, crafts, food, drink and much more. There will also be traditional treats such as mince pies and mulled wine, and a fun Christmas raffle to finish off the day.

When: Sunday, November 20 at the Village Hall in Stockbury, near Maidstone. Market open from 12pm to 3pm. Entry is free, no need to book.

TENTERDEN, High Street

This charming town is bringing its annual Christmas Market back for another year. Foodies will be pleased to hear that the market will boast a range of international street cuisine, as well as fresh, artisan produce. There will also be lots of handmade arts and crafts, clothing, accessories, stocking fillers and hamper items for you to choose from, many of which come from Tenterden’s independent shops and businesses. The festive market will also coincide with the Christmas tree lights switch on.

When: Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27 at Tenterden High Street. Market open from 12pm to 8pm on Friday, 9am to 7pm on Saturday, and 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Entry is free, no need to book.

TONBRIDGE, Angel Centre

For something a little different this Christmas, you might want to visit the Tonbridge Vegan Festive Fair. The fair celebrates all things vegan, with a fabulous festive twist, and has become a staple of the town’s Christmas calendar. There will be a great range of vegan food and drink, with plenty of seasonal offerings, as well as clothing, craft and beauty stalls. The fair will also house some vegan-friendly charities who will be available to answer any questions you might have about going meat-free.

When: Sunday, November 20 at the Angel Centre in Tonbridge. Market open from 11am to 4pm. Tickets cost £3 per person and can be purchased on the gate.

TONBRIDGE, Tonbridge Castle

The Castlemas extravaganza returns to Tonbridge Castle this December, with an incredible programme of festive activities. You can meet Father Christmas, enjoy live theatre, stop off for a drink in the Jingle Bell Bar and, of course, stroll through the Christmas market. The Mistletoe Town market is open for 13 days and has more than 70 chalets hosting stalls from local businesses, from gifts and arts and crafts to festive food and drink. There is even a daily sprinkling of snow that covers the Castlemas ground as you shop.

When: Thursday, December 8 to Tuesday, December 20 at Tonbridge Castle. Market open from 10am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday. Entry to the market is free, however some experiences need to be booked in advance.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Hospice in the Weald

This Kent-based charity will be welcoming shoppers back to its delightful annual market this Christmas. The garden will be transformed into a traditional market square, with more than 40 friendly stallholders setting up shop underneath the marquees. There will also be some stalls inside, just in case there is bad weather over the weekend. In addition to the market stalls, visitors can enjoy food, drink, festive singalongs and the chance to meet Father Christmas.

When: Saturday, November 26 and Sunday, November 27 at the Hospice in the Weald, Tunbridge Wells. Market open from 10am to 4pm. Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased on the gate.

WHITSTABLE, Whitstable Castle

Set in the picturesque grounds of Whitstable Castle, this Christmas fair is brimming with festive things to see and do. You can find the perfect holly wreath to hang on your door, stock up on gifts for the family from more than 60 stalls, stop off in Santa’s grotto and take a break while you watch some live entertainment. The tearoom will also be open, serving mulled wine and mince pies as well as a selection of light lunches for those who want to make a day of it.

When: Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 at Whitstable Castle. Market open from 10am to 5pm. Entry to the fair is free and there’s no need to book; however, to visit Santa’s grotto you will need to book a slot by calling 01227 281726 or emailing enquires@whitstablecastle.co.uk.