Top 10 reasons to live in Maidstone

Maidstone is the county town of Kent and has a long and proud history. There are many reasons why Maidstone is a great place to live – including local attractions, entertainment, transport, education, and so much more!

1. Shopping

Maidstone has an abundance of shops, stalls and shopping centres. Fremlin Walk is an outdoor shopping centre located near to Maidstone East train station, which includes stores such as House of Fraser, Zara, Pandora, and Hotel Chocolat.

The Mall in Maidstone is an enclosed shopping centre in the heart of Maidstone. The Mall has over 100 stores so there are lots of choices for all your shopping needs, including gyms, eateries and retail.

If you are happy to travel a short way outside of Maidstone, the designer outlet in Ashford is perfect for a shopping day out! Better yet, it is just a five-minute walk from the Ashford international train station and has over 90 world renown brands, what more could you want?

2. Eateries

Maidstone doesn’t disappoint when it comes to food! We have selected our favourite restaurants at three different price points…

Market House – £

Right next to Fremlin Walk shopping centre is the lovely Market House, which provides lovely food and a range of beers at a great price. If you are visiting with a friend, they do a deal with five small plates for only £26 – bargain!

FIFI’s Brasserie – ££

FIFI’s is a lovely restaurant serving a range of food and an all-around amazing culinary experience. With a 5-star rating on trip advisor from over 1,000 reviews you can tell why this restaurant is on our list.

Hide and Fox – £££

With Maidstone being so well connected, it is fitting to include a Michelin star restaurant which is by the coast, just a 40 minute drive away! Hide and Fox in Hythe provides an experience comparable to no other. Award winning Chef Allister Barsby carefully crafts his menus, ensuring quality and showcasing his culinary talent.

3. Parks 

Mote Park is the largest park in Maidstone, spanning over 450 Acres. This Award-winning Park is very popular and includes lots of activities for people of all ages. This includes an outdoor adventure area, a water sports centre, and a model railway, in addition to hosting events and festivals throughout the year. Our Mulberry Place development is only a short walk away from Mote Park, so our residents can easily enjoy the local scenery whenever they want. There are two new bungalows coming to this development soon, register your interest today!

Whatman Park, which has a Green Flag award of excellence, is about half a mile from Maidstone town centre and is at the heart of the Millennium River Park that runs along the River Medway. This park combines the natural landscapes and wildflower meadow with a treetop walk, play areas and a skatepark.

The Riverside Country Park is located in Medway and covers 100 hectares alongside the Medway Estuary. This park has also received a Green Flag Award and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Being less than a 30-minute drive from Maidstone, it is definitely worth a visit!

4. Transport Links & Airport

Maidstone is very well connected. It is just a few minutes from the M20 and only an hour train journey from London. There is also a bus service within Maidstone that runs regularly around the town. Maidstone is also a 45-minute drive from Gatwick airport in London, making it perfect for budding travellers.

5. Bars & Nightlife

When looking for a new home it is also important to consider your hobbies and what you like to do in your free time. Maidstone is known for its wonderful distilleries, at one point in the town’s rich history it was distilling over 5000 Gallons a week! Here are a few of our favourite places to go in Maidstone…

For cocktails, Harry’s bar is a favourite! A lovely rooftop bar located above The Brenchley pub; Harry’s is perfect for socialising with friends. If you would prefer a slightly quirkier experience Mu Mu’s will not disappoint. Mu Mu’s has a very popular bottomless brunch which includes an unlimited selection of drinks and includes food!

There are lots of pubs in Maidstone and the surrounding areas. If you are looking for a popular bar for a few drinks, The Brenchley will be the pub for you. For a more traditional pub Ye Olde Thirsty Pig is a local gem and has a great selection of beers and ales. However, if you like the sound of a German themed show-bar, steins of beer and partying all night – Bierkeller is the choice for you!

The Source Bar is Maidstone’s leading nightclub and has been open since the summer of 1999. Zinc Popworld is a fairly new club to Maidstone, which plays the best pop tunes to enjoy alongside an assortment of drinks and cocktails.

6. Close to the Coast

Maidstone is a short drive from several exciting beaches all with different features.

Viking bay is a beautiful example of a sandy beach in Kent. A clean, scenic beach with colourful beach huts, lovely eateries, and cafés and ice cream shops galore! All the ingredients for a perfect day at the seaside.

