In the heart of the garden of England, a short drive from the Kent Downs and to the south coast, Maidstone is right in the middle of the action. A historic town with a modern feel, Maidstone has everything from stunning medieval castles, leafy country parks and fascinating museums as well as a vibrant sport and outdoor scene spanning skiing, football and BMX trails. The food scene is excellent, with cool cafes and ambitious restaurants vying for your attention, while there are dozens of excellent pubs, clubs and bars in town, most of which are a short walk from one of our hotels in Maidstone.
Things to do in Maidstone
Shopping
Opened in 2005, Fremlin Walk is a modern and stylish open-air development that brings together over 50 stores and shops including House of Fraser, Top Shop, Waterstones and Zara. The pedestrian zone is just down from the Maidstone East train station and has a range of cafés, coffee shops and benches where you can take in all the action.
Dating back to 1976, Maidstone Mall is the original shopping centre in town, with a wide range of retailers from high street classics like Next and New Look as well as smaller independent stores and a range of budget outlets like Iceland and Wilko. There are nearly a dozen cafés and food outlets in the mall including McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and Greggs. The mall is in the heart of Maidstone, a short distance from Fremlin Walk and just over the River Medway from our Maidstone Town Centre hotel.
Back on the other side of the Medway near the Maidstone West train station is Maidstone Market, a covered marketplace that springs into action every Tuesday and Saturday from 7am-1.30pm. With a history of markets in Maidstone stretching back over 700 years, Maidstone Market has a wide array of stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, as well as records, books, plants, gifts and more.
Getting Around
Less than an hour away by car, Gatwick Airport is 44 miles from Maidstone and offers flights across the world with 228 destinations in 74 countries serving 45 million passengers each year. Other than driving, taking the train to London Victoria and changing to Gatwick is the most direct way, taking just less than two hours. Alternatively, stay the night before at one of our hotels near Gatwick Airport and make your journey that bit easier.
One of three train stations in town, Maidstone East Train Station is the only one with a regular and direct service to London. The three-platform station has hourly trains to London Victoria, Ashford and Canterbury West and is located on the northern edge of the town centre opposite Brenchley Gardens.
Shopping in Maidstone
