Maidstone is a large town in the centre of Kent with rail links to London and the south east of England and Europe through the neighbouring town of Ashford. There are also motorway links using the M20 and M2 nearby for easy access to the major motorway networks throughout the UK and onto Europe. The Euro Tunnel is approximately 40 minutes' drive to the east of Maidstone via the M20 motorway on which Maidstone is situated and the ferry port of Dover to Europe 10 minutes further on.
Maidstone is well catered for in terms of education in all sectors, nursery, junior, senior, grammar and private schools. The link below to the government website provides details of all 250 schools and their relevant details such as Ofsted inspection and exam grades within 10 miles of Maidstone and the surrounding area.
Schools and colleges in and near “Maidstone, Kent” - GOV.UK - Find and compare schools in England (compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk)
The area to the west of Maidstone has large towns such as Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks and being larger towns like Maidstone they all have excellent rail links to London and the south coast. Each are also well served with all aspects of schooling and each known for their surrounding recreational facilities. The area to the east has towns such as Ashford and, on the coast, Folkstone and Dover. The area to the north covers the north Kent coastline from Dartford through to Margate and Ramsgate with smaller but no lesser interesting places in-between such as Whitstable, famous for its annual Oyster festival.
The triangular area encompassing Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells has a plethora of villages in both large and small proportions. From the larger residential areas such as Kingshill, Borough Green and Larkfield to the historical small villages of Ivey Hatch, Basted, Offham, Trottiscliffe and not forgetting the beautiful riverside villages of East and West Farleigh, Wateringbury and Yalding and the lakeside residential area around Leybourne Lakes, the whole area has something to suit all living tastes.
The north and east triangle encompasses Dartford in the north east to Margate and Ramsgate on the eastern tip to Folkstone and the Romney Marshes in the south east, with the city of Canterbury and the town of Ashford within the triangle. In this area there is also a plethora of larger and smaller villages and plenty of countryside in between. Kent villages full of history, charm and interest are here in abundance, Faversham and Chilham abound with history, Lenham has its central square charm, Smarden, a beautiful village, some suggest the best in England, with a reputation of also being the most haunted village in the country, the list is endless.
As you would expect from a large town in the centre of the garden of England, Maidstone is blessed with plenty of recreational activities and many sports both indoor and outdoor for all age groups.
Equestrian and riding activities, boating, power boating, paddle boarding, surfing, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking & canoeing, swimming, orienteering, shooting, fishing, rugby, football, tennis, cricket, bowls, basketball, canoeing, gymnastics, athletics, boxing and cycling amongst others are all well catered for.
With the world renowned Aspinall Foundation/Wildlife Reserve at Port Lymph, a big cat sanctuary and various other wildlife animal sanctuaries, Kent is also worth discovering for those interested in animals and wildlife preservation.
Walking and hiking around Maidstone or the wider area of Kent is covered by many walks to explore and enjoy the amazing countryside and it will not be long before you understand why Kent is called the Garden of England. Walk or hike along rivers, around ponds and lakes, through woodland and forest trails, along sea walls and sandy beaches or just enjoy the Great British countryside in all its glory throughout the seasons.
Walking in and around Maidstone - Why not walk around Maidstone and the surrounding area to get to know the town, the history and wonderful countryside.
With over 80 walks in and around Maidstone, the link below to John Harris's Walking England is a good place to start.
https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/kent/maidstone.php
Kent has something for everyone and every taste, from stunning countryside to beaches and sea air, bustling towns to beautiful villages, a bounty of fruit orchards, hope farms and vine fields. From rivers, lakes, and estuaries to fishing and see ports. The great outdoors with enjoyable climate. Good road and rail links and easy access to airports. With established historic housing and new property developments, ranging from comfy cottages to town apartments, waterfront properties to large family homes and over 30 castles, it really does have something for everyone and with Maidstone having two castles and being centrally located in Kent, its why we are based here in the village of Allington which has its own castle.