Car Hire Maidstone - Mini guide to Maidstone

The lively town of Maidstone, in the heart of Kent, mixes historical attractions, great shopping, good nightlife and easy access to some of Southern England’s best countryside and heritage sites.

On the banks of the River Medway, the medieval Archbishop’s Palace offers a view of Maidstone’s history. In the Archbishop’s Stables is the impressive Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages boasting a large collection of horse-drawn vehicles. Another major attraction is the Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery, housed in reputedly the finest Elizabethan manor in the South East.

Maidstone is a delightful place to explore on foot. Walking from the majestic, arched, Maidstone Bridge along the leafy High Street, takes you past the glass and steel roofed Royal Star Arcade, set in the grounds of an 18th C coaching inn - winner of many architecture prizes. Just a little further is the 19th C Corn Exchange Arcade, home to the Hazlitt Theatre and a variety of shops and cafes.

There are plenty of other shopping options in the town, with the ornate Gabriels Hill, busy Week Steet, and large, indoor, Chequers Centre. For more relaxing pursuits, Mote Park offers acres of woods, grassland, and a lake. Nearby, the Maidstone Leisure Centre has swimming pools, fitness classes and kids’ activities, and the new complex in Barker Road is great for cinemas, restaurants and nightclubs.

The beautiful surrounding countryside is littered with picturesque villages and places of interest, making it well worth hiring a car. Probably the most famous attraction is the romantic, moat-enclosed Leeds Castle, a Doomsday book-listed Norman stronghold. For nature lovers and hikers, the North Downs Way and the ancient coastline of the Saxon Shore Way are also within easy reach.

Kent's closest international airport is Gatwick from where you can hire a car and be in the heart of the county in just 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch the Gatwick Express train and arrive at Maidstone Station via Central London.

The lively town of Maidstone, in the heart of Kent, mixes historical attractions, great shopping, good nightlife and easy access to some of Southern England’s best countryside and heritage sites.

On the banks of the River Medway, the medieval Archbishop’s Palace offers a view of Maidstone’s history. In the Archbishop’s Stables is the impressive Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages boasting a large collection of horse-drawn vehicles. Another major attraction is the Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery, housed in reputedly the finest Elizabethan manor in the South East.

Maidstone is a delightful place to explore on foot. Walking from the majestic, arched, Maidstone Bridge along the leafy High Street, takes you past the glass and steel roofed Royal Star Arcade, set in the grounds of an 18th C coaching inn - winner of many architecture prizes. Just a little further is the 19th C Corn Exchange Arcade, home to the Hazlitt Theatre and a variety of shops and cafes.

There are plenty of other shopping options in the town, with the ornate Gabriels Hill, busy Week Steet, and large, indoor, Chequers Centre. For more relaxing pursuits, Mote Park offers acres of woods, grassland, and a lake. Nearby, the Maidstone Leisure Centre has swimming pools, fitness classes and kids’ activities, and the new complex in Barker Road is great for cinemas, restaurants and nightclubs.

The beautiful surrounding countryside is littered with picturesque villages and places of interest, making it well worth hiring a car. Probably the most famous attraction is the romantic, moat-enclosed Leeds Castle, a Doomsday book-listed Norman stronghold. For nature lovers and hikers, the North Downs Way and the ancient coastline of the Saxon Shore Way are also within easy reach.

Kent's closest international airport is Gatwick from where you can hire a car and be in the heart of the county in just 45 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch the Gatwick Express train and arrive at Maidstone Station via Central London.