What To See and Do When You Stay in Maidstone
Maidstone in Kent has a wide variety of wonderful attractions in and around it that you can enjoy. The town caters for young and old alike and below we look at a few of the attractions which are popular with visitors to this town.
Leeds Castle – This castle can trace its history back to Norman times and was home to six different medieval English queens and also King Henry VIII more recently was bought by an American heiress in 1926. The heiress, Lady Baillie, was the last private person to own the castle and decided to restore it to its former glory and then in 1974 she founded the charitable trust, called the Leeds Castle Foundation, to keep it up together.
The castle is only a few minutes drive from Maidstone itself and you can travel back through over a thousand years of history on your visit. As well as spending time exploring the castle’s rooms and examine the numerous tapestries, paintings, furnishings and other antiques the castle also offers plenty of things to see and do outdoors as well. Children visiting will enjoy the Kinght’s Realm playground and the turf maze as well as watching the birds in the aviary. Plus why not go and watch the exhibition of Falconry or spend time yourself in the other maze and grotto. Golfers can test their skill at the golf course in the castle’s grounds.
Stoneacre – Is a National Trust site and the main building goes back to the fifteenth century and has wonderful gardens, orchards and meadows for its visitors to explore. Plus inside there is the Great Hall and Crownpost to be viewed. That said, the property is still privately owned and is actually someone’s home.
Hop Farm Country Park – If you have children and you want to tire them out a bit this is the perfect place to spend a day at. Inside, there is a museum but there is discovery world, a display of military vehicles, as well as shire horses and an various farm animals. Plus there are both indoor and outdoor adventure play grounds for the children to enjoy and use up some of their boundless energy.
The Museum Of Kent Life – This is a place where you can view a variety of historic buildings which show you what life would have been like in the so-called “Garden of England” that Kent is referred to over the last 150 years. Along with the farm animals for children to get close to there is also herb, hop and kitchen gardens for one to explore. Furthermore there is an adventure playground for children to explore.
When you stay in Maidstone, choose your Maidstone hotel or guest house here.
