We checked 17 Dartford shops and markets, from the Priory's Indie Bazaar to TJD Models, for opening hours and addresses. Updated November 2026.
Dartford and its villages have 17 shops and markets worth a Christmas shopping trip in 2026, and this guide lists their hours, addresses and stock. Start with the Priory’s Indie Bazaar on 14 November, Priory Flowers, Dartford Click for toys and TJD Models for kits.
The hours below are each shop’s normal ones, with Christmas hours noted where a shop has posted them, so ring ahead before a special trip.
Christmas shopping dates in Dartford, 2026
- Big Christmas Switch On, Saturday 14 November: High Street entertainment from 10am, a special market on the High Street until 8pm and the lights on at about 5pm. Town centre roads close from 10am to 6pm, on-street parking across the town is suspended from 10pm on Friday 13 November, and the Priory’s multi-storey shuts at 7pm, before the market ends. Details are on our switch-on page.
- Indie Bazaar, Saturday 14 November: 9am to 5.30pm in the Priory Market Place, with artists selling their own work. The Priory says it runs on the second Saturday of each month, which would make the next one 12 December, but only the November date was posted on 5 November.
- A separate Christmas market: the council’s events list showed none for 2026 on 5 November. Its one-night market in 2025 was on 5 December, so check again nearer the time.
- Bluewater: Bluewater’s Christmas page lists Wishmas on Saturday 12 December, 11am to 4pm, and charity gift wrapping from 9 to 24 December. We could not read 2026 Christmas opening hours on its hours page on 5 November.
The Priory Shopping Centre
The Priory is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Its multi-storey car park closes at 7pm and costs £1.50 for up to an hour or £3 for up to two, Monday to Saturday.
1. Indie Bazaar, Priory Market Place
The Indie Bazaar is a monthly market curated by House Of Stars. The centre describes “a day celebrating creativity and talent”, with artists “showcasing and selling their work”.
The stallholders are not named in advance. The November date falls on the day of the town’s Christmas switch-on, so the town centre will be busier than usual and some roads will be closed.
Open Saturday 14 November, 9am to 5.30pm
Call 01322 220915
Address Priory Market Place, The Priory Shopping Centre, DA1 2HS
Website theprioryshoppingcentre.co.uk/article/indie-bazaar5
Good for independent makers, art
2. News Stand Comic Books
The Priory says this shop has something for “a comic book fan, Warhammer enthusiast or a Pokémon trading card collector”. No opening hours or phone number are listed for the shop, so call the centre before making a special trip.
Call 01322 220915
Address The Priory Shopping Centre, DA1 2HS
Website theprioryshoppingcentre.co.uk/store/news-stand-comic-books
Good for comics, Warhammer, Pokémon cards
3. Priory Flowers
Priory Flowers says it is a family-run florist, established for over 20 years, with staff who have over 40 years of experience and cut flowers delivered fresh every day. It offers same-day delivery to Dartford and the surrounding areas, and sends flowers nationally through Interflora.
The Priory’s listing shows it closing early on Mondays and Saturdays and shut on Sundays, so plan a last-minute order around that.
Open Mon 8am to 3pm; Tue to Fri 8am to 5pm; Sat 8am to 3pm; closed Sun
Call 01322 284389
Address The Priory Shopping Centre, DA1 2HS
Website prioryflowers.com
Listing Our listing
Good for bouquets, gifts, delivery
4. Cards 4 U
The Priory lists Cards 4 U as an independent retailer in the Market Place, with “an amazing range of cards, gifts, balloons, party supplies and gift dressings”. For Christmas shopping, that covers the cards and wrapping as well as small presents.
The listing gives no Sunday hours.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm
Address Priory Market Place, The Priory Shopping Centre, DA1 2HS
Website theprioryshoppingcentre.co.uk/store/cards-4-u
Good for cards, gift wrap, balloons, small gifts
5. Azails
Azails is listed by the Priory as an independent jeweller in the Market Place. It sells jewellery and also repairs jewellery and watches, so it is one to try for mending a present as well as buying one.
It keeps shorter hours than the centre, and it is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Open Mon and Tue 10am to 4pm; Thu to Sat 10am to 4pm; closed Wed and Sun
Call 01322 286801
Address Priory Market Place, The Priory Shopping Centre, DA1 2HS
Website theprioryshoppingcentre.co.uk/store/azails
Good for jewellery, jewellery repairs, watch repairs
6. Priya Fashions
The Priory describes Priya Fashions as “an independent boutique specialising in ladies fashion and accessories”. The listing does not say more about the stock, so call ahead if you are looking for something particular, such as an outfit for a Christmas party.