Sunny Sands in Folkstone is one of the most accessible sandy beaches to commuters, being only an hour from St Pancreas station. Located next to Folkstone harbour, this beach offers scenic views and is perfect for walking, relaxing, and building sandcastles!

If you prefer long walks and stunning views, the long shingle beach at Minster on sea is the perfect choice for you. The beach is very clean, achieving the prestigious Blue Flag Award. There is also a seasonal lifeguard from may to September to ensure a safe trip to the seaside.

7. Tourism spots

There are many historic castles throughout Kent which are accessible from Maidstone, such as Leeds Castle, Hever Castle, Dover Castle, Canterbury Castle and many more. There are also many stately homes such as Penshurst Place, Knole and Darwin’s Down House, the stately home of Charles Darwin.

Maidstone has a very important history, so there are plenty of museums and Galleries which are worth visiting. The Maidstone Museum is one of the finest regional museums in England and the Maidstone carriage museum is dubbed as the finest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in the whole of Europe. The Process Art Gallery shows some more modern interpretations of art, compared to the Riverside Art Gallery which provides more traditional artwork.

The Kentish Lady is a river boat which travels on the river Medway. Traveling from Maidstone it provides 1-hour trips, 3-hour lunches and exclusive visits to Allington Castle. With two open decks, modern facilities and a licensed bar onboard, it is a great way to explore Kent!

8. Entertainment

Lockmeadow is a large entertainment complex located next to the Maidstone town centre. Lockmeadow has everything that you would need for a fun day out: Hollywood Bowl, an Odeon cinema and Gravity trampoline park. These attractions are located alongside Frankie and Benny’s, The Feathers and Harry’s Kitchen which provide the food and refreshments.

There are lots of different escape rooms throughout Maidstone, such as The Escape Hub and Prison Island. If you like puzzles and games then escape rooms will be for you, it’s all about finding clues to help you to escape!

Ballin Maidstone is a brand-new social venue in the heart of Maidstone. Whether you want to play beer pong, pool, or Table tennis there is games around for everyone. As the nights get later the venue gets turned into a bar and finally a nightclub towards the end of the night. On Sundays you can bring your families in, and kids play for free between 2pm and 8pm.

9. Sports

Sport is very important to many people and being a supporter of a local team is a great way to meet new people. Maidstone is home to several sports clubs for all ages such as football, rugby, golf, hockey, and American football, which residents love to watch and take part in.

Maidstone United F.C. have just won the National league south promoting them to the National league for 2022/2023 season. They have an average of nearly 2,500 fans attending every game which proves how well supported this team is in Maidstone.

Maidstone Rugby Club was founded in 1880 and currently plays in the London Southeast 3 League at the local Mote Park. They have an exciting mini and youth set-up for any budding rugby players.

Other mentions are Maidstone Warriors Basketball Club, Invicta Dynamos (Ice Hockey), Maidstone Hockey Club, Medway and Maidstone AC.

10.Gyms and fitness

If a local gym is important to you, Maidstone has plenty to choose from. For example:

Pure Gym – £

A fairly new gym to Maidstone, Pure Gym is perfect for people of all abilities. It is open 24/7 and prices start at only £14.99 a month!

Core the Gym – ££

Core the Gym is also located art the Mall alongside Pure Gym. They run classes throughout the week and these classes are free to members! If you are looking for a gym which isn’t part of a large chain. Core the gym is the one for you! Prices start at £29.99 per month or £270 for the year.

David Lloyds – £££

David Lloyds is well known for being a high quality and amazing gym experience. The reason that this costs much more is as it provides a lot more for the gym user. With a Spa, Pools, Gym, Exercise classes, and a Kids club. David Lloyds provides options for everyone. Prices start just shy of £100 but can be even more. If you are looking for a high-quality gym experience this is the one for you!

Forge Mews

Forge Mews is a collection of nine terraced 3-bedroom houses coming towards the end of 2023 to Bearsted, near Maidstone. Bearsted has everything you need on your doorstep and is a 10 minute drive from the centre of Maidstone. If you are interested in Forge Mews, please contact us today!

If you would like to learn more about our developments in Maidstone, please visit our website. To find out more about activities in Kent, visit our blog about the best activities to do with your family this summer!

Got any questions or feedback on the blog? Or maybe a topic you would like to be covered in a future blog? Email caitlin.willis@clarendonhomes.co.uk today, we would love to hear from you!