Summary
Kent’s historic trading center is conveniently situated on the navigable River Medway, which connects to the Thames Estuary near Chatham. Presently, Maidstone provides an excellent base for exploring the finest attractions in Kent, often referred to as the Garden of England. Nestled within this lush landscape are landmarks such as Leeds Castle, resting upon two island lakes, and Stoneacre, a charming half-timbered farmhouse dating back to the 15th century.
Maidstone is home to one of the country’s premier town museums, housed in a Tudor mansion and featuring an extensive collection of ceramics, tapestries, Japanese artifacts, and Anglo-Saxon relics. Mote Park, a vast green expanse in the town’s heart, complements Kent Life, an open-air museum that highlights the region’s historic trades, particularly hop farming.
Let us examine the most notable attractions in Maidstone:
1. Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery
The Maidstone Museum, located in the historic Chillington Manor, an Elizabethan residence completed in 1577, presents an engaging mix of both older and more contemporary architecture, embodying different eras including the early Tudor period and a significant 18th-century extension.
The foundation of the museum was established when Thomas Charles contributed his art and antiquities in the 19th century. The museum houses one of the most diverse collections in Kent, gaining recognition for its ethnographic displays, decorative arts, Anglo-Saxon artifacts, and Japanese artifacts.
Among its treasures are 750 Edo-period woodblock prints by distinguished artists like Hokusai, sculptures by John Thomas, famous for his work at the Palace of Westminster, a chair once owned by Napoleon, a 2,700-year-old Egyptian Mummy, and an important collection of palaeontological specimens.
2. Leeds Castle
Surrounded by two islands, Leeds Castle resembles something from a fairy tale. The present structure is a stately home featuring a Romantic Tudor Revival style from 1823, merged with older components such as a Medieval keep and an expansive great hall.
Constructed in the 16th century, Henry VIII transformed the castle for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, one of six queens that resided at Leeds Castle. Notably, Elizabeth I was imprisoned there for a period preceding her coronation.
Subsequently, in the 17th century, it came under the Fairfax family’s stewardship, descended from Thomas Fairfax, the commander-in-chief during the English Civil War. Visitors can observe the doublet worn by Fairfax during the 1648 Battle of Maidstone, alongside cuirassier armor from the same conflict.
The castle’s grounds extend over 500 acres, featuring a vineyard documented in the 11th-century Domesday Book and a maze harboring a concealed grotto.
3. Mote Park
Mote Park is considered one of England’s most esteemed urban parks, covering 440 acres of woodlands and lawns surrounding a picturesque lake, conveniently located adjacent to the town center.
This area has historical significance as a manor with a deer park since Medieval times, while Mote House, a lakeside mansion, currently serves as a retirement home.
Visitors can explore extensive woodlands and meadows suitable for walking, while the lake features a watersports center that offers dinghies, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards during the summer months.
Land-based activities include pitch and putt, a miniature railway, a leisure center, an open-air gym, and the option to picnic while enjoying summer cricket matches held by the Mote Cricket Club.
4. Stoneacre
Stoneacre, a National Trust property located just beyond Mote Park, is a charming 15th-century yeoman farmer’s house reminiscent of a fairy tale. This half-timbered residence is privately owned, yet visitors are welcome on Saturdays during spring and summer.
The majority of the original structure remains intact, allowing visitors to admire the hall and parlour, as well as the solar located on the upper floor. Stoneacre is adorned with 17th-century decorative metalwork, glass, soft furnishings, and furniture.
During the 1920s, it served as the residence of Aymer Vallance, an influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement responsible for designing the stained glass that graces much of the home.
5. Cobtree Manor Park
Covering 50 acres, this park was formerly the site of Maidstone Zoo, which was once a prominent visitor attraction, having closed in 1959. The visitor center recounts the zoo’s history and its proprietor, Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, who served as Maidstone’s mayor twelve times.
In homage to its former occupant, the exceptional children’s play area is designed to resemble a zoo. Visitors can stroll along the sculpture trail, enjoy refreshments at the café, or picnic in the expansive park meadows.
Adjacent to the park is the public pay-and-play golf course sharing its name, boasting 18 holes, and hikers can access the North Downs Way National Trail from within this locale.
6. Kent Life
Following his passing in the 1960s, Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake bequeathed Cobtree Manor Park to the local community, which included Sandling Farm to the south. In the 1980s, the farm evolved into an open-air museum exhibiting Kentish rural life, particularly the history of hop, fruit, and livestock agriculture.
Numerous historically valuable structures have been relocated to the farm, including a village hall, chapel, blacksmith’s forge, weatherboard farmhouse, and hopper huts. One of the original buildings showcases a Kentish oast, a rotating apparatus situated in roofs designed for the drying of hops.
Kent Life is also a functioning farm with various animals such as goats, horses, sheep, and cows, ensuring children can engage with them. The historic buildings feature exhibitions on significant periods in Kentish history, such as Victorian times, the Second World War, and the 1950s.
