Maidstone Museums

Type:Museum

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

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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, 7th February 2024 - Saturday, 1st June 2024

Graham Clarke ArtworkGraham Clarke: A Retrospective – 65 Years of PrintmakingThe exhibition will be an opportunity to see a vast collection of Graham’s etchings, watercolours and block prints, alongside sketchbooks and paraphernalia used to inspire and produce his work.
more info

Saturday, 30th March 2024 - Saturday, 30th March 2024

Family Films at Maidstone Museum graphicFamily Films at Maidstone Museum - Wallace and Gromit; The Curse of the Were-RabbitJoin Maidstone Museum for a screening of Wallace and Gromit; The Curse of the Were-Rabbit in their beautiful library.
more info

Tuesday, 2nd April 2024 - Thursday, 4th April 2024

Tuesday, 9th April 2024 - Thursday, 11th April 2024

Easter CraftsEaster Holiday: Make It! SessionsJoin Maidstone Museum this Easter for a range of animal themed crafts, inspired by animals in their collection.
more info

Friday, 5th April 2024 - Friday, 5th April 2024

Friday, 12th April 2024 - Friday, 12th April 2024

Children doing crafts at Maidstone MuseumSEND Family Friday – Animal Crafts – Easter Holiday 2024Maidstone Museum are creating some SEND friendly craft activities for families with children with SEND and their siblings.
more info

Saturday, 4th May 2024 - Saturday, 4th May 2024

Spring Craft Market graphicSpring Craft MarketMaidstone Museum are holding a Spring Craft Market on Saturday 4 May, 10am to 3pm.
more info

Tuesday, 28th May 2024 - Tuesday, 28th May 2024

Family Films at Maidstone Museum graphicFamily Films at Maidstone Museum - PaddingtonJoin Maidstone Museum for a screening of Paddington in our beautiful library.
more info

Saturday, 15th June 2024 - Saturday, 7th September 2024

I Grew Up 80sI Grew Up 80s ExhibitionAn entire generation has a chance to wallow in nostalgia with the fantastic exhibition, I Grew Up 80s (as seen on TV, BBC Breakfast).
more info

Saturday, 22nd June 2024 - Saturday, 22nd June 2024

Family Films at Maidstone Museum graphicFamily Films at Maidstone Museum - Strange WorldTo help celebrate Pride this year, Maidstone Museum are screening Strange World, Disney’s first film to have a lead character who is openly part of the LGBTQ+ community.
more info

Saturday, 22nd June 2024 - Saturday, 22nd June 2024

Movie Night GraphicMovie Night at Maidstone Museum - MoonlightIn celebration of Pride 2024, Maidstone Museum are showing the Oscar winning film Moonlight.  
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:

    • Sam T
      Faversham, United Kingdom
      Fun, informative, and interactive
      5 of 5 stars
      Thursday, 12th October 2023
      Visited MM today with primary school year 4. Ros delivered an informative, fun and interactive workshop that all the children enjoyed. The workshop provided the perfect build up to the main event... Read full review
    • 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

    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 Tuesday 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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