I appologise for disappearing on you all but I'm so busy with uni work and placements that I have ve...
I appologise for disappearing on you all but I'm so busy with uni work and placements that I have very little free time, hope your all well and trust me i wish i had more time on my hands! xxx
Member since:15.09.2006
Reviews:13
Members who trust:18
Just thought I'd tell you a little more about my home town where I have lived since I was born…
(Street maps etc can be found on www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk or www.tour-maidstone.co.uk and for more generalised maps try www.multimap.co.uk)
*****Location and History *****
It is located in the South East in Kent, aka 'The Garden of England'. Mainly known for its green fields, farming and hop production. Things have changed now with the increase in technology and demand for housing in the South East with housing developments being built left, right and centre on any land possible. Maidstone used to be quite an industrial area using the River Medway as transport for its goods from factories like Fremlins for brewing and Sharps (taken over by Trebor Basset) as well as paper making and a local market. This soon faded out with the demand for service industries and tourism becoming more prominent than ever before. It has a current population of almost 139,000.
*****Accessibility*****
Access from the M20, National Express or general bus services. Also has three train stations, two main ones, cycle routes into the town and full pedestrian access. Overall generally really good rush hour the one-way system takes a while, but that's kind of expected!
*****Shops*****
There are various areas around Maidstone for shopping. The council is currently using the slogan, 'Great to Visit, Great to shop' with its recent development of the Fremlins walk and the change in management of the Chequers Centre over to The Mall company. I wont be able to list all the shops we have but I'll give it a go and give you an overview for you to judge what is available.
----------------Week Street----------------
This is sort of the 'High Street', which leads to all areas. Sadly this area was declining after some main shops moved in to the Fremlins complex, shifting slightly the core of the area. Shops include; phone shops, pound shops, HSBC, Bradford and Bingley, Millets, Woolworths, C&H Fabrics, Marks and Spenser's, Blue Inc, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, River Island, Sussex Stationary, BW1, Superdrug, Primark, Maplains, Blockbuster, Mad House, Clarks, Thornton's, MotherCare, Thomson, Monson, Accessorize and Argos.
----------------High Street/ Bank Street/ Gabriel's Hill----------------
The majority of this area is taxi and buses only with pedestrian crossings at various points.
Shops include; Natwest, Nationwide, Abbey National, Portland Building Society, Britannia Building Society, Claire's Accessories, individual jewellery shops, Somerfields, Café
Nero, Coffee Romba, Blacks, Hubble & Freeman, Bridal shops, kitchen and interior design shops, music shop, art/gallery shop, Past Times, QS, Argos, Post Office, Evans, Golden Boot and Lush.
----------------Fremlins Walk----------------
The new shopping development that opened in May 2005 has a wide range of shops mainly aimed at the younger market to ensure that locals shop here and not elsewhere like Bluewater or the Ashford Retail Outlet. The only toilets available in Fremlins are four cubicles hiding at the back of House of Fraser.
Shops include: House of Fraser, USC, Thomas Cook, HMV, Shoe Express, Body Shop, Waterstones, H&M, Topshop, Topman, principles, JJB Sports, Jane Norman, Hotel Chocolat, Next, Goldsmiths, Ernest Jones, Fraser Heart, Beaverbrooks, Suits 4 U, Orange, Schuh, Early Learning Center, Clintons cards, Pumpkin Patch, Claire's Accessories, Boros, Republic, Wallis, Zara, Barrats, Faith, Fluke, Qube, Boots, La Sensa, Build A Bear, Timpsons, JD Sports, Thomas Cook and Oasis. All areas are level and part of each side is a covered walk way, some benches and a courtyard area leading to the museum. Open till six on a Saturday
This is the main and traditional shopping centre with the bus station attached, it is on three levels, close by is a large Sainsbury's. Toilets are available here which are cleaned regularly. This has recently been taken over by the Mall Company who has been helping to improve the area.
Shops here include; Boots, BHS, Miss Selfridges, Next, Bay Trading Co, New Look, Holland and Barrett, H Samuels, Hawkins Bazaar, Superdrug, Formative Fun, Morgan, Peacocks, Curry's, Wilkinsons, Mark One, Gamley's Toy store, Going Places, First Choice, Adams, Bon Marche, Clinton's Cards, Jessops, Iceland, Officers Club, TJ Hughes, Warren Jones.
www.themall.co.uk
----------------The Royal Star Arcade----------------
This area is for more specialist shops at the higher end of the market. There is an indoor area which leads to an outside cobbled walk way. For example; gift shops, shoe shops, women's and men's clothing, bridal shop, artwork shop, interior design shop, hairdressers.
----------------Union Street----------------
This would be classed as the zone of decay and the shops here include; nail bars, hairdressers, take aways, dress agency, tile shop, electronics shop and sandwich bar.
----------------St Peters St (and One-Way System)----------------
This area is slightly out of the centre and is located in the outer core region. This area has its own car parking facilities. This includes; Matalan, Lidl, Karen Millen Outlet, (in the Broadway Centre which has free car park for two hours) Hobby Craft, T-K Max (share a free car park) Fabric Warehouse and Lincon Pine Warehouse (share a small free car park) and Wikes Extra (is massive in side and has ample free parking). Development is currently happening here.
