Going out in MaidstoneKent

Discover the best pubs & restaurants in Maidstone

Town/City Name
Maidstone

County
Kent

Population
89,000

Going Out in Maidstone

About MaidstoneAbout Maidstone

Maidstone is a county town of England, and it is also the country’s largest town. It is located 32 miles from London’s east-south-east. Maidstone is linked with the Thames Estuary and Rochester through the River Medway.

People have lived in Maidstone even before the Stone Age, and today, it has a population of 89,000. Maidstone is currently known for its light industry and services which came from heavy industry before the Second World War happened.

Maidstone is very welcoming to be visitors, so going out in Maidstone is easy. There are a lot of historic gardens, castles and houses tourists can check out during their visit. Some of the famous places people frequent include Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery, Leeds Castle, Mote Park, Stoneacre and Cobtree Manor Park.

Of all these cited places, the most famous would have to be the Maidstone Museum and Art Gallery. This place houses precious art and antiques that are of mixed collections, and it has pieces dating back in the 19th century.

On the other hand, the restaurants in Maidstone are also in the must-see list for they offer tourist new food and culinary experience. Discover new drinks and enjoy delicious food during your visit in the area.

Along with good food, you can also visit numerous pubs in Maidstone. In these bars and pubs, you can enjoy the local produce which you can enjoy with your friends and family. There is a magnificent selection of beers and wines that you can explore when you are in town.

Meanwhile, Maidstone is also famous for some of the people who came from it. Notable people from Maidstone include author Dan Abnett, artist Bill Lewis, microbiologist Anthony Pawson, author and artist Michael Chaplin and England’s former Chief Scout Commissioner Bill Cockcroft.

Places to eat in MaidstonePlaces to eat in Maidstone, Restaurants in Maidstone

La Villetta Italian Maidstone
La Villetta
Italian Maidstone
Tandoor Mahal Indian Maidstone
Tandoor Mahal
Indian Maidstone
Buenos Aires Nights Steakhouse Steakhouse Maidstone
Buenos Aires Nights Steakhouse
Steakhouse Maidstone
The Bierkeller German Maidstone
The Bierkeller
German Maidstone
The Lunch Basket Cafe Maidstone
The Lunch Basket
Cafe Maidstone
Cafe Beck Italian Maidstone
Cafe Beck
Italian Maidstone

Places to drink in Maidstone Places to drink in Maidstone, Pubs and Bars in Maidstone

The Fox & Goose Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Fox & Goose
Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Redstart Inn Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Redstart Inn
Pub/Bar Maidstone
The White Horse Pub/Bar Maidstone
The White Horse
Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Druids Arms Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Druids Arms
Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Swan Pub & Restaurant Pub/Bar Maidstone
The Swan Pub & Restaurant
Pub/Bar Maidstone
Mango Tree Food of India Pub/Bar Maidstone
Mango Tree Food of India
Pub/Bar Maidstone

A brief history of MaidstoneA brief history of Maidstone

People from the Neolithic period are believed to be the first ones to occupy Maidstone. The Romans also left evidence of their inhabitation in the roads of Maidstone.

Additionally, a shire moot was set up by Normans, Boxley has an abbey constructed by religious organisations, and priests have a college and hospitals.

Maidstone had an important role in the 1381 Peasants’ Revolt. John Ball, a rebel priest, was imprisoned in this town. However, Wat Tyler, a resident and ruler, freed Ball.

In 1549, Maidstone became a town, but it was revoked shortly. In 1551, it became a borough under a new charter. It was then ratified by James I in 1619. Starting from 1604, Maidstone has had the right to a town gaol.

The Parliamentarians won in the 1648 Battle of Maidstone which happened during the English Civil War. Charles I’s death was also announced by Andrew Broughton who now has a plaque in Maidstone Town Centre. Broughton was the 1649 mayor, and today, he was given the title “Mayor and Regicide.”

Maidstone was popularly known for brewing, paper mills, cloth industry and stone quarrying. Wove paper was an important development in the printing history. It was invented by James Whatman. This happened in 1740 at Turkey Mill.

In 1798, Maidstone had a permanent military presence when the cavalry barracks was completed. Today, the 36 Engineer Regiment now occupies the Invicta park Barracks.

There are numerous settlements and outlying villages in Maidstone today. A local pub was damaged due to a bomb in 1975. This was during an IRA campaign in the country.

Later on, Maidstone General Hospital operated on the town’s outskirts. This replaced West Kent General Hospital which has existed 150 years earlier than Maidstone General Hospital.

Popular things to do in MaidstonePopular things to do in Maidstone

Free things to MaidstoneFree things to do in Maidstone

Great for kids in MaidstoneGreat for kids in Maidstone

Great for dogs MaidstoneGreat for dogs in Maidstone

  • Scotney Castle
  • Harvel Hike
  • Shorne Woods Country Park

Dog friendly bars in MaidstoneDog friendly bars

  • Hook and Hatchet Inn
  • Swan on the Green
  • The Cock Inn

Dog friendly restaurants in MaidstoneDog friendly restaurants

  • Baskerville's Coffee House
  • Bill's Maidstone Restaurant
  • Rockin Robin on the Green

Did you know?Did you know?

John Dyke was publicly executed on Penenden Heath. The execution happened on Christmas Eve in the year 1830. It was found out that Dyke did not commit the crime as another man, on his deathbed, admitted that he was the one who did it.

On a lighter note, there was an interesting and amazing thing discovered at the site of Barclays Bank – a woolly mammoth’s tooth. The bank is located in Maidstone High Street.

Hidden gems of MaidstoneThe hidden gems of Maidstone

Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is definitely one of the hidden gems in Maidstone. You can ride the small trains and have a good view of the town. It is a steam train set in the only desert in Britain.

Unique to MaidstoneUnique to Maidstone

Leeds Castle is often called Ladies’ Castle since there are numerous Queens of England who have lived in it. Some of these queens include the first wife of Henry VIII Catherine of Aragon, Edward III’s wife Philippa of Hainault, the two wives of Edward I: Margaret of France and Eleanor of Castile, and the spouse of Henry V Catherine de Valois.