What's On in Medway
Things to do in and around Medway: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Christmas Shopping in Medway 2026: Independent Shops
We checked 15 Medway shops and centres, from Baggins Book Bazaar to a dinosaur fossil shop, for opening hours and addresses. Updated November 2026.
Dates for the diary
- Thu 5 Nov Tubular Bells Live
- Sat 7 Nov Adoption and fostering information drop-in
- Sat 7 Nov City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra: The Sound of the Movies
- Sat 7 Nov Bonfire Night, Medway Yacht Club
- Sun 8 Nov Remembrance Sunday in Medway
- Sun 8 Nov Remembrance Day Civic Service, Rochester Cathedral
- Sun 8 Nov Tam Lin at Coldrum Stones
- Sun 8 Nov The Magic of Motown
- Mon 9 Nov Dockyard Dementia Café
- Tue 10 Nov The Stylistics
- Fri 13 Nov Ben Portsmouth: This is Elvis
- Sat 14 Nov Deck the Halls!, Eastgate House
More stories
Christmas
Where to Buy a Christmas Tree Near Medway 2026 With Prices
We checked 6 places selling real Christmas trees near Medway, from Hartlip to Kingswood, for prices, opening dates and delivery. Updated November 2026.
Christmas
Ice Rinks Near Medway 2026 With Prices
Seven ice rinks near Medway, from Planet Ice Gillingham to Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, with 2026 dates, prices and age rules. Checked November 2026.
Food & Drink
Medway Cafes and Coffee Shops: Where to Go
We checked 12 Medway cafes, from the Deaf Cat in Rochester to Capstone Farm Country Park, for hours, prices and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
Food & Drink
Christmas Dinner in Medway 2026: 9 Menus With Prices
Nine Medway pubs and restaurants with 2026 Christmas menus, deposits and hygiene ratings, from £54.99 to £110 on Christmas Day. Checked October 2026.
Soft play
Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Medway
We list eight Medway soft play and rainy-day places, from Monkey Bizz in Strood to the Historic Dockyard, with prices and ages. Checked October 2026.
Days Out
Days Out Near Medway With Children, Checked October 2026
We list 13 family days out near Medway, from the Historic Dockyard Chatham to Leeds Castle, with prices, opening dates and booking rules. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Brunch in Medway: The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots
9 Medway brunch and breakfast spots with prices and hours, from £8.50 eggs Benedict to Saturday bottomless brunch in Rochester. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Afternoon Tea in Medway: Where to Book, Checked October 2026
8 places for afternoon tea in Medway, from Lenny's in Rochester to Bridgewood Manor, with prices from £25 a head and how to book. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Medway Pubs: The Best Pubs and Where to Drink
18 Medway pubs from Rochester to Rainham and Cooling, with opening hours and hygiene ratings, led by CAMRA's 2026 Pub of the Year. Checked October 2026.
Parks
Medway Playgrounds and Parks for Children
16 Medway playgrounds listed with parking, cafes, toilets and closing times, from Capstone Farm in Chatham to the Strand in Gillingham. Checked October 2026.
Walks
Walks Near Medway: Circular Routes, Parks and Riversides
12 walks near Medway with distances, surfaces, car parks, gate times and dog rules, from the Great Lines to RSPB Cliffe Pools. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Sunday Roast in Medway: Where to Book, Checked October 2026
8 Medway Sunday roasts with prices, times and hygiene ratings, from riverside pubs in Upnor and Chatham to villages like Cuxton. Checked October 2026.
Food & Drink
Medway Restaurants: The Best Places to Eat
We list 12 Medway restaurants, from omakase in Rochester to marina views at Chatham Maritime, with prices, hours and hygiene ratings. Updated October 2026.
Chatham
Adoption and Fostering Drop-In, Chatham: Free, 7 November
Diagrama Foundation runs a free adoption and fostering drop-in at Sun Pier House, Chatham, on 7 November, 10am to 3pm. No talk to sit through; children welcome.
Christmas
Medway ice rink at Christmas: Christmas Day skate £10
Planet Ice Gillingham opens on Christmas Day, 10am to 12pm, at £10 a skater. Holiday skating runs daily 19 Dec to 4 Jan at £15.40. No pop-up rink in Medway.
Christmas
Rochester Cathedral Carols 2026: 13 Free Services and Times
Advent procession 29 November, Nine Lessons and Carols 18 and 19 December, all free and unticketed. Only the choir's carol concert, 12 and 13 December, is paid.
Folklore
Tam Lin at Coldrum Stones: Lantern Walk, 8 November
Pyewacket Folk stage the ballad of Tam Lin at Coldrum Stones from 3pm on 8 November, then Yule at the Good Intent, Maidstone, from 2pm on 20 December.
Halloween
Halloween in Medway 2026: Pumpkins, Ghost Tours and Scares
Pumpkin fields at Hoo and Rainham are open to Saturday 31 October and Fort Amherst's 18+ scares end on Halloween. Dockyard family ghost tours have sold out.
Christmas
Santa's Grotto in Medway 2026: Four Grottos, Dates and Prices
Hempstead Valley's grotto opens 7 November at £6.50 a child; Chatham Dockyard's Mission Christmas is £25 from 29 November, Fort Amherst from £27.50.
Events
What's On in Medway: Halloween Weekend, Bonfire Night and Christmas
Pumpkin fields and Fort Amherst scares end on Saturday 31 October; Upnor bonfire night is 7 November, then Rochester's Christmas market from 27 November.
Remembrance
Remembrance Sunday Medway 2026: Parades and Road Closures
Chatham parade gathers 10.20am, Rochester 10.25am, Gillingham service 8.45am on Sunday 8 November. Every road closure and the free car parks, confirmed.
Christmas
Chatham Dockyard Mission Christmas: 11 Dates, From £17.50
Mission Christmas 2026 at Chatham Dockyard runs on 11 dates from 29 November to 24 December: session times, ticket prices, what is included and how to book.
Burham
A Quiet Storm, Burham: Storm-Painted Art, 23 to 27 Sept
Paintings left outside in live storms hang at the altar of Burham's Grade I medieval church from 23 to 27 September, with a private view on the Thursday.
Rochester
Rochester Christmas Market: 9 Days, 27 Nov to 13 Dec
Rochester Christmas Market is in Castle Gardens on nine days, 27 November to 13 December 2026. Free entry, times for each day, quiet hours and where to park.
Rochester
Rochester Dickensian Christmas: 5 and 6 December, Free
Rochester's Dickensian Christmas Festival is 5 and 6 December 2026, 10am to 6pm, free. Times, what is confirmed, parking, and two coach slots already full.
Rochester
Medway Fireworks: Upnor 7 Nov, Display 7pm, £13 Adults
Medway Yacht Club's bonfire night at Lower Upnor is on sale: Saturday 7 November, gates 5.30pm, fireworks 7pm, £13 adults, £7 children. No council display.
Chatham
Medway Panto 2026: Cinderella, 11 Dec to 3 Jan
Cinderella at the Central Theatre Chatham, 11 December 2026 to 3 January 2027: every performance time, the BSL and relaxed shows, ticket prices and parking.
Rochester
Heritage Open Days Medway: 44 Free Events, 11-20 Sept
All 44 events are free and 28 need no booking at all. Saturday 12 September is the busiest day, with 23 Medway venues open. One session has already sold out.
Events
Super Saturday Chatham: Free Family Day, 29 August
Free drop-in on Chatham High Street and at the Pentagon, Saturday 29 August, 10am to 4pm. The craft activity must be booked ahead, and that is free too.