7. All Saints Church
Established at the conclusion of the 14th century by Archbishop of Canterbury William Courtenay, All Saints Church serves as Maidstone’s parish church and is esteemed as the finest example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the county. Courtenay passed away before construction was completed, and his successor, Thomas Arundel, facilitated the completion of the church.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the bays and clerestory in the nave, along with both east and west windows. The choir stalls feature Medieval misericords (fold-down seats) embellished with unusual carvings. Also noteworthy are the 17th-century font and 15th-century memorial located in the chapel on the south side of the nave.
8. Teston Bridge Country Park
For a peaceful retreat into the Kent countryside, visitors can venture westward to this 32-acre country park adjacent to the Medway River. The park derives its name from the picturesque 14th-century Teston Bridge, constructed from Kentish ragstone and located near the historically significant Teston Lock, which dates back to the 1740s and was last reconstructed in 1911.
This region is a favored fishing location, boasting significant populations of bream, pike, roach, barbel, perch, and chub. The park primarily consists of riverside meadows, grazed by cattle and adorned with vibrant wildflowers in June.
9. Whatman Park
Located approximately a half-hour from the town center, Whatman Park lies on the west bank of the River Medway. This space was landscaped and populated with over 1,500 trees around 20 years ago as part of the extensive Millennium River Park initiative.
Spanning over 18 acres, the park provides tranquil paths through woodlands and wildflower meadows, along with a tree-top walk. Younger visitors can enjoy amenities including a skate park and an adventure play area. Additionally, Whatman Park features a wharf where the Kentish Lady makes stops upon request.
The Rivertstage Arena within the park hosts outdoor events, such as the Proms in the Park, a series of concerts held at the close of May.
10. Go Ape at Leeds Castle
The estate surrounding Leeds Castle features a high ropes adventure course suspended above the forest floor. For families with children up to 10 years old, “Tree Top Junior” offers an exciting experience, including a log bridge, stepping stones, and two 60-meter zip wires.
For older children and adults, the main “Tree Top Adventure” course reaches a maximum height of 13 meters and presents a Tibetan bridge, jungle crossings, Tarzan swings, and a spectacular 250-meter zip-line. This course affords breathtaking views of the castle and takes approximately three hours to complete.
11. Kent Owl Academy
Recently established at Kent Life, the Kent Owl Academy provides enriching owl experience days suitable for audiences of all ages. Participants have the opportunity to handle, touch, and feed these magnificent birds of prey while learning about their unique characteristics, hunting behaviors, and diets from experienced keepers.
Guests can observe the barn owl flying from their hand, and have the chance to meet and feed the academy’s tawny frogmouths and a family of meerkats. The academy is inclusive, catering to children and individuals with learning difficulties.
12. Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats
Managed by the UK’s sole goat charity, Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats cares for over 100 goats of various breeds and sizes. The sanctuary accepts goats from all parts of Greater London and the Home Counties, with many being rescued by the RSPCA or law enforcement.
These goats are provided with proper shelter and nutritious diets within a beautifully preserved ancient parkland setting. The sanctuary is open to the public every Sunday, allowing guests to purchase animal feed to interact with these charming creatures. On Saturdays, visitors can participate in a “Walking with Goats” experience, while also offering a “Goat Keeper for the Morning” program for those seeking a comprehensive introduction to animal husbandry.
13. Water Activities
During the warmer months, the River Medway, which is navigable and equipped with historical locks, invites adventurous spirits for water-based activities. Companies such as Elvey’s Canoes and River Medway Canoes provide rentals for canoes, kayaks, and necessary safety equipment for self-guided explorations along this scenic waterway stretching between Penshurst near Tonbridge and Allington, situated on the northwestern fringes of Maidstone.
River Medway Canoes also organizes guided one-day trips from Tonbridge Castle to Yalding, and from Yalding to Allington, accompanied by British Canoe Union instructors as participants navigate this picturesque Kent countryside.
14. River Trips (Kentish Lady)
For a more leisurely way to appreciate the scenery, guests can board the Kentish Lady, Maidstone’s dedicated tour boat that offers round-trips to Allington Lock during summer weekends. This hour-long tour incorporates guided commentary that shares the history of various riverside attractions, including Allington Castle, where Henry VIII conducted meetings with Anne Boleyn, the oldest pub in Maidstone (established in 1636), and the 15th-century Corpus Christi Hall.
The service also offers three-hour excursions on weekdays during the summer, heading upriver into the serene rural Kent landscape, providing opportunities to observe wildlife such as kingfishers and herons, in addition to lunch served on board.
15. Kent Garden Show
Scheduled to occur shortly after the Chelsea Flower Show at the end of May, the Kent Garden Show is a premier event featuring over 300 exhibitors. Held at the Kent County Showground, attendees have the opportunity to see several medal-winning displays from the Chelsea Flower Show in the designated floral marquees. The event features attractions for children, a craft pavilion, a food hall, and live brass band performances.
The trade portion of the show is extensive, with participation from more than 60 nurseries and numerous companies showcasing and selling a variety of gardening-related products, including tools, sheds, ornaments, water features, and sculptures.
