Is entry to Canterbury Cathedral included?

No. On this tour the cathedral is viewed from the outside only. If you want to go inside, the Boxing Day tour includes paid entry to the cathedral, and the Christmas Day tour includes admission to the Sung Eucharist.

Will the Christmas market still be open?

Yes — 24 December is the last day of the Whitefriars Square Christmas market in Canterbury, with more than seventy wooden chalets. It is dismantled before Boxing Day, so this is the only one of our three Canterbury tours that includes it.

Is entry to Leeds Castle included?

Yes. The coach arrives in the morning, when the grounds are still quiet.

What time does the day start and finish?

Check-in at 8:15am, departure at 8:30am from Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SR. Return is at approximately 6:30pm.

No meal is included on this tour. There is time at the Christmas market and in Canterbury to buy food.

Do we stop at the White Cliffs of Dover?

Yes, for a photo stop. Greenwich is passed through on the way back, without stopping.

Do I need to bring anything?

The e-ticket provided at booking is required to join the tour.

Christmas Eve at Leeds Castle, Canterbury’s Festive Market & Greenwich

A day trip from London on 24 December: Leeds Castle with entry included, Canterbury’s festive market, the White Cliffs of Dover and historic Greenwich.

Leeds Castle at sunrise with mist over the moat

Dover Castle above the White Cliffs of Dover

Price Christmas Eve at Leeds Castle, Canterbury’s Festive Market & Greenwich

Adult 17-59	£ 104
Child 3-16	£ 94
Senior 60+	£ 99
Student (Valid student ID card)	£ 99
Family (2A+2C)	£ 386

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Entry to Leeds Castle
Photo stop at the famous White Cliffs of Dover
Drive through Greenwich
Round-trip transportation on a comfortable, luxury coach
Professional guide
Guided walking tour of Canterbury

Christmas Eve at Leeds Castle, Canterbury’s Festive Market & Greenwich Price

Adult 17-59	£104
Child 3-16	£94
Senior 60+	£99
Student (Valid student ID card)	£99
Family (2A+2C)	£386

Entry to Leeds Castle
Photo stop at the famous White Cliffs of Dover
Drive through Greenwich
Round-trip transportation on a comfortable, luxury coach
Professional guide
Guided walking tour of Canterbury

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When

24 December 2026

Start Time

8:30am

End Time

6:30pm

Duration

10 hours

Description

This Christmas Eve day trip runs on 24 December 2026, leaving Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, SW1W 9SR at 8:30am and returning about 6:30pm. It includes entry to Leeds Castle, the Christmas market at Whitefriars Square in Canterbury, a photo stop at the White Cliffs of Dover and a drive through Greenwich, with a professional guide. ⚠ Entry to Canterbury Cathedral is not included: it is seen from the outside. From £104 per adult.

Leeds Castle before anyone else arrives

The coach reaches Leeds Castle in the morning, which on 24 December means the grounds are still close to empty. The castle is over 900 years old, sits in the middle of a lake in the Kent countryside, and its history runs through Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Lord Conway called it the loveliest castle in the world. Arriving early is the whole point — it is as close to having it to yourself as a public castle gets.

The market that only exists until tonight

Canterbury's Christmas market at Whitefriars Square has more than seventy wooden chalets, and 24 December is its last day. Go on 26 December and it has been dismantled. It is the single reason to choose this date over the Boxing Day version of the same route. For the Christmas markets in London itself, see the guide to London Christmas markets 2026.

What you give up in exchange is the cathedral interior: on this tour Canterbury Cathedral is viewed from the outside only. The day ends with a photo stop at the White Cliffs of Dover and a drive through Greenwich on the way home.

Market or cathedral: the choice between two dates

The Boxing Day tour covers the same route on 26 December with entry to Canterbury Cathedral included — but by then the market is gone. On 25 December, the Christmas Day tour takes you inside the cathedral for the Sung Eucharist.

What you’ll do

Explore Leeds Castle on a morning visit, almost private thanks to the early arrival
Take a guided walking tour through the medieval streets of Canterbury
Browse the stalls of Canterbury’s Christmas market
Stop for photos at the White Cliffs of Dover, with Dover Castle in view
Drive through Greenwich and its Christmas lights on the way back to London

What’s included

Entry to Leeds Castle
Photo stop at the famous White Cliffs of Dover
Drive through Greenwich
Round-trip transportation on a comfortable, luxury coach
Professional guide
Guided walking tour of Canterbury

What’s not included

Entry to Canterbury Cathedral
Gratuities (optional)
Hotel pick-up and return

Itinerary

Early-Morning Visit to Leeds Castle

The first stop is Leeds Castle, in the Kent countryside. Arriving early in the morning means the castle is quiet and almost private. Built in 1119 and restored over the centuries, it was a royal retreat for Henry VIII, who came here to escape an outbreak of plague in London.

Walking Tour of Canterbury

A guided walking tour takes you through Canterbury’s medieval streets, in the footsteps of the old pilgrims. The Gothic cathedral, considered the spiritual heart of English Christianity and the place where Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered, is seen from the outside on this tour.

Canterbury Christmas Market

In Canterbury there is time for the Christmas market in Whitefriars Square: more than 70 festively decorated wooden stalls selling bratwurst, mulled wine, handmade gifts and seasonal trinkets, with live music and traditional carols. There is also time for last-minute shopping in the boutiques nearby.

White Cliffs of Dover

A photo stop at the White Cliffs of Dover. From here you also see Dover Castle, a 12th-century fortress that stood in for the Tower of London in the film The Other Boleyn Girl.

Greenwich

On the way back to London the coach passes through Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Thames, known for Greenwich Mean Time and its naval history, and decorated with Christmas lights for the season.

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Map

Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SR

Departure Information

When: 24 December 2026

Where: Golden Tours Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SR

Check-in: 8:15am for an 8:30am departure

Return approx. 6:30pm

Return Point: Victoria, at approximately 6:30pm.

Departure Map

Cancellation Options

Free cancellation up to and including 18 December 2026. After that date, tickets are non-refundable.

Additional Information

You will view Canterbury Cathedral from the outside only.
Important: You must bring the e-ticket provided to gain entry to this tour.

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Christmas Eve at Leeds Castle and Canterbury – FAQ

Is entry to Canterbury Cathedral included?
No. On this tour the cathedral is viewed from the outside only. If you want to go inside, the Boxing Day tour includes paid entry to the cathedral, and the Christmas Day tour includes admission to the Sung Eucharist.
Will the Christmas market still be open?
Yes — 24 December is the last day of the Whitefriars Square Christmas market in Canterbury, with more than seventy wooden chalets. It is dismantled before Boxing Day, so this is the only one of our three Canterbury tours that includes it.
Is entry to Leeds Castle included?
Yes. The coach arrives in the morning, when the grounds are still quiet.
What time does the day start and finish?
Check-in at 8:15am, departure at 8:30am from Bus Stop 1, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London SW1W 9SR. Return is at approximately 6:30pm.
Is lunch included?
No meal is included on this tour. There is time at the Christmas market and in Canterbury to buy food.
What language is the guiding in?
The tour is guided in English.
Do we stop at the White Cliffs of Dover?
Yes, for a photo stop. Greenwich is passed through on the way back, without stopping.
Do I need to bring anything?
The e-ticket provided at booking is required to join the tour.