Remembrance Sunday is 8 November 2026. Last year's Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham parade times, the roads shut 8am to 2pm and the car parks that were free.
Remembrance Sunday falls on Sunday 8 November 2026, and Armistice Day on Wednesday 11 November. Medway Council has not yet published this year’s timings. Last year it put out the full list of parades, services, road closures and free car parks on 4 November, five days before, so this page sets out what happened in 2025 and will be updated when the 2026 details arrive.
The quick answer
- Date: Remembrance Sunday is 8 November 2026; the two-minute silence on Armistice Day is on Wednesday 11 November.
- Last year’s timings: Gillingham’s service at the Great Lines Heritage Park was at 8.45am, the Chatham parade gathered at Rhode Street car park from 10.20am, and the Rochester parade started at 10.25am before a service in the cathedral.
- Roads in Rochester and Chatham town centres shut from 8am to 2pm last year, and several council car parks were free from 7am to 3pm.
What happened on Remembrance Sunday 2025
These are last year’s arrangements, from the council’s Remembrance events in Medway announcement of 4 November 2025. The shape has been stable, but check back for the 2026 times.
| Town | What | Where | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gillingham | Memorial service and wreath laying | Great Lines Heritage Park | 8.45am |
| Gillingham | Service and wreath laying, then parade to St Mark's Church, Canterbury Street | War memorial by Medway Park | 9.50am |
| Chatham | Parade gathers | Rhode Street car park | From 10.20am |
| Chatham | Service and wreath laying | Victoria Gardens | 10.45am |
| Rochester | Royal British Legion parade, then service | High Street to Rochester Cathedral | Parade from 10.25am |
| Rainham, Brompton, Hoo | Services | St Margaret's Church, Rainham; Brompton; Hoo | Check with organisers |
Chatham: after the service at Victoria Gardens the parade returned along the High Street and took a salute outside the Central Theatre.
Rochester: after the cathedral service the parade re-formed, marched back down the High Street, stopped to lay wreaths at the war memorial and then took a salute further down the High Street. The council warned that only a small number of cathedral seats are open to the public, first come first served, once those in the parade are seated. The cathedral’s own service information is where its 2026 arrangements will appear.
Brompton and Hoo: the council said these services are not organised by it, and residents should check with the organisers.
Armistice Day: on Tuesday 11 November 2025 there was also a service and wreath laying at Victoria Gardens, Chatham, at 10.45am.
Road closures last year
On Remembrance Sunday 2025 the council closed these roads:
- Rochester, 8am to 2pm: the High Street between the Guildhall Museum and Eastgate Court, Castle Hill from the Esplanade (residents’ access allowed), Epaul Lane, Boley Hill, Northgate, and the ends of Eastgate Terrace, Crow Lane, Blue Boar Lane and La Providence where they meet the High Street.
- Chatham, 8am to 2pm: High Street to Best Street, Rhode Street, Richard Street, James Street, Clover Street, Waterfront Way, The Paddock, Best Street, Railway Street, Ordnance Terrace, Albany Terrace, Fort Pitt Hill and Boundary Road.
- Gillingham: Mill Road from Brompton Road to Medway Park car park, 9.15am to about 10.45am; the High Street from Brompton Road to Skinner Street and Canterbury Street, with Marlborough Road, Arden Street, Fox Street and Britton Street, 10.30am to about 10.45am.
- Rainham, 10.30am to 11.30am: the A2 High Street from Orchard Street to Ivy Street, including the Station Road junction.
Our Medway roadworks page will carry the 2026 closures when they are published.
Free parking last year
From 7am to 3pm on Remembrance Sunday 2025 these council car parks were free:
- Chatham: James Street and Riverside. Rhode Street was closed from 6.30am to 12.30pm because the parade gathers there.
- Rochester: Blue Boar Lane, Cathedral and Corporation Street. Boley Hill and Kings Head were closed from 6am to 2pm. Extra blue badge bays were set out outside the Bridge Chapel and Chambers on the Esplanade.
- Rainham: Cricketers.
- Gillingham: Medway Park.
Normal charges for each car park are on our parking in Medway page.
Still to confirm
- The 2026 timings, closures and free car parks. Last year’s announcement came on 4 November; expect this year’s in the first week of November.
- The Rochester Cathedral service arrangements for 8 November.
Frequently asked questions
When is Remembrance Sunday 2026?
Sunday 8 November 2026. Armistice Day, 11 November, is a Wednesday.
What time is the Remembrance parade in Chatham?
In 2025 the parade gathered at Rhode Street car park from 10.20am for a service at Victoria Gardens at 10.45am. The 2026 times are not yet published.
Can I go to the Remembrance service at Rochester Cathedral?
Yes, but seats for the public are limited. Last year the council said a small number were available first come, first served, once the parade had been seated.
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