What's On in Dartford
Things to do in and around Dartford: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
Ice Rinks Near Dartford 2026 With Prices
Bluewater's rink opens 5 November from £13 a child; Gillingham skates all year from £15.40. Seven rinks near Dartford with 2026 dates, prices and booking rules.
Dates for the diary
- Wed 4 Nov Free weekly health walk, Greenhithe
- Thu 5 Nov Dartford Thursday Market
- Sat 7 Nov Dartford Saturday Market
- Sat 7 Nov Orchard Theatre Community Fair
- Sat 7 Nov Dartford FC v Eastbourne Borough
- Sat 7 Nov The Magic of the Nutcracker
- Sat 7 Nov Dartford Lions Club Bonfire and Fireworks
- Sun 8 Nov Swanscombe Remembrance Sunday: St Peter and St Paul and Swanscombe Park
- Sun 8 Nov Dartford Remembrance Sunday service
- Wed 11 Nov Swanscombe Park Armistice Day service
- Fri 13 Nov Bhangra Night Live 2026
- Sat 14 Nov Dartford parkrun
More stories
Food & Drink
Christmas Dinner in Dartford 2026: Restaurants With Prices
Christmas Day 2026 in Dartford from £57.95 at the Bear and Ragged Staff to £145 at Rowhill Grange, plus December menus from £19.99: nine places, prices checked.
Christmas
Winterland Bluewater: Opens 7 Nov, £3 Entry, Open to 10 Jan
Winterland at Bluewater opens Saturday 7 November: £3 entry, ride tokens £1.20 or 25 for £20 online. Weekends only in November, daily from 5 December.
Family
Days Out Near Dartford With Children, Checked October 2026
Central Park and Hall Place free, Eagle Heights £12.95 a child, Chatham Dockyard until 15 Nov: 12 days out near Dartford with winter hours and prices.
Food & Drink
Brunch in Dartford: The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots
Brunch in Dartford from 7am: 8 cafes, pubs and Bluewater restaurants with breakfast hours, menus and a £25 bottomless brunch, checked 27 October 2026.
Soft Play
Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Dartford
Dinotropolis, Mad Play and Fairfield's under-5s bounce lead 8 soft play and rainy-day places near Dartford, with prices, hours and booking rules for 2026.
Parks
Dartford Playgrounds and Parks for Children
Buccaneer Bay's pirate ship, Hesketh Park and Worcester Park's zip wire lead 14 Dartford playgrounds, with ages, gate times and dog rules from the council.
Walks
Walks Near Dartford: Circular Routes, Parks and Riversides
Dartford Heath, the Darent Valley Path and Joyden's Wood lead 12 walks near Dartford, with distances, car parks, gate times and dog rules from official pages.
Food & Drink
Sunday Roast in Dartford: Where to Book
Sunday roast in Dartford from £16 at the Railway Tavern to £24.25 at the Lion: 8 pubs with menu prices, serving times and dog rules, checked 25 October 2026.
Food & Drink
Dartford Restaurants: The Best Places to Eat
Le Tre Sorelle, Efes and Cadiz Tapas lead: 12 Dartford restaurants and pubs with menu prices, hours and hygiene ratings, checked on 24 October 2026.
Food & Drink
Dartford Pubs: The Best Pubs and Where to Drink
The Malt Shovel, Foresters and Wat Tyler lead: 17 Dartford pubs with opening hours, beers, dog rules and hygiene ratings, checked on 24 October 2026.
Christmas
Dartford Carol Concert: Wed 9 Dec, Central Park, Free
Dartford's free carol concert is Wednesday 9 December, 6.30pm, Central Park Outdoor Theatre. Free tickets came out in early November in 2024 and 2025.
Christmas
Bluewater Ice Rink 2026: Opens 5 Nov, Tickets From £13
The Bluewater ice rink opens on 5 November and runs to 3 January, closed only on Christmas Day. Tickets from £13 child, £15 adult, cheaper booked a day ahead.
Halloween
Dartford Halloween: Bluewater Parade 31 Oct, Scare Fest 28th
Bluewater's free Halloween parade is Saturday 31 October at 12, 1, 2 and 3pm. Priory Scare Fest is 28 October; Stanhill pumpkins to 30 October, £7.50 a car.
Christmas
Santa in Dartford: 3 House Sessions Left on 19 Dec, 19 Stops
Santa's House costs £5 at Acacia on weekends from 28 November to 19 December, and the free fire engine tour makes 19 stops. Updated November 2026.
Events
What's On in Dartford: Fireworks 7 Nov, Switch On 14 Nov
Lions fireworks in Central Park 7 November (parkrun is off that day), the free switch-on 14 November and 28 dated events to 12 December, all checked 31 Oct.
Remembrance
Dartford Remembrance Sunday: 10.45am, High Street Shut 8 Nov
Dartford's Remembrance service starts 10.45am on Sunday 8 November; High Street and Market Street shut from 10.15am. Swanscombe and Greenhithe times too.
Families
Dartford Children's Book Festival Was 19 Sept: Free Books
The 2026 festival ran on Saturday 19 September at The Orchards: children aged 2 to 11 picked a free bag of books for a £2 ticket. What it offered, as listed.
Christmas
Dartford Christmas Switch On 2026: Joe Pasquale, Lights 5pm
Dartford's free switch-on is Saturday 14 November: stage from 2pm, lights on about 5pm, with Joe Pasquale and Buble, Freddie Mercury and Taylor Swift tributes.
Central Park
Dartford Fireworks 2026: Sat 7 November, Tickets £8 and £5
Dartford fireworks are on Saturday 7 November in Central Park: gates 5pm, fireworks 8pm, advance tickets £8 adults and £5 children. Checked November 2026.
Orchard Theatre
Dartford Pantomime: Cinderella from £21.50, 12 December
Cinderella with Joe Pasquale reopens the Orchard Theatre on 12 December and runs to 3 January. All 38 shows, the cheapest seat at each and the access dates.