Travel Information

Sustainable travel to Maidstone and getting around

Join Maidstone towards a more sustainable future

We welcome environmentally friendly visitors to Maidstone and we encourage sustainable travel. Being on 32 miles from London it is easy to reach in a day trip.  To us sustainability is a serious matter but it doesn’t mean that we have to stop enjoying our lives or the fun things that we can do whilst visiting. There is more information below but the Kent Connected app can help you get here and travel around whilst you are here enjoying yourself.

Central Maidstone has three main line train stations in the town centre Maidstone East, Maidstone West and Maidstone Barracks.  National Rail Enquiries are useful within the UK or The Trainline is very helpful in making connections across Europe.

From these stations you can enjoy everything in Maidstone Town Centre as everything is within walking distance, including a Premier Inn and a Travelodge.  Many people enjoy Maidstone Museum, Kentish Lady River Boat Trips, Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex, Mote Park – with all its attractions, Escape Rooms, The Maidstone Distillery with its interesting history, shopping, restaurants and the river.

The North South rail line across Maidstone covers Aylesford, Maidstone Barracks, East Farleigh, Wateringbury, Yalding, Beltring and Paddock Wood.

Along this line you will find The Friars at Aylesford with SUP, canoeing and cream teas at Wateringbury, Teapot Island at Yalding and The Hop Farm at Beltring. Short taxi rides to Cobtree Manor Park, The Village Hotel and Kent Life Heritage Farm Park and of course access to the North Downs and Kits Coty.

The West East line connects to Paddock Wood, Marden, Staplehurst and Headcorn. This line starts at London Charing Cross and terminates in Dover.  Anno Distillery can be found at Marden, Balfour Winery at Staplehurst (short taxi ride) and Headcorn where you can hire electric bikes and explore the countryside and the aerodrome.

Maidstone East runs West East to Bearsted, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham and Lenham before going on to Charing and Ashford.

All of the above stations have access to the North Downs and fantastic walking trails including the Pilgrims Way and the North Downs National Trail.  Bearsted close to the Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club and The Black Horse Inn and has taxis which can get you to Leeds Castle. Hollingbourne is about a 1.5 mile walk to Leeds Castle and about a 1 mile walk to Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel.  Lenham Station is the closest for Chilston Park Hotel.

From Gatwick Airport take the Gatwick Express to London Victoria and Change for Maidstone East. If you are travelling via Eurostar coming into London St Pancras International, travel out to Maidstone East or West, both work.

Welcome if you are visiting via Electric Vehicle

From Dover, Ashford International Station and the Channel Tunnel via the M20 motorway.  Maidstone is accessed from junctions 5, 6, 7 and 8. From London and the rest of the UK via the M25 and M26/M20 motorways.

We know that for families and for getting the last mile to an attraction for a day out that this is often the best form of transport.  No-one wants to walk tired children back the last mile to a railway station.  New charging points are appearing all the time.  Here are a number in Maidstone.

https://chargemap.com/cities/maidstone-GB

More information on Car Parking in Maidstone.

Electric Bikes

Our electric bike hire and tours, can hire you a bicycle for a day or a few days so that you can get around the area.  They can often meet you at a railway station so that you have transport for your onward journey. They will ensure you have charging equipment you need etc.  They are immensely helpful for those looking for a sustainable form of travel.

Group Visitors Coming by Coach

Welcome.  This is a very sustainable way to travel.  Our coach parking is free in Sittingbourne Road Car/Coach Park.  

By Bus

Maidstone is served by three bus companies, East Farleigh coaches, New Venture and Arriva Bus Company.  Arriva being the major bus company.  Major bus timetables can be viewed on line at www.arrivabus.co.uk or printed timetables can be collected from Maidstone Museum and Tourist Information, The Mall Shopping Centre and The Maidstone Link council offices.  Arriva bus services run from Monday to Sunday, restricted service on Sundays and Bank Holidays.  Maidstone Bus station can be found underneath The Mall Shopping Centre, King Street, Maidstone.

Here are a few really useful bus routes to help you get around

Maidstone Hospital via Tonbridge Road to Maidstone bus service 3.
Royal Tunbridge Wells to Maidstone via Matfield bus service 6 or five Oak Green bus service 6a, Paddock Wood & East Peckham.
Tunbridge Wells Hospital to Maidstone Hospital via Barming & Wateringbury bus service 6X.
Royal Tunbridge Wells to Maidstone via Tunbridge and Mereworth bus service 7.
Maidstone Hospital to Maidstone via Fant and Beverley Road bus service 8.
Downswood, Shepway to Maidstone bus service 4.
Vinters Park, Bearsted Green to Maidstone bus service 9.
Bearsted Green, The Landway to Maidstone bus service 11.
Penenden Heath, Boxley Road to Maidstone bus service 79.
Sandhurst, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Staplehurst to Maidstone bus service 5.
Tenterden, Biddenden, Headcorn to Maidstone bus service 12.
Grafty Green, Kingswood to Maidstone bus service 59.
Parkwood to Maidstone bus service 82.
Senacre Wood to Maidstone bus service 85.
Coxheath to Maidstone bus service 89.
Snodland, Larkfield to Maidstone bus service 71.
Leybourne Park, Larkfield to Maidstone bus service 71A.
Kingshill, West Malling, Larkfield to Maidstone bus service 72.
Sittingbourne to Maidstone bus service 333 & 334.
Kings Hill, West Malling Station to Maidstone bus service X1 & X2.
Gillingham, Chatham to Maidstone bus service 101.

Maidstone is also served by a park and ride service Mondays to Saturdays running every 20 minutes. 
Willington Street to Maidstone bus service 501
London Road to Maidstone bus service 503