Christmas markets and shopping in Thanet

If there's one thing that gets me into the festive spirit quicker than anything else, it's a Christmas market. Nothing beats shopping with a hot cup of mulled wine in one hand and as many mince pies as I can carry in the other.

It's much nicer shopping experience than my other preferred option, which is panic buying a load of stuff online at the last minute, unsure if anyone actually wants any of it.

Thanet is overflowing with Christmas markets and shopping opportunities in the run up to the big day. As well as getting you in the mood, they also provide the chance to buy locally made items that your friends and family will love. And, hey, why don't buy yourself a few gifts too? You deserve it. You'll have to free up that spare hand by eating all those mince pies though.

Get festive and cross all the names off your present list at these...

Pierremont Hall Christmas Market
As well as a wide range of market stalls, this event has live music, dance, food, a licensed bar, bauble decorating, and the chance to meet Santa and Mrs Claus. 
Saturday, November 29. Pierremonth Hall, Pierremont Park, Broadstairs, CT10 1JX

Margate Old Town Christmas Market
This year round market gets festive as the Christmas season gets underway, with a variety of handmade and vintage gifts. 
Saturday, November 29. Margate Old Town Market Square

George & Heart Christmas Market
Margate pub the George & Heart will be filling up with stalls selling a range of handmade gifts. There will also be food, mulled wine and music. 
Saturday, November 29. The George & Heart, 44 King Street, Margate CT9 1QE

Festive Teenage Market
Local young entrepreneurs will be selling crafts, art, jewellery, food and more. There will also be live music. 
Saturday, November 29. The Centre, Margate, CT9 1JG

Dickens House Festive Weekends
There will be market stalls offering gifts as part of a larger event with dramatic readings of Dickens classic, children’s crafts, museum tours and more. 
November 29-30, December 6-7 & 13-14. Dickens House Museum, 2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS

Ramsgate Handmade & Vintage Christmas Fair
A makers market with locally produced goods. There will also be live entertainment, children’s activities, Santa’s grotto and more. 
Sunday, November 30. Queen Street, Ramsgate

A Woven Home
Weavers Beatrice Larkin, Studio Mond and Woven Form are setting up shop at Kavel Rafferty. As well as their textiles, they have a load of friends coming with them, selling art, chocolate, soap and more. 
Wednesday, December 3 to Sunday December 7. Projects Kavel Rafferty, Margate Post Office, 22-23 Cecil Square, Margate, CT9 1BA

Good Tidings
Good Tidings pops up this year at Ramsay and Williams in Margate Old Town with locally-made gifts and stuff, workshops and events. Oh, and ice cream.
Friday, December 5 to Monday, December 15. Ramsay and Williams, 6 Market Street, Margate, CT9 1EU

Megan Metcalf Studio
Megan Metcalf pops up with a Christmas shop on Ramsgate’s Addington Street, with original paintings, prints, table cloths, cards, colouring books, ceramics, decorations and more.
Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7. Margo Shop, 35 Addington Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9JJ

Nino’s Vintage Pop-Up
Broadstairs acai and wine bar Salt hosts Niamh Flanagan’s Nino’s Vintage Pop-Up for an evening market, running 5.30pm to 9pm. The High Street haunt will be filled with festive vintage niceness with an emphasis on party and festive garb and jewellery.
Saturday, December 6. Salt, 127 High Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1NG

Quench Christmas Market
Art gallery Quench will be setting up at Cliftonville Community Centre with alternative gifts from local artists. There will also be music, mulled wine, karaoke and a raffle. 
Saturday, December 6. Cliftonville Community Centre, Margate, CT9 2DB

Margate WI Christmas Fayre
Margate WI will be taking over Dreamland with stalls from local craft makers, plus you’ll also be able to meet the cast from Robin Hood, the panto playing at St Lawrence College in Ramsgate this December. 
Saturday, December 6. Dreamland, Hall by the Sea Road, Marine Terrace, Margate CT9 1XJ

Bleak House Christmas Fair
Bleak House in Broadstairs will be hosting a Christmas fair, with various stalls selling gifts. Kids can also meet Father Christmas, receive a gift and also have a festive train ride. There will be live carol performances each day and food from Kebbels too.
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. Bleak House, 2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS

Brighter Days Market
Always a winner, come and find artisan crafts of many different kinds from a wide variety of local makers, including jewellery, ceramics, decorations and more.
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG

Margate School of Art Christmas Market
Check out work created by the community of artists working out of the Margate School of Art, offering some unique Christmas gifts. 
Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. Margate School of Art, 31-33 High Street, CT9 1DX

Ellington Park Christmas Fayre
Ramsgate’s lovely Ellington Park will have stalls selling crafts and other gifts, Santa’s grotto and live music. The cafe will be serving mulled wine and mince pies. 
Sunday, December 7. Ellington Park, Park Road, Ramsgate, CT11 9TL

Ramsgate Late Night Shopping
As part of Ramsgate Winter Festival’s Weekend of Wonder, the town's shops will be staying open late and there will be a market stretching from King Street to Queen Street. Get your gifts, follow the light art trail, enter a £50 prize draw and more. 
Thursday, December 11. Throughout central Ramsgate

MADE by Margate
This pop-up shop is back for another year, selling handmade items from local makers, including ceramics, jewellery, accessories and homeware. Late night shopping every Friday
Friday, December 12 to Wednesday, December 24. 151 Northdown Rodd, Margate CT9 2QY

Clayspace Christmas Market
Always a great one to peruse, find a whole variety of ceramics on offer from makers based in Clayspace. There will also be decorations made by the  Kids Clay Club Crew. 
Saturday, December 13. Clayspace, Unit 1, Rear of 60 Ethelbert Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 1SB

Hoffs Christmas Market
20 independent makers will be settling up stalls in Hoffs, selling art, ceramics, jewellery, food, gifts and more. There’ll be free mulled wine for those who get there early. 
Saturday, December 13. Hoffs, 18 Marine Drive, Margate, CT9 1DH

Margate Jeweller's showcase
Ten local jewellery makers will be selling their designs, including Rebecca Gladstone, Smith & Sun, Jayne Fowler and Ami Blastock.
Saturday December 13 and Sunday, December 14. Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG

We Sell by the Sea
Grab artwork, homewares, jewellery, clothing and more as you sip mulled wine and the kids get involved with craft activities downstairs at the Cinque Ports pub. Then round it all off with a Sunday roast from Stakehaus upstairs. 
Sunday, December 21. Cinque Ports, 50 Marine Terrace, Margate, CT9

St Peter's Memorial Hall Christmas Gift, Craft & Food Fair
As well as stalls selling last minute gifts, there will be games, Santa’s grotto and more. 
Sunday, December 21. St Peter's Memorial Hall, High Street, St Peter's, Broadstairs, CT10 2TH