Maidstone - county town of Kent, England

Maidstone is the county town in Mid-Kent, in the South East of England on the River Medway.

Understand

Straddling the river Medway, Maidstone is the economic, administrative and agricultural centre of Kent. For many years the major employment in the town was provided by the agricultural markets, insurance brokers and the toffee factory to the south of the river. Nowadays, however, many residents use Maidstone as a base to commute into London, or are employed within the retail, administrative or service sectors within the town.

Get in

By air

The nearest major airport is London Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW), which is 42mi/67km away.

By car

Maidstone sits south of M20, which (with the A20) connects with London, Ashford & Folkestone. The A26 runs west to Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells & Brighton, and the A229 heads north to Chatham, and south to Hastings.

Town Centre Car parking

Recommended that you park in The Chequers Centre car park (east end of Town Centre, enter from Padsole Lane or King St).

Town Centre Coach parking

At A249 Sittingbourne Rd.

By bus

Local buses are operated by Arriva Kent and Surrey, Nu-Venture and ASD Coaches

Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

Maidstone Park & Ride operates Mondays to Sundays. See the Kent County Council Park & Ride website.

By train

Maidstone has direct rail links to London (London St Pancras and London Victoria), Bromley South, Ashford International (for Eurostar) and Tonbridge (via Paddock Wood).

Fare and timetable information is available from Southeastern Railway, tel. 08457 484950.

Get around

By bus

Various bus companies provide local bus services in and around Maidstone.

• Arriva provide most services
• Nu-venture provide more countryside services
• Stagecoach provides services to Ashford

Paper timetables can be obtained at the Visitor Information Centre at the Town Hall in the High St. or online.

Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus.

By taxi

If there is a large group of you, then it may be easier and cheaper to get a taxi from one of the local taxi companies, as Maidstone's bus service is not the cheapest!

• Streamline Maidstone: +44 1622 750000 iPhone App or Textbooker available
• Cavalier Taxis: +44 1622 754000 (24 Hour)

By Coach

• Scotland & Bates

See

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, ME17 1PL, 51.2486855°, 0.6300244°, +44 1622 765400, enquiries@leeds-castle.co.uk. Near Maidstone. Described by Lord Cornway as "the loveliest castle in the world". Admission £12.50 for adults (£10.00 - gardens only), £9.00 for children (£6.50 - gardens only)

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, St Faith's Street, ME14 1LH, 51.2758°, 0.520556°. M-Sa 10AM-5:15PM, Su 11AM-4PM. A municipal museum with a wide ranging collection in 20 or so rooms. The local history collection on the ground floor gives an introduction to the recent history of the town. 3 rooms house a small art gallery. Free

Maidstone Carriage Museum (The Tyrwhitt Drake Collection), Mill Street, ME15 6YE. Open summer only (closed in Mid-May).

All Saints Church, Mill Street, ME15 6YE. May to Sep: M-Th 10AM-4PM, Sa 10:30AM-12:30PM. Fine church rebuilt in the 14th century. The Archbishop's Palace next door is worth a look from the outside - it is now the registry office.

Museum of Kent Life, Cobtree, Lock Lane, Sandling, ME14 3AU, 51.2974°, 0.5065°.

Aylesford Priory, 51.3028°, 0.471389°. Founded in 1242. 2017-06-18

Stoneacre, Otham, ME15 8RS (4 miles east of Maidstone), 51.2533°, 0.58178°, +44 1622 863247, stoneacre@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Do

The Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street, ME14 1PL, 51.274°, 0.521°, +44 1622 758611.

Events

• Kent Flower Show (dead link: August 2018) - In July, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Britain

Kent County Show, Detling Hill, ME14 3JE, 51.30011°, 0.59062°. in July, the large county show at the Kent Showground in Detling. 2022-01-22

Buy

The Mall (Chequers centre), King Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6AT, 51.27301434°, 0.52527392°, +44 1622 691130, amp.maidstone@themall.co.uk. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 10:30AM-4:30PM. The Mall is a large shopping centre in Maidstone containing a variety of shops.

Eat

The Oak on the Green, Bearsted Green, Bearsted, ME14 4EJ, 51.27345°, 0.58172°, +44 1622 737976. A restaurant and pub next to a large cricket green in a small village just outside of Maidstone called Bearsted. The staff are friendly and helpful. At times, like most successful venues, it can be a tad busy and service can be a little slow. The food is primarily Mexican-based. The fajitas are fantastic, and come in either steak, chicken or mixed. Vegetarian options are available. Other recommendations are stuffed jalapeño peppers and fajitas (normally shared by two people). Prices start at £12, beer about £3

Lockmeadow, Barker Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8SF, 51.26977591°, 0.51911205°, +44 1622 764410, kdeas@savills.com. Daily 6AM-midnight. Lockmeadow is an entertainment centre in Maidstone town centre. It contains bars, restaurants nightclubs and a cinema.

Drink

Market House, 30 Earl St, ME14 1PS, 51.27496°, 0.52150°, +44 1622 751 286. noon-11PM, F Sa until 2AM. Shepherd Neame beers and music on Friday and Sunday Nights 2022-01-22

Pippin, 78 London Rd, ME16 0DR, 51.28050°, 0.50625°, +44 1622 750 747. Large Green King Pub 2022-01-22

The Stag (Sun), 11 Middle Row, Maidstone ME14 1TG (At the end of Pudding Lane), 51.27310°, 0.52125°, +44 1622 296 420. Grade II listed pub that plays music 2022-01-22

Sleep

Travelodge Hotel - Maidstone Central, St Peter's St,, 51.272677°, 0.516694°, +44 871 984 6034.

The Black Horse Inn, Pilgrims Way, Thurnham, 51.291312°, 0.589475°, +44 1622 737185.

Tudor Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club, Ashford Rd, 51.266534°, 0.587224°, +44 1622 734334.

Thurnham Keep, Castle Hill, Thurnham ME14 3LE, 51.292°, 0.592°, +44 1622 734149. Plush little B&B in Edwardian villa built from the ruins of Thurnham Castle. Open Mar-Oct, no children under 10 or dogs. B&B double £150 2020-07-19

Go next

Other places of interest in the Maidstone area

• Tonbridge and Hop Farm Country Park
• Sittingbourne
• Ashford
• Rochester
• Sevenoaks