Maidstone Tourist Information & Travel Guide

Maidstone is situated in Kent and is the county town of the area with a population of 75,000. Its fuelling economy in present day lies in the service industries and generally light industries as opposed to earlier years when heavy industry was most dominant. There are various industrial estates in the town in order to provide employment for local residents who mainly have jobs in retail, service and administration.

Historically, Maidstone has a variety of buildings that reflect the historical fundamentals of the town. One of the attractions in Old Maidstone is the Archbishops Palace which was built in the fourteenth century by Archbishop Courtenay. Towards the rear of the palace is a tall wall that holds a window 12-15 feet from the ground up. Currently the palace is a marriage bureau that is known as 'Kent Register Office', used for public records alongside civil marriages.

Also worth a visit is the All Saints Church built in 1395. Here you can find a seventeenth century memorial to Laurence Washington, a local resident from the era. His ancestor, George Washington was said to have been inspired by this for the realisation of American stars and stripes. There are a number of choir stalls and medieval carvings can be found beneath the seats. The church originally had a 172 feet tall spire but unfortunately it was struck by lightning so had to be removed.

For shopping you can visit the Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre based in the heart of Maidstone. It is now amongst Britain's top 50 shopping areas as it has all the current trends and 50 top end retailers, accompanied by a parking capacity for 800 cars. It also has late night shopping that falls on every Thursday where visitors can shop until 8pm.

The town has a vibrant nightlife offering a range of bars, live lounges, restaurants and clubs. In all of Kent, Maidstone has the best reputation for an enjoyable night out. To kick start your night you may want to go to the River Bar, located between High Street and Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex, which has a beautiful view of the river. The ruling night clubs in the area are Liquid & Envy, Strawberry Moons and Road House, all specifying in popular music genres for individual nights.

There are a range of gardens and parks for a more tranquil experience of the town, in particular, The Maidstone Millennium River Park that opened in 2001. The park was created by local residents with support from the Millennium Commission. The newly built footpaths stretch for 10km and have been constructed for visitors who enjoy long walks as they can stroll through Teston to Allington. The park passes through both rural and urban areas.

Maidstone has an open-air museum called The Museum of Kent Life. It has won many awards due to its amazing showcases of historical buildings alongside fantastic exhibitions illustrating life over the past 150 years in Kent. It is located on Lock Lane and is open from February right through to October.

James Bevis - CityLocal Maidstone
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