Maidstone

Maidstone is the administrative heart of Kent and has been a significant trading centre since medieval times. The town straddles the River Medway, which runs through its centre and forms the backdrop to many of its key attractions. The All Saints Church dominates the town's skyline with its distinctive perpendicular tower, and the High Street retains many period buildings alongside modern shops.

Visitors will find the Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery, housed in a striking Jacobean mansion, which covers the town's social and natural history. The riverside area near the Archbishop's Palace offers pleasant walks, while the town centre is compact and easily explored on foot. Maidstone's role as a market town continues today, with a busy town centre and regular farmers' markets. The town serves as a good base for exploring the river valley and the wider Kent countryside, with transport links to surrounding attractions.