It is open seven days a week.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5.30pm; Sun 10am to 4pm
Call 01322 220390
Address The Priory Shopping Centre, DA1 2HS
Website theprioryshoppingcentre.co.uk/store/priya-fashion
Good for women's fashion, accessories
The Orchards Shopping Centre
The Orchards is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. It sits on the High Street next to the Orchard Theatre.
7. Dartford Click
The Orchards’ listing calls Dartford Click “a local family toy shop”, selling “Pokémon to Pullmans & Board Games to suit all ages”. The Pullmans suggests model trains, and the shop’s web address is gamesandtrains.co.uk, though that site was down on 5 November.
Phone first if you are after something specific.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5.30pm; Sun 10am to 4pm
Call 07960 715188
Address Unit 17, The Orchards Shopping Centre, High Street, DA1 1DN
Website orchardsdartford.co.uk/dartford-click
Good for toys, board games, Pokémon, model trains
8. London Gemstones and Jewellery
London Gemstones says it has traded since 2013 and sells certified natural gemstones and handmade jewellery, including freshwater pearl necklaces. Its website shows rings from £7.99 and certified loose stones running into thousands of pounds.
The Orchards lists shop hours, but the company’s own site says its Dartford showroom is “by appointment only”, so book or phone first.
Open by appointment, says the company; the Orchards lists Mon to Sat 9am to 5.30pm and Sun 10am to 4pm
Price rings from £7.99; necklace shown at £30.99
Booking private viewings booked through the website
Call 07346 632257
Address Unit 18B, The Orchards Shopping Centre, High Street, DA1 1DN
Website londongemstones.com
Good for gemstones, pearl jewellery, bespoke settings, click and collect
9. The Orchards pop-up market
The Orchards says it hosts a pop-up mini market every month, from 9am to 5.30pm, with regular and new stalls selling “unique and lovely gifts, crafts, boutique and more”. No November or December date had been posted by 5 November, so ring the centre management before going specially.
Open monthly, 9am to 5.30pm; dates not published
Call 01322 289383
Address The Orchards Shopping Centre, High Street, DA1 1DN
Website orchardsdartford.co.uk/copy-of-what-s-on
Good for gifts, crafts, independent stalls
The High Street and Lowfield Street
10. Dartford Market
The council runs the street market on the High Street every Thursday and Saturday. Its page lists food, sweets, fashion, jewellery and watches, cut flowers, kitchenware and linen among the typical stalls, as well as hot food and drinks.
It gives Saturday hours but none for Thursday. The market page also lists no separate Christmas market dates, so the switch-on market on 14 November is the one festive date we can confirm.
Open Thursdays; Saturdays 9am to 5pm
Address High Street, Dartford
Website dartford.gov.uk/markets
Good for flowers, jewellery, sweets, homeware
11. F.Hinds the Jewellers
The one family chain on this list. F.Hinds says it has been at 9-11 Lowfield Street since 1981, and that the firm dates from 1856 and is still independent and family-run, with more than 100 stores. The Dartford branch lists jewellery, watches and “one of the largest selection of clocks on the high street”, as well as engraving and repairs.
That makes it useful for a personalised present.
Open Mon to Sat 9.30am to 5pm; closed Sun
Call 01322 224490
Address 9-11 Lowfield Street, DA1 1EN
Website fhinds.co.uk/stores/dartford
Good for jewellery, watches, clocks, engraving, repairs
Around the borough
12. TJD Models, Sutton at Hone
TJD Models has been open since 2004 and calls itself “modellers first and shopkeepers second”. It sells radio-controlled cars, aircraft and boats, plastic kits, paints and tools.
Its Christmas gift page is sorted by budget, from stocking fillers under £25 up to £100 and over, including ready-to-run cars, and it sells gift vouchers. The village is about 2.6 miles from the town centre in a straight line.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm; Sun 10am to 4pm
Price Christmas gift ideas from under £25 to £100 and over
Call 01322 865111
Address 83 Main Road, Sutton at Hone, DA4 9HQ
Website tjdmodels.com
Good for model kits, radio-controlled cars, gift vouchers, click and collect
13. Hawley Garden Centre
Hawley Garden Centre began as a nursery and was taken over in 1981 with plans to turn it into a garden centre. Its online range includes gifts, candles, jewellery, toys and games, and gift vouchers.
