Whether you’re staying in Canterbury or Medway over the holidays, or just looking for something Christmassy to do in your final days on campus. As the autumn term comes to an end, read our 12 Days of Christmas student-friendly guide to festive things to do in Kent over the Christmas break.<\/p>\n
With delightful displays of festive creativity around every street corner, Canterbury\u2019s Christmas shop windows are a sight worth seeing even if you don\u2019t want to buy anything. The city\u2019s annual shop window competition brings out the best in Canterbury\u2019s traders and attracted a bumper 83 entries this year. Stroll the ancient cobbled streets and be inspired.<\/p>\n
When:<\/strong> Any time.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Around Canterbury.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Free.<\/p>\n Indulge your inner-child and join in the great Christmas tradition that is pantomime.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> There are shows on around the county from now and into the new year.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> One of the best locally is considered to be\u00a0The Marlowe Theatre<\/a>\u00a0in Canterbury which this year is putting on Peter Pan. In Medway, it\u2019s Sleeping Beauty at\u00a0The Central Theatre<\/a>\u00a0in Chatham. Get a full rundown of all the shows at\u00a0the Big Panto Guide<\/a>. (http:\/\/www.bigpantoguide.co.uk\/kent<\/a>)<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong>\u00a0Prices vary.<\/p>\n Baby, it\u2019s cold outside, so banish the winter blues with a classic Christmas film at the Gulbenkian Cinema<\/a>.<\/p>\n When: <\/strong>Choose from the remake of the Agatha Christie classic who-dunnit Murder on the Orient Express until December 20, or for the young (or just the young at heart) Paddington 2 is on until December 20.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Gulbenkian Theatre<\/a>, University of Kent<\/a>, Canterbury Campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Prices vary. Purchase tickets from the Gulbenkian website<\/a>.<\/p>\n With fewer calories than a chocolate advent, the Creative Quarter in Folkestone celebrates Christmas with a Living Advent Calendar. Every night from 6pm between now and Christmas Eve, there will be a live performance behind a door in the quirky Old Town. Expect drama, music, arts and some big surprises.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Now until December 24 December.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Folkestone Creative Quarter, see www.folkestonelivingadventcalendar.org.uk <\/a><\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Free.<\/p>\n Described as \u201cthe<\/em>\u00a0loveliest castle in the world<\/em>\u201d by historian Lord Conway,\u00a0Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, celebrates Christmas with beautifully decorated trees and roaring fires. There\u2019s also a Winter Trail around the stunning grounds.<\/p>\n When:\u00a0<\/strong>Now until Christmas Eve and Boxing Day to January 1 2018.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Leeds Castle, Leeds, near Maidstone.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Students get a reduced price of \u00a321.90 which also allows you entry to the castle for the next year so you can visit as many times as you like. www.leeds-castle.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n Fill yourself with festive cheer every Saturday in Chatham, with entertainment from hula hooping to stilt-walking and puppetry. Details here.<\/a><\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Until December 23.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong>\u00a0Pentagon Shopping Centre to High Street, Chatham.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Free to enter.<\/p>\n Grab some pre-Christmas footballing action (and a match day pie) at one of the festive games across the county. Gillingham Football Club<\/a>\u00a0take on Oxford United on Boxing Day in the Sky Bet League One. There\u2019s a tasty Kent derby between Dover Athletic and Maidstone United on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Gills – 1pm, Saturday December 22; Dover\/Maidstone \u2013 1pm January 1<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Priestfield Stadium<\/a>, Gillingham, Kent OR Crabble, Dover.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Tickets from \u00a322 for the Gills, \u00a317 for Dover.<\/p>\n Make room for more mince pies by getting out and exploring some of the beautiful coastline around Medway. The original Saxon Shoreway<\/a> around Medway takes you along what would have been the coast 600 years ago!<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Anytime.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> North Kent.\u00a0View details of the route, here.<\/a><\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Free.<\/p>\n Take time out from the frenzy of a commercial Christmas to reflect and enjoy traditional carols and songs in the stunning location of Rochester Cathedral<\/a>.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Various services from now to Christmas Day. Details of Canterbury\u2019s services are here<\/a>. View the schedule, here <\/a>for Rochester.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Rochester Cathedral, Rochester, Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Free.<\/p>\n Get your skates on and head to one of the fun festive ice rinks which have popped up all over the county. They\u2019re everywhere from Bluewater Shopping Centre, Dartford, to Riverhill Himalayan Gardens in Sevenoaks. Two of our favourites are the vintage kitsch of Margate\u2019s Dreamland which hosts the Frosted Fairground alongside a winter-themed amusement park and Dover\u2019s Old Marine Station, a grand historical building which is transformed into a winter wonderland with traditional Christmas market and festive bar. And, don\u2019t forget Gillingham\u2019s Silver Blades Ice Rink which is open 365 days\u2019 a year!<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Various times (including Christmas Day!)<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cost:<\/strong> Prices vary.<\/p>\n Share the spirit of the season of goodwill by volunteering some of your time to help those less fortunate or who are alone at Christmas. There are hundreds of good causes to help \u2013 from homeless shelters to befriending the elderly or reading with young children.<\/p>\n When:\u00a0<\/strong>You can volunteer at any time of the year. Take a look at opportunities available<\/a>.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> Charities and non-profit organisations around Kent.<\/p>\n Cost:\u00a0<\/strong>Free.<\/p>\n Stumped as to what to do with that leftover Christmas dinner? Make it into a Christmas pizza or course! Check out the Love Food Hate Waste website for loads of great value recipes designed to make the most of the food on your plate.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> Anytime you like! Christmas pizza preparation takes 30-45 minutes.<\/p>\n Where:<\/strong> From the comfort of your own home.<\/p>\n Cost: <\/strong>A packet of puff pastry and a ball of mozzarella plus whatever you have left over.\u00a0View the recipe here.<\/a> https:\/\/www.lovefoodhatewaste.com\/recipe\/christmas-pizza<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We hope you found our blog an interesting read.<\/strong><\/p>\n Whatever your holiday consists of, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Kent Business School<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"2. See a Pantomime<\/h2>\n
3. Watch a Christmas Film<\/h2>\n
4. Join the Living Advent Calendar<\/h2>\n
5. Have a Historic Christmas<\/h2>\n
6. Christmas in Chatham<\/h2>\n
7. Go to a Festive Football Match<\/h2>\n
8. Explore the Kentish Coastline<\/h2>\n
9. Go Carol Singing<\/h2>\n
10. Go Ice Skating<\/h2>\n
11. Volunteer<\/h2>\n
12. Make Festive Food for Friends and Family<\/h2>\n