Rochester Dickensian Christmas Market Review

 A Tale of Two Coaches: Tonbridge u3a Versus The Dickensian Throng

The Tonbridge u3a expedition to the Rochester Dickens Christmas Market had all the ingredients of a classic Christmas tale: delightful crowds, infectious carols, coffee queues of Homeric proportions, and the occasional logistical twist worthy of Mr. Bumble himself. Thankfully, the weather, in a rare moment of seasonal cooperation, stayed dry and mild - allowing us to enjoy the day without wrestling umbrellas or steaming gently in damp coats.

Such was the anticipation when the trip was advertised that one coach simply would not do. A second had to be hastily booked to convey our merry band to Kent’s brilliant answer to Victorian London. Spirits were high on arrival, helped along by the enticing aromas of street food, roasted nuts, and more than a little mulled wine drifting temptingly through the air. Rochester itself looked like it had transformed into a beautiful Christmas card.

Fake Snow, Real Crowds, and Coffee Quests

Rochester Castle Gardens had transformed into a Christmas market that Dickens himself would have loved - or at least written a lengthy chapter on. Fake snow drifted periodically from machines, landing softly on coat collars, eyelashes and the occasional unsuspecting mince pie or German sausage.

Rochester was already heaving, with visitors thronging the High Street' and stalls doing brisk business in festive gifts, crafts, and all manner of things nobody knew they needed until that very moment. We crossed paths throughout the day, with some of us happily 'just

looking' and others carrying those extra bags and struggling with protesting feet.

Coffee bars were packed to the rafters, and several members discovered that “no room at the inn” was not just a seasonal phrase but a very real lunchtime challenge. This crisis was happily eased in many cases by a restorative glass of mulled wine. Some truly heroic souls embarked on an odyssey worthy of Pip himself in search of a spare chair and a hot drink. Those who did eventually secure a table clung to it like gold bullion, fuelled by caffeine, cake and, for the truly festive, a top-up of mulled wine.

Castle Conquerors and Cathedral Peace

Meanwhile, the mighty Norman Castle called to the energetic. Those who bravely tackled the spiral staircase of the keep were rewarded with spectacular, sweeping views over Rochester and the Kent countryside - easily worth every one of the estimated hundred steps. Rosy cheeks and very respectable step counts all added to the sense of having fully earned any subsequent mince pies back at ground level.

All around us, Rochester gave its best impression of a living Dickens novel, complete with immaculate costumed characters, festive

processions, and at least one encounter with a suspiciously cheerful Ebenezer Scrooge.

For those needing a brief, blessed reprieve, the magnificent Cathedral offered perfect sanctuary. The carol services provided a moment of

peaceful reflection - and the invaluable chance to rest weary feet in England’s second-oldest cathedral.

The market stalls continued their trade right up until home time, and when it was time to leave, our u3a group reappeared with reassuring, military punctuality. Both coaches rolled back into Tonbridge only seven minutes behind the planned departure - a small Christmas triumph to round off the day.

So, we asked: Was the Dickensian Christmas Market crowded? Yes! Was it chaotic? Absolutely! Did anyone really mind? Not at all! It felt like something that Dickens himself would have thoroughly enjoyed.

Theresa George