Its events page lists Santa Paws from 21 to 29 November and Santa’s Grotto from 5 to 24 December, both shown at £15. The site gives two weekday closing times, 5pm and 5.30pm, so allow for the earlier one.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5pm or 5.30pm (the site shows both); Sun 10am to 4pm
Price Santa's Grotto and Santa Paws shown at £15
Call 01322 224108
Address Hawley Road, Dartford, DA2 7RB
Website hawleygardencentre.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for gifts, gift vouchers, plants, Santa's Grotto
14. Gray and Sons Butchers
Gray and Sons describes itself as a family butcher, with meat from farms in Kent and Sussex and an in-house deli selling cooked meats, pies and cheeses. It offers free local delivery on orders of £30 or more.
Its site says nothing about Christmas orders or last order dates, so call early if you want a turkey or a joint for the day.
Open Mon to Fri 8am to 5pm; Sat 8am to 4pm; closed Sun
Price free local delivery, £30 minimum order
Call 01322 558532
Address 9 Birchwood Parade, Dartford, DA2 7NJ
Website grayandsonsbutchers.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for meat, deli, cheese, local delivery
A short drive out
These three are outside the borough. The distances are straight-line from the town centre, so the drive will be longer.
15. Castle Farm, Shoreham
Castle Farm, about 6.9 miles away in the Darent Valley, says its farm shop stocks seasonal treats, local produce and “a treasure trove of gifts, homeware and decorations”, including its own lavender products and hampers. Its website takes Christmas meat orders, and wreath workshops run on 3, 4 and 5 December.
Dogs are not allowed inside the shop. The farm warns that the postcode can take you to the wrong entrance, so follow local signs.
Open Tue to Sat 9am to 5pm; Sun and bank holidays 10am to 5pm; closed Mon
Booking wreath workshops need a ticket
Call 01959 523219
Address Redmans Lane, Shoreham, TN14 7UB
Website castlefarmkent.co.uk
Good for hampers, lavender products, Christmas meat, wreath workshops
16. Polhill Garden Centre, Badgers Mount
Polhill, about 8.4 miles away, describes itself as family-run and says that in winter it has “one of the most impressive Christmas shops in Kent”. The website’s Christmas range covers real and artificial trees, lights, decorations and Lemax model villages, and it also lists a gift ideas section.
Note that on Sundays the tills do not open until 10.30am.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5.30pm; Sun 10am to 4.30pm, tills from 10.30am
Call 01959 534212
Address London Road (A224), Badgers Mount, TN14 7AD
Website polhill.co.uk
Good for Christmas trees, decorations, lights, Lemax villages
17. Ruxley Manor, Sidcup
Ruxley Manor, about 4.4 miles away, says it was founded in 1964 and is a fifth-generation family business. It has a large Christmas department, a food hall, a fishmonger and a butcher.
Its Christmas Food Market is free to enter, card only for food, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. The opening date was still “coming soon” on 5 November, though its first listed live music is on Thursday 19 November.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 5.30pm; Sun 10am to 4pm; closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Address Maidstone Road, Sidcup, DA14 5BQ
Website ruxley-manor.co.uk
Good for Christmas decorations, food hall, Christmas food market, grotto
Getting there
Dartford station is in the town centre, and the Priory and the Orchards are both on foot from it. Our Christmas trains and travel page has the rail changes for the holiday period, and parking in Dartford lists the car parks. Bluewater’s station is Greenhithe.
How we chose
These are the shops and markets in and around Dartford that sell things people give as presents. Most are independent. F.Hinds has more than 100 stores and is included because it has a long record on Lowfield Street. Bluewater’s chains are left out of the count. Shopping centre listings carry no date, so a shop may have changed since; ring ahead. The order is by area, not a ranking.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@dartfordonline.co.uk. Taken a good photograph of any of these places? Email it to newsdesk@dartfordonline.co.uk and we will add it with your name as the credit.
For more locally, see things to do in Dartford, what’s on in Dartford this month, Santa in Dartford, Winterland at Bluewater, the Bluewater ice rink, Christmas dinner in Dartford and our local business directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Christmas market in Dartford in 2026?
The council had listed no separate Christmas market on 5 November. A special market runs on the High Street until 8pm during the Big Christmas Switch On on Saturday 14 November, the Priory holds its Indie Bazaar the same day, and the regular High Street market runs every Thursday and Saturday.
Where are the independent shops in Dartford?
The Priory Market Place, inside the Priory Shopping Centre, has the largest cluster, including Cards 4 U, Azails and Priya Fashions. The Orchards has Dartford Click and London Gemstones. TJD Models is at Sutton at Hone, and Gray and Sons is at Birchwood Parade.
What are Bluewater’s Christmas opening hours for 2026?
We could not read any 2026 Christmas hours on Bluewater’s opening hours page on 5 November, so check it before you travel. Its Christmas page lists charity gift wrapping from 9 to 24 December and Wishmas on Saturday 12 December, 11am to 4pm.
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