Mission Christmas tickets went on sale on 25 September: £17.50 adult, £25 child with a present. The rest of the Dockyard shuts from 16 November until February.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham’s Christmas event, Mission Christmas, went on sale on Friday 25 September 2026. It runs on selected dates in November and December, costs £17.50 for an adult and £25 for a child aged 4 to 15 including a present from Father Christmas, and cannot be bought on the door. Everything else at the Dockyard, the ships and the galleries, closes for the winter on 16 November and does not reopen until February 2027.
The quick answer
- Tickets: adult (16 and over) £17.50, child 4 to 15 £25 with a present, child 3 and under £8.50 with a present. No family ticket and no discounts; annual passes are not valid.
- Book ahead: online only, from 25 September. Tickets are non-refundable, and a date change costs £10.
- The rest of the Dockyard: open 10am to 4pm from 2 to 15 November (closed 9 and 10 November), then closed from 16 November until February 2027.
What Mission Christmas is this year
This year’s story is new and themed on A Christmas Carol. An elf called Elfenezer has lost his Christmas spirit and locked away the Golden Ledger, Father Christmas’s list of what every child wants. Families go through Elfenezer’s past, present and future, do festive challenges, find the keys that unlock the ledger and finish with a private meeting with Father Christmas (Historic Dockyard: Mission Christmas).
What the ticket includes, according to the Dockyard:
- a guided, interactive story of about 45 minutes, in groups of up to 25;
- a private meet and greet with Father Christmas for your booking group, of up to eight people;
- a wrapped present for every child ticket;
- one printed professional photograph per group, with more photos and a storybook for sale afterwards.
The Dockyard says it is most suitable for children aged 4 to 10, and suggests allowing about two hours for the visit, including a wait of 20 to 30 minutes before seeing Father Christmas. You are asked to arrive 20 minutes before your slot. The buildings are kept at ambient temperature, so wrap up.
Prices
| Ticket | Price | Present from Father Christmas |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 16 and over | £17.50 | No |
| Child, 4 to 15 | £25.00 | Yes |
| Child, 3 and under | £8.50 | Yes (buy this ticket if you want your baby or toddler to get a gift) |
| Carer, one per disabled ticket holder | Free, book by phone on 01634 823800 | No |
A family of two adults and two children aged 4 to 15 therefore pays £85. Parking at the Dockyard is free and included.
The rules worth knowing before you book
- No door sales. Tickets are online only.
- Non-refundable and non-transferable. Changing your date or time in advance costs £10, subject to availability, and no changes are possible on the day. Late arrivals may be moved to a later tour if there is space, with no refund if there is not.
- No buggies inside. There is a buggy park, at your own risk, and no cloakroom or lockers.
- One wheelchair user per session because of the historic building and evacuation rules; call 01634 823800 before booking. Part of the route uses a staircase or lift.
- Groups cannot be merged on the day. If two families want to see Father Christmas together, they must book together in one transaction.
- No flash photography. Ordinary photos are allowed.
The Dockyard’s own FAQ describes the route both as running through its Command of the Oceans and Hearts of Oak galleries and as taking place in the Mast Houses near the main visitor car park; either way, it is not a walk round the wider site, which is closed.
The Dockyard itself over the winter
From the Dockyard’s opening times and site notices pages:
- Until 1 November: 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays in October outside half term (5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20 October).
- 2 to 15 November: 10am to 4pm, closed on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November. Sunday 15 November is the last day of the season.
- 16 November to February 2027: closed, except for Mission Christmas.
The Mess Deck Restaurant and the shop stay open for Mission Christmas and can be used without a ticket; the shop sells rope wreaths made by the Dockyard’s Master Ropemakers. The In Turner’s Wake exhibition, with original works by J.M.W. Turner, runs until 15 November, and the half term Yuck Yard event until 8 November: see our October half term page.
Getting there
Use postcode ME4 4TY and the main visitor entrance on Western Avenue; the Main Gate off Dock Road is for tenants and residents only. The Dockyard warns that the walk from Chatham station takes 35 to 40 minutes to the correct entrance, not the 25 minutes Google suggests. Nearby Christmas events the same weekends include the Rochester Christmas Market and the Dickensian Christmas Festival, and the Central Theatre panto is on our Medway pantomime page.
Still to confirm
- The exact dates and session times. The Dockyard lists “selected dates in November and December” and the calendar is on its booking system.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Mission Christmas at Chatham Dockyard?
£17.50 for adults, £25 for children aged 4 to 15 and £8.50 for children aged 3 and under. Child tickets include a present. There is no family ticket.
Can I use my Dockyard annual ticket for Mission Christmas?
No. Mission Christmas is ticketed separately and annual tickets are not valid.
Is the Historic Dockyard open in December?
Only for Mission Christmas, the shop and the Mess Deck Restaurant. The ships, galleries and exhibitions close from 16 November and reopen in February 2027.
When did Mission Christmas tickets go on sale?
Friday 25 September 2026.
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