Maidstone

The centre of the Kent’s Garden of England, and a hub for the local brewing industry, Maidstone is a quiet town which nevertheless offers plenty for visitors. The River Medway draws tourists to its river festival – the river is popular with pleasure boat owners who share it with houseboats, making for a colourful scene to watch.

Many walkers visit Maidstone while traversing the 246 kilometre North Downs Way, or the Medway Valley Walk, as the town offers a choice of restaurants and places for a well-earned break. The historic town centre is pleasant to with several large pedestrianised areas, making it a peaceful and relaxing place for a break.

 

The town is also a mecca for shoppers, with modern centres like Fremlin Walk offering a good choice of purchases. The centre is built on the site of the old Fremlin’s Brewery, relics of which can be found amongst other local artifacts in Maidstone’s Museum. The town is an excellent touring centre for visitor wishing to drive around the villages of this delightful part of the world. The Garden of England is best viewed in summer, but even in winter still offers lovely villages to explore and welcoming pubs for lunch.

Kent Life, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone ME14 3AU (01622) 763936
Set in 28 acres of Kent countryside, Kent Life is a multi-activity heritage farm that is primarily aimed at children, but caters for adults, too.

With a menagerie of friendly animals and outdoor play areas, together with a selection of historical buildings; Kent Life depicts the history and community of the ‘garden of England’.

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, St. Faiths Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH (01622) 602838
Housed in a centrally-located Elizabethan manor house called Chillington Manor; Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery exhibits some 660,000 artefacts and specimens from across the globe.

Highlights include a 2,700 year-old Egyptian mummy, Bronze Age weapons, and a gallery of Victorian women’s clothing; as well as a selection of objects relating to Maidstone’s local history.