Maidstone Museums

Type:Museum

St Faith's Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 288 reviews288 reviews

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Tel01622 602838

Samurai armour at Maidstone Museum

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About

Maidstone Museum is an exceptional regional museum housed in the gorgeous Chillington Manor, an Elizabethan manor house. Come and discover the hidden gems in the collections, which boast a rich and impressive variety of historical objects, fine art and natural history. It is home to internationally significant collections, especially Ethnography, Japanese Decorative Arts, Ancient Egypt, Archaeology and Costume. Don't miss the 2,700 year old Egyptian mummy (the only adult mummy in Kent), The Lady of the House, Ta-Kush. The Museum also has woodblock prints by famous Edo period woodblock print masters. These include Hokusai's ‘Great Wave off Kanagawa’ and ‘Red Fuji'.

Established in 1858, Maidstone Museum houses over 660,000 artefacts and specimens. It first opened as the Charles Museum, following the bequest of Dr Thomas Charles of Maidstone who left his library, art collection and antiques to the town.

There are lots of galleries to explore in the oldest part of the building and children love the roar of the dinosaur in the Earth Heritage Gallery. Maidstone Museum is very interactive and a fun experience for children, travelling back in time to explore the myths and legends behind the museum’s collections, have a go at digging fossils or try on some costumes on your way round!

The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum is an independent museum that has been housed within Maidstone Museum since 1960. It tells the story of this famous local regiment and is packed with fascinating, colourful and thought-provoking exhibits.
 

Exhibitions


Throughout the year there is a great schedule of special events and temporary exhibitions so you are sure to find something going on no matter when you visit. Maidstone Museum attracts many of the country’s best touring exhibitions, providing you with the chance to explore magnificent works of art and fascinating objects. Collaborations with, amongst others, the V&A, the British Museum, and the Cartoon Museum have provided special exhibitions, and the Museum also works closely with many other special exhibition creators to bring you some very unique and unusual displays.

 

Museum Lates

 

On the last Thursday of every month at Museum Lates you can experience the museum after dark and get involved in some great interactive activities. There are also many great tours of the building and the collections which run every month.

 

Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
ChildFree
ConcessionFree
FamilyFree
Admisson FreeFree

Note: Prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.

Events

Wednesday, 25th September 2024 - Saturday, 2nd November 2024

Moments in Time graphicMoments in TimeWe are delighted to display the work of Olive Graham-Desnoes in our Fine Art Gallery in celebration of Black History Month.
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Wednesday, 9th October 2024 - Wednesday, 9th October 2024

Flyer for Maria McErlane eventMaria McErlane: Bumps in the Road – a memoir: Life and adventure in bike-size chunks - Maidstone LitFest 2024Enjoy an evening in the company of Maria McErlane
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Friday, 11th October 2024 - Friday, 11th October 2024

Needle felting Needle Felting Workshop with Mona WhittonJoin Mona Whitton for a relaxing needle-felting workshop
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Saturday, 12th October 2024 - Saturday, 12th October 2024

Family Films at Maidstone Museum graphicFamily Films at Maidstone Museum - Hidden FiguresTo celebrate Black History Month, we are screening 'Hidden Figures'
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Saturday, 12th October 2024 - Saturday, 12th October 2024

Helen Fry & Caitlin Davies flyerHelen Fry and Caitlin Davies – “Hidden Women, Hidden Lives” - Maidstone LitFest 2024Join historians and authors Helen Fry (Women in Intelligence) and Caitlin Davies (Private Inquiries) as they discuss the fascinating but often hidden contribution that women have made throughout history.
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Saturday, 12th October 2024 - Saturday, 12th October 2024

Scarlett Thomas flyerScarlett Thomas – The Sleepwalkers - Maidstone LitFest 2024Come and see bestselling author Scarlett Thomas in conversation with Chloe Timms
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Saturday, 26th October 2024 - Saturday, 30th November 2024

