Maidstone Area Guide

Maidstone snapshot

Maidstone enjoys a vibrant arts community, country parks, a picturesque River Medway setting and a super-fast rail line to London. The bustling town centre, with its leisure and retail focus, is in contrast to the outlying villages, where the dream of living in a semi-rural Kentish idyll is made possible.

Maidstone: where?

Covering the ME14, ME15 and ME16 postcodes, Maidstone is perched on the edge of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Kings Hill sits to its west, Loose to the south and Blue Bell Hill is just over the M20 to the north. Surrounding villages include Boughton Monchelsea, Otham, Bearsted, East Farleigh, Barming and Allington.

The BIG 3:

1. Transport:

• Two railway stations: Maidstone East (for Victoria and Blackfriars) and Maidstone West (for St Pancras via Stratford and Ebbsfleet Int.)
• Direct access to the M20 via junctions 5, 6, 7 and 8 
• Frequent bus services in and around Maidstone 

2. Schools:

The town covers a large geographical area, so the choice of schooling is impressive and includes three grammar schools. There’s a ‘find-a-school’ facility on every one of our online property listings, where you can filter schools by age, type and Ofsted rating.

3. Attractions:

Two flagship shopping centres, a thriving High Street, boutique-driven arcades and multiple farmers' markets provide retail heaven but if you’re all shopped out, don’t panic. Visit the Maidstone Museum or Maidstone Leisure Centre; walk through Millennium River Park - a 10km stretch from Teston to Allington Lock – or explore Moat Park, where children's play areas, a BMX track, a skate park, a model railway and sports facilities are set over 180 hectares of public space. The Lockmeadow Centre is Maidstone's entertainment hub, with a cinema, bowling alley, trampoline park, bars and restaurants.

Food & Drink

Our Walderslade staff recommend:

• The Bull for fantastic views over the Weald
• The Mulberry Tree for contemporary dining
• The Windmill, where there’s a giant inglenook fireplace
• Fish on the Green & Oak on the Green – sister venues in Bearsted
• The Brenchley for food, drink and an unusual glass-domed ceiling

Maidstone property

Maidstone’s villages are home to properties of mansion proportions but there’s something for every taste and budget. Period properties, listed cottages, converted oast houses and contemporary apartments are all available. In addition, leading house builders are active across Maidstone, with the Help to Buy initiative in force at many developments

Click for Maidstone's council tax rates 

For a FREE valuation or general advice contact your local branch today.