What's On in Tunbridge Wells
Things to do in and around Tunbridge Wells: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Santa's Grotto Tunbridge Wells: From £15, Plus Bewl Dates
Father Christmas is at Royal Victoria Place's Enchanted Cabin from 14 November, from £15 a child with a gift, and at Bewl Water on 12 dates from 28 November.
Dates for the diary
- On now to 1 Nov Monsters around the Moat, Halloween half-term trail
- Tue 20 Oct Rhyme Time
- 20 to 31 Oct Trinity Clocktower Tours
- 20 to 24 Oct The Last Laugh
- 21 to 24 Oct Gaslight, Trinity Theatre Club
- 23 Oct to 21 Feb Howard Hodgkin: In a Public Garden
- 24 to 25 Oct Model Brick Show
- Sat 24 Oct Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun
- 24 to 30 Oct Spook-Tober Half Term Discovery Days
- 26 to 31 Oct Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival
- Mon 26 Oct All Star Wrestling
- Wed 28 Oct Nick Sharratt's Once Upon a Drawalong
More stories
Christmas
Polar Express Tunbridge Wells: 6 Nov to 30 Dec, 32 Days
The Polar Express runs from Tunbridge Wells West on 32 days, 6 November to 30 December. Every date, the five daily start times, the fees and the parking catch.
Christmas
Christmas at Bedgebury 2026: 12 Off-Peak Nights at £19
Christmas at Bedgebury runs 33 nights from 20 November. Twelve are off peak at £19 an adult, not £27.50, and buying on the day costs £2 more. Parking is £10.
Christmas
Tunbridge Wells Christmas Market: Pantiles Opens 13 Nov
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.
Events
What's On in Tunbridge Wells: Free Puppets, Then Fireworks
Free puppet shows fill half term from 26 October, Dunorlan fireworks are on 7 November and the lights go on 14 November. Forty listings, most with prices.
Remembrance
Remembrance Sunday Tunbridge Wells 2026: 8 November, 10.50am
Remembrance Sunday is 8 November 2026. The town service starts at the War Memorial about 10.50am; roads round the Town Hall close 10am to midday for the march.
Christmas
Scotney Castle Christmas: Trail From 21 Nov, Late Nights
Scotney's Fairytale Christmas runs 21 November to 3 January, 10am to 4pm, with Late Nights & Lights to 7.30pm on six December evenings. House shut 2 to 20 Nov.
Bonfire Night
Dunorlan Fireworks 2026: Sat 7 Nov, £11, Road Closures
Dunorlan Park fireworks are on Sat 7 November: gates 5.30pm, display 7pm, £11 adults until 30 October. Pembury Road shuts 7.30 to 8pm. Benenden is £8.
Christmas
SKATE Tunbridge Wells: rink returns in 2026, dates unset
Still no SKATE dates on 17 October: the council's tourism site says the Calverley Grounds rink is back for 2026, but no prices are out and the booking page 404s.
Christmas
Tunbridge Wells Lights Switch-On: Sat 14 Nov, 4.30pm
Royal Victoria Place switches the lights on at 4.30pm on Saturday 14 November, free with no booking. Every festive date from 7 November to 3 January, listed.
Christmas
Tunbridge Wells Panto 2026: Cinderella, 12 to 31 December
Cinderella runs at the Assembly Hall from 12 December, and Elf The Musical is at Trinity from 11 December. Full dates, times and the cheapest days to book.
Food and drink
Tunbridge Wells Food Festival: 2026 Ran 26-27 Sept
The 2026 festival is over: it had free entry and a £9 cap on dishes at Calverley Grounds on 26 and 27 September. The organiser holds it on the fourth weekend.