Maidstone



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.

By air
The nearest major airport is London Gatwick Airport, 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
Trains run every 30 minutes from London Victoria, taking an hour to Maidstone East and continuing to Bromley South and Ashford International (another 30 min). (Eurostar no longer stops at Ashford or Ebbsfleet, so from the Continent you have to ride to Victoria then come out again.)

is central in town. It has a ticket office and machines, a waiting room, toilets and shops. There is step-free access to all platforms.

Trains run hourly from Strood, taking 25 min via New Hythe to Maidstone Barracks and Maidstone West, and continuing to Paddock Wood (for Tonbridge, Ashford International, Folkestone and Dover).

is just an unstaffed platform halt, with ticket machines but no other facilities. Access to both platforms is via steps.

has a ticket office open M-Sa for the morning rush into London, and the waiting room and toilets are only accessible then. There is step free access to platform 2 for trains towards Paddock Wood. Reaching platform 1 step-free involves staff assistance to use the level crossing, only available in rush hour.

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

Do

 * Football: Maidstone United play soccer in National League South, the sixth tier. They're a phoenix club formed after the original club went bust in 1992. In 2024 they shocked Ipswich, a first tier side, by knocking them out in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Their home ground Gallagher Stadium (capacity 4200) is 200 yards north of Maidstone East railway station.
 * Kent Flower Show - In July, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Britain
 * Kent Flower Show - In July, one of the largest agricultural festivals in Britain

Go next
Other places of interest in the Maidstone area
 * Tonbridge and Hop Farm Country Park
 * Sittingbourne
 * Ashford
 * Rochester
 * Sevenoaks