Maidstone

Away from the coast are the five towns known as the Heart of Kent. Discover the area’s past and present in Maidstone, in Ashford, in Tonbridge, in Sevenoaks and in Royal Tunbridge Wells. 

Take a walk along the River Medway when you’re in Maidstone.  Or join a boat trip along the river to the Museum of Kent Life where you can learn about the people who lived and worked in this lovely area. 

Don’t miss Whatman Park, a new recreational area in Maidstone with adventure playgrounds, nature walks and the Riverside Stage area.

Nightlife is good in Maidstone.  You might fancy a play, ballet, opera or drama in the Hazlitt Theatre or the Exchange.

Visit the near perfect Leeds Castle when you are in Maidstone, it’s everything you want a Castle to be.

Over in Ashford you can follow the heritage trail that will take you around the narrow alleys known as Middle Row.  You can even go designer outlet shopping when you are in Ashford – visit the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet.

There’s also a castle in Tonbridge.  Tonbridge Castle is one of England’s best examples of a motte and bailey castle and has great views over the town.  Take an audio tour of the Gatehouse and explore the grounds.

The Heart of Kent is known for lovely English Countryside, great gardens, hopfields, orchards, oast houses and historic houses.  There’s Chartwell, home of Winston Churchill and Hever Castle, the home of Anne Boleyn.  Sissinghurst Castle Garden is the creation of Vita Sackville-West who lived in Knole House in Sevenoaks, the largest private house in the country.