Mid Kent Tourist Information

Maidstone Holidays

Centrally placed Maidstone is perfect as a Kent holiday base. A more accessible central Kent base you're unlikely to find - Maidstone has two stations and sits conveniently off the M20 yet within the rural county setting of the North Downs surrounding countryside. Maidstone town centre is home to one of Kent's best museum - the Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery. The art collections are particularly impressive, with work on show here by the likes of local artists Goodwin and essayist Hazlitt, but also by prestigious notables such as Henry Moore.

The River Medway running through the town has seen much regeneration recently, resulting in a bustle of activity and river tours along the Millennium River Park. Theatres, cinema and great shopping, pubs and restaurants are aplenty in the town, and just on the outskirts sits the Museum of Kent Life with its distinctive white tipped Oast House. A rural extravaganza, the Cobtree estate was bequeathed to the town by eccentric Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, the last remaining son of this notable local Kent family.

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Around Maidstone - Leeds Castle Kent

The Kent Showground is ideally located within the heart of the region, easily accessed off both the M2 and M20 motorways and near Maidstone. The Showground plays host to some of Kent's biggest and most popular events including the annual July Kent County Show and covers a mammoth 200 acres. Features events alongside the Kent County Show include big antique and craft fairs and garden shows.

Set within 500 acres of stunning parkland, Leeds Castle is often sited as one of the prettiest and most popular spots and attractions in Kent. Easily reached and clearly signposted off junction 8 of the M20, Leeds plays host to numerous events and boasts on-site hot air balloon trips, arts and craft shops, a maze, an Aviary, a golf course, extensive stunning gardens and cafes and restaurants. One of the most stunning castles in the UK, Leeds has seen some changes through the centuries from Saxon Manor to Norman Stronghold and Royal Residence and finally 20th century country retreat with interiors reworked by Anglo-American heiress Lady Baillie.

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Ashford & Ashford International Eurostar

Ashford is Kent's central transport hub, and the town's links with the railways go way back. Find out more on Ashford's railway history at the town's main excellent local history museum. Site of one of Kent's two channel tunnel Eurostar links, Ashford International is a major gateway into Europe. The town is seeing a lively rejuvenation, alongside its major transport links although Ashford manages to maintain well its old market town feel. As a base Ashford is perfectly located just off the M20 for accessing the Kent Downs, with its many countryside attractions including stately homes, vineyards, agricultural museums, walking, cycling and more all just to the north of the town. You're also conveniently situated for both Canterbury, Dover and Tenterden, with more idyllic Kent gardens to explore around Kent Weald garden hub Tenterden. If you're looking for a Kent base from which to explore the county, with a superb choice of shopping (including designer outlets and two modern shopping centres), restaurants and pubs all close to hand then Ashford is where to head.

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Ashford Downs, Tenterden & the Weald

South west of Ashford via the A28 sees you pushing into the Kent Weald to discover some of the county's most attractive towns and villages. Tenterden stands as the Kent Weald's 'Jewel', with its stunning market town centre, delightful High Street with enviable specialist arts and crafts shops and a fine show of Georgian architecture within this Kent town which has largely escaped the throws of modern development.

The history of the town is a fascinating one. Tenterden's heritage as a medieval wooltown around the 13th century is linked to the sea, with which it once had direct access via the Smallhythe port. This was when the whole of the Romney Marsh area was underwater! Tenterden's surrounds couldn't be more attractive, and a delightful way to explore the area is via the Kent & East Sussex Railway. You're only a hop and skip away from the Sussex border based here at Tenterden too, with easy access to beautiful Rye, Winchelsea and nearby Bodiam Castle. To the north of Ashford is the North Downs and North Downs Way National Trail. A choice of attractions are to be found in the Ashford Downs are with hightlights the Agricultural Museum at Brook and Beech Court Gardens at Challock.

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