Jacqueline YerlettSewing the Seeds: A Legacy in ThreadAn exploration of textiles from yesteryear to the present day
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Tuesday, 29th October 2024 - Thursday, 31st October 2024

October Make It Crafts at Maidstone MuseumOctober Half Term Halloween Make It! Crafts 2024
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Thursday, 31st October 2024 - Thursday, 31st October 2024

Movie Night GraphicMovie Night at Maidstone Museum - PsychoEnjoy the cult classic - 'Psycho'
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Friday, 1st November 2024 - Friday, 1st November 2024

Halloween images of witch, pumpkin and ghost, Maidstone MuseumSEND Family CraftsOur SEND Family Friday crafts are back for the October half term
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Saturday, 2nd November 2024 - Saturday, 2nd November 2024

Saturday, 16th November 2024 - Saturday, 16th November 2024

Life drawing Life Drawing with Kent Art CollectiveJoin us for a creative morning of life drawing.
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Friday, 6th December 2024 - Friday, 6th December 2024

Stained glass starsChristmas Glass Workshop with Mona WhittonJoin us for a relaxing two hour session making a beautiful stained glass star decoration for your tree.
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Saturday, 7th December 2024 - Saturday, 7th December 2024

Two brown box parcels with red and white string and heartsChristmas Craft MarketThe annual Craft Market is back for 2024
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Saturday, 7th December 2024 - Saturday, 7th December 2024

Saturday, 14th December 2024 - Saturday, 14th December 2024

Saturday, 21st December 2024 - Saturday, 21st December 2024

Father ChristmasFather Christmas's Fireplace 2024Meet Father Christmas in his cosy library, leave your wish with him and receive a present!
more info

Saturday, 14th December 2024 - Saturday, 14th December 2024

Family Films at Maidstone Museum graphicFamily Films at Maidstone Museum - ELFCome and enjoy this classic Christmas favourite
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Saturday, 14th December 2024 - Saturday, 14th December 2024

Movie Night GraphicMovie Night at Maidstone Museum - DIE HARDEnjoy the cult Christmas classic 'Die Hard'
more info

Facilities

Other

  • All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
  • Educational Visits Accepted
  • Family Fun
  • Groups Accepted
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Guided Tours Available for Groups - Advance booking required
  • On-Site café/restaurant
  • Partial Disabled
  • Ramp / Level Access
  • Wet Weather

Accessibility

  • Disabled facilities (please call for details)

Provider Preferences

  • In town/city centre

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      161
    • Very Good
      92
    • Average
      26
    • Poor
      4
    • Terrible
      5

    Recent Reviews:

    • daniely340
      Maidstone, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Family
      Amazing place with lots to see and do
      5 of 5 stars
      Thursday, 7th March 2024
      What an amazing place with so much to look at and do. We visited today on a school trip with 6-7 year olds. The kids had so much fun exploring all the different rooms and artefacts. Set over... Read full review
    • Sarah W
      Great venue
      5 of 5 stars
      Friday, 8th March 2024
      We visited with a group of SEN students some of whom are wheelchair users, the museum has recently had a new stair lift fitted that enables disabled visitors to access the basement level of the... Read full review
    • marksN555ZB
      Kent, United Kingdom
      Trip Type:
      Family
      Great
      5 of 5 stars
      Monday, 26th August 2024
      Fantastic place. A wealth of global and local history to see and learn about. Very well laid out and lots of child friendly information to guide you. Read full review

    Map & Directions

    Public Transport Directions

     

    Opening Times

    2024 Opening (7 Feb 2024 - 22 Dec 2024)
    Bank HolidayClosed

    * Open Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 - 16:00 (Last entry 3:30) Closed Sunday - Tuesday

    School Holidays
    Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 16:00

    Closed Bank Holidays

    Closed Sunday 22 December 2024- February 2025
    Check website for full opening information

    Awards

    • Visit BritainWe're Good to Go We're Good to Go 2020
    • Regional and MiscellaneousWTTC Safe Travels WTTC Safe Travels 2021

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