About Maidstone
(Including Getting Here, Attractions, History. Maidstone Accessibility and
Weather)
About Maidstone
(Including Getting Here, Attractions, History. Maidstone Accessibility and
Weather)This page includes all the information from the about section from the main website as a text version. This page includes Attractions, History, Getting Here, Maidstone Accessibility and Weather on this page.
As Kent’s County Town Maidstone has a rich historical heritage and an architectural landscape that reflects its evolution from the early key industries that so heavily utilised the River Medway to the modern day retail centre we know today. But looking beyond the hustle and bustle that the town enjoys and its steadily increasing footfall, it faces the same economic challenges as any other town in the UK.
Town Centre Management is a private limited company dedicated to improving the trading environment of the town centre. It acts as a catalyst, bringing the businesses and local authorities together, imparting a two way flow of communication. TCM’s role is to act strategically on behalf of the town to improve and carefully monitor its image, to maximise its appeal to potential visitors and maintain the loyalty of its residents.
Some of the ways in which we have done this is the introduction of schemes such as MaidSafe, our highly effective town centre crime reduction partnership, and Shopmobility, making the town accessible to people with walking difficulties. We also organise events for the town centre, some of which have become annual institutions such as the Jazz Festival and the Christmas Lights Switch On. We strive to keep you up to date with news about the town centre and do so via our monthly newsletter the Town Mail and with this website, so please feel free to explore and learn more about us and why Maidstone is ‘Great to visit – Great to shop’.
For further information please don’t hesitate to contact us at the office on 01622 678777 or by email info@mtcmi.co.uk.
Bill Moss Town Centre Manager
There is so much to see and do in Kent's County Town from an evening in one of Maidstone's selection of fine restaurants to a day shopping or a trip to the beautiful mote park.
If you enjoy shopping you are spoilt for choice in Maidstone with over 700 shops, local and national.
Maidstone offers two major shopping centres, a boutique style arcade, individual streets offering a depth of local quality trade, over 75 cafes and fine restaurants, a cinema, a museum, a theatre and of course not forgetting the beautiful River Medway.
We offer a thriving town centre surrounded by
glorious Kentish countryside, Maidstone has a wealth of attractions
offering the perfect mix of history, culture, leisure and
entertainment.
You can find out about Maidstone's attractions on the
Maidstone Tourism website.
Maidstone has a colourful history shaped by battles, revolts, witches, mad priests and later, industrialists, brewers and Victorian benefactors.
Situated between Dover and London the town was a
main route for pilgrimages and a bustling centre for local and
national trade.
Despite many changes throughout the centuries, the ambience of old
Maidstone can still be captured when walking through the town.
Discover the unusual and intriguing history of an area where a treasure trove of hidden delights is waiting to be discovered.
Visit Maidstone Museum and Bentlif
Art Gallery and
discover Maidstone's very own iguanodon dinosaur, who also features
on Maidstone's coat of arms.
To find out more about Historic Maidstone, visit the
Maidstone
Tourism website.
Welcome to our 'Getting Here' page. You will find useful information on how to get to Maidstone, where to park once you're here. We've also included a helpful map of Maidstone Town Centre map.
There are also links to other websites with useful information including car parking, travel news, town centre map, park and ride and accessibility to Maidstone.
By Road
Maidstone is 38 miles (61km) from London and can be reached by
road on the M20 motorway, via the M25 London orbital.
M20 Coast bound and London Bound, you can leave by Junction 6 or 7. Follow the signs to Maidstone Town Centre.
By Train
Maidstone has two South-Eastern lines and
three central train stations.
Maidstone East is the main station connecting to London and the south coast. A
frequent service runs between Maidstone East and London Victoria.
Maidstone West and Maidstone Barracks are on the local Medway Valley Line with
frequent services to Strood (half-hourly peak time), Paddock Wood and Tonbridge
(3-4 daily peak time), a connection to London Charing Cross can be picked up at
Paddock Wood.
By Air
The closest airport is London Gatwick accessible by rail from
Maidstone West station.
You can also travel on the river Medway for a pleasure trip with The
Kentish Lady pleasure craft - leaving Maidstone for the Malta Inn
daily.
Getting Around
Maidstone is a tourist-friendly town with clear street signs giving
directions to transport and attractions.
Arriva buses provide various services in Maidstone, connecting the town centre and outlying villages and borough. There's also a service that links Maidstone with the Medway Towns. Buses stop all over the town centre - the main bus station is on King St and can be accessed via The Mall Chequers shopping Centre.
We've included below some useful links to websites that can help you plan your journey to Maidstone.
Helpful travel links
Kent Public Transport Information.
Maidstone Town Centre - Accessibility & Mobility
Traffic Reports for M25, M2, M20 and M26
We constantly strive to
create a Maidstone town centre
that all people can get to and get around easily. These
pages offer useful information for people with disabilities who may
need extra help to get around the town. You can also visit our
pages for shopmobility.
You can find out more on the
DigitalMaidstone website about accessibility and also view a
text only version of
this
page and the other information on this website.
Use the quick links below to navigate to your chosen page. The page will open in a new window. If you were looking for accessibility of this website please CLICK HERE
Kent Association for the Blind
As a tourists coming to Maidstone you will experience some of the mildest weather in the UK.
Seasons
Most winters are fairly mild in Maidstone, although it does snow occasionally. If and when, usually only a small amount of snow settles and often in late February or March.
If it does snow it will sometimes lay well on Detling Hill on the A249 towards Maidstone.
Spring will see the traditional first bloom of flowers arriving around Maidstone including snow drops and daffodils. Mote Park is a wonderful place to visit when the trees are in full bloom.
Summer season is greeted by many events and activities across Maidstone, including the annual Maidstone River Festival, Our very own Jazz Festival and Youth Theatre.
Between June and August expect long pleasant summer days, a perfect excuse to visit The River Medway.
Autumn heralds the falling leaves and some rainy days, but you can also expect some pleasant days too.
For a full weather forecast feel free to visit the met office website for a full five day forecast.
Met Office Weather for Maidstone.
The Links below provide you the opportunity to quickly navigate to the most popular areas of our website.
Download the latest newsletter from Maidstone Town Centre Management. The Maidstone Town Mail is full of local information, the latest news and what's happening in the town, it's the perfect FREE download. Follow this link to go to the newsletter page.
Supporters of Maidstone Town Centre Management include Maidstone Borough Council, The Mall Chequers, Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, The Kent Messenger Group and Fremlin Walk.
Main Website - Click on the link to go back to our full website.
