The Pantiles Christmas market opens Friday 13 November, 11am to 8pm on Fridays to Sundays, then daily 18 to 24 December. Free, plus the other market dates.

The Tunbridge Wells Christmas market is the Boutique Christmas Market on The Pantiles, and it opens on Friday 13 November 2026. Wooden chalets line the colonnade on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 8pm, then every day in the final week before Christmas. Entry is free. The Pantiles has published every opening day on its own events page (The Pantiles).

The quick answer

  • When: Friday 13 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, Fridays to Sundays only until 13 December, then daily from Friday 18 to Christmas Eve.
  • Hours: 11am to 8pm, except Christmas Eve, 11am to 6pm.
  • Where: The Pantiles, at the bottom of the town.
  • Price: free to attend.
  • Also: Calverley Precinct Market on Sundays 29 November and 20 December, 10am to 4pm, and the Wealden Times Midwinter Fair at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, from 19 to 21 November.

The Pantiles Boutique Christmas Market

The opening days, as listed by The Pantiles:

Weekend Days Hours
13 to 15 November Fri, Sat, Sun 11am to 8pm
20 to 22 November Fri, Sat, Sun 11am to 8pm
27 to 29 November Fri, Sat, Sun 11am to 8pm
4 to 6 December Fri, Sat, Sun 11am to 8pm
11 to 13 December Fri, Sat, Sun 11am to 8pm
18 to 23 December Every day, Fri to Wed 11am to 8pm
24 December Christmas Eve, Thursday 11am to 6pm

The market is not open Monday to Thursday until 21 December. If you are planning a midweek visit in late November or early December, the chalets will be shut.

The Pantiles describes it as a “carefully curated” market of independent retailers selling gifts, artisan products and festive food from traditional wooden chalets, and says it only takes traders selling gift-related products. Its trader list has not been published.

Entertainment, trails and the Pantiles lights

  • The Bandstand will have live musicians, community choirs, local theatre groups and mini pantomime performances through the season. The Pantiles says “a full entertainment programme will be announced soon”.
  • The Pantiles’ own lights switch-on is promised, with a “full itinerary to follow”. No date has been published yet. The main town switch-on is at Royal Victoria Place at 4.30pm on Saturday 14 November: see our switch-on page.
  • The Nutcracker Trail, new this year: 5ft Nutcracker statues hidden round The Pantiles. Collect their names to enter a draw for £150 of vouchers to spend in Pantiles shops, restaurants and bars.
  • A Nutcracker craft workshop for children, with profits to a local charity. Dates to be announced.
  • Rudolph’s Runner, the festive land train run by the town’s Business Improvement District, returns and will stop at The Pantiles beside The Corn Exchange. Operating dates are still to be announced.

Calverley Precinct Market: 29 November and 20 December

The same team runs the monthly Calverley Precinct Market on Calverley Road at the top of the town, with local produce, street food and crafts. Both of its pre-Christmas dates are Sundays, 10am to 4pm, free to attend:

The market is normally on the last Sunday of the month. In December it comes forward to the 20th, the Sunday before Christmas.

Before the chalets arrive, the ordinary Pantiles Market is on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, 10am to 4pm. Our What’s On this month page carries it with the rest of the town’s listings.

Wealden Times Midwinter Fair: 19 to 21 November

The other big Christmas shopping event nearby is just outside the town. The Wealden Times Midwinter Fair returns to The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY, from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 November, with more than 250 independent sellers of fashion, jewellery, gifts, homeware and food in seven heated marquees (Wealden Times Fair).

From the organiser’s FAQs (Midwinter Fair FAQs):

  • Tickets are timed, sold through Eventbrite, and there is no limit on how long you stay once in. All adults pay the same: there are no concessions.
  • Parking is free, in a field, so wear boots. Disabled parking is near the ticket office, and carers get a carer ticket on showing a blue badge there.
  • No dogs, as the fair is mostly indoors.
  • There is no cash machine on site, and a few stalls do not take cards.

The ticket price is shown on the booking page rather than in the FAQs.

Getting there and parking

The Pantiles is at the bottom of the town and Calverley Precinct at the top. Charges, evening rates and which car parks take RingGo are on our parking page, and closures that could slow you down are on roadworks and travel.

More Christmas in and around the town

Sources