What To Do When You Stay in Maidstone

Maidstone in Kent has a wide variety of wonderful attractions in and around it that you can enjoy. The town caters for young and old alike and we'll look below at just some of the popular tourist attractions here. 

Leeds Castle – As well as being a Norman stronghold this castle was home to six different medieval English queens and also King Henry VIII as well as being a country house in the 1920’s. Lady Baillie was the last private owner of the castle and decided to restore it to its former glory and then in 1974 she founded a charitable trust known as the Leeds Castle Foundation.

When you visit the castle which is only a short drive from Maidstone you are transported back through 1,000 years of its history. As well as spending time exploring the castle's rooms and examine the numerous tapestries, paintings, furnishings and other antiques there are plenty of activities to keep one amused outside as well. For the children there is the turf maze, Knight’s Realm playground and the bird aviary. There are regular falconry displays as well as another maze and a grotto. You can if you have the time play a round of golf on the castles course as well. 

Stoneacre – This site is owned by the National Trust and the main building goes back to the fifteenth century and has wonderful gardens, orchards and meadows for its visitors to explore. Inside the house itself, make sure to see the Crownpost and the Great Hall. That said, the property is still privately owned and is actually someone's home. 

Hop Farm Country Park – If you have children and you want to get them to expend some of their energy make sure you spend a day in this country park. Along with its museum there is discovery world, a display of military vehicles, an animal farm and shire horses as well. Plus there are both indoor and outdoor adventure play grounds for the children to enjoy and get rid of some of their energy.

Museum of Kent Life – Here you can look at a number of different historic buildings showing you how our ancestors would have lived in the so-called "Garden of England" that Kent is referred to over the last 150 years. There is a petting farm for children to enjoy and there are also hop, kitchen and herb gardens for older visitors. And again the museum has an adventure playground which children can spend time expending unused energy on.

When you stay in Maidstone, find your Maidstone hotel on this site.