Thursday night is late night shopping till 8pm.
*****Entertainment*****
The nightlife includes the following bars, restaurants and clubs, overall I gather there is quite a good range to suit most peoples tastes. There is also an Odeon cinema and Gala Bingo.
Society Rooms and Muggleton Inn which are Wetherspoons, Strawberry Moons, River bar, Chicargo Rock Cafe, Ikon, Jumpin Jacks, Hot Shots, Source bar with a DJ and live music, The Loft which is dance music and changes to Subs on a Friday for indie music and various other bars and pubs on the way to the main clubs at Lockmeadow.
This houses 450 acres of mature parkland with a 30-acre lake that is fantastic for feeding the ducks. It also provides a wide range of activities including Pitch and Putt (18 holes), children's play area which has recently been re-designed with skateboarding facilities too, horse riding (with a permit only), miniature railway on Sunday afternoons 2.30-5.30pm March till Nov, run by the local steam railway society which charges 20p a ride, a café and toilets. Car parking is available.
----------------Whatman Park/Millennium River Walk----------------
Parking here is extremely limited. It is landscape park land with toilets, benches, walk ways, lighting, three footbridges, young children's play area, children's play area, sculpture, skateboard park, bandstand for regular council events like fireworks and proms in the park. It is part of a 10km river walk along the towpath. There are also river boat trips from here and the waters of the Medway are used by the rowing and canoeing clubs regularly.
----------------Brenchley Park----------------
This is a smaller green area with a band stand for events but used less likely now that Whatman is open, toilets are available, there are many benches, trees and flower beds regularly kept by the council, ideal secluded area to go for your lunch break in the fresh air.
*****Cleanliness*****
All areas are regularly maintained, mainly by the council. Maidstone also has released various cleaning campaigns, 'Maidstone Matters', as well as introducing a 75GBP fine for dropping litter, chewing gum or cigarettes. There are many bins located along the main shopping areas to ensure Maidstone tries to improve its environment and image.
*****Things To Do*****
----------------Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery----------------
This is housed in an Elizabethan manor and is great for school projects with varying exhibitions on show. These range from dolls houses, Egyptian mummies, art work, animals, dinosaurs, Japanese, Victorian clothing and many more. There is also a café and gift shop and admission is free.
----------------Millennium River Walk----------------
As Above.
----------------Town Hall Tour----------------
Available from the Tourist Information found in the Town Hall first Tuesday of each month. Entry is free. My brother and his friend stayed in the jail cell up there for a sponsored scout event and the mayor and secretary were really helpful and friendly to arrange the whole thing around their meetings etc. It's worth a look!
----------------Carriage Museum----------------
This is situated in the 14th century stables of the Archbishops' Palace, housing a unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles, including Royal and state carriages and is known as 'the finest collection in Europe.' Entry is free.
----------------River Cruise----------------
The Kentish Lady is available for pick ups/drop offs from three points along the Medway, 3GBP return for an adult and 1GBP per child return.
www.kentishlady.co.uk
----------------Market----------------
A Tuesday and Saturday morning markets are held at the Lockmeadow complex with a range of products on sale including fresh fruit and vegetables.
----------------Leeds Castle----------------
500 acres of parkland with a castle built in AD 857 and moat which used to be Henry VIII as well as an aviary of over 100 species of endangered birds, a maze and grotto, a dog collar museum (a bit random), gift shop, and café. I really love it here and would recommend it to anyone. It is quite pricey but there is something for everyone. Children's activities are organised in school holidays etc. they annually have wine and a vintage cars/ balloon festival as well as various concerts like Elton Johnand Simply Red and Proms in the Park. We used to have annual membership here and was lovely just for an afternoon out so the membership didn't seem as bad. (Couldn't find prices I'm afraid but they are often changing the membership options and pricing!) car parking is free, golf buggies and shuttle bus are provided for those not wishing to walk through the gardens to the castle.
*****Location*****
7 miles east of Maidstone, Junction 8 of the M20 motorway just 1¼ hours from London, 30 minutes from the Channel Tunnel and Channel Ports.
*****Price****
*Admission to Castle, Gardens and Attractions* Adults: £13.50 Senior Citizens & Students: £11.00 Children (4-15): £9.00 Friends of Leeds Castle membership from: £35.00 ( So three entries and your annual membership is paid off)
----------------Museum of Rural Kent Life----------------
This is a museum set a side for illustrating the lives of those who lived and worked in the 'Garden of England'. There are many interactive displays, workshhets, quizzes and activities for children including traditional craft activities including; stained glass, pottery, farm animal talks, 1940's cookery, beekeeping, art and blacksmith demonstrations. I remember making hand made candles here form the beeswax when I was little! As well as visiting the old hop pickers huts where families would move down to Kent from London as a holiday to pick hops. School and group trips are often arranged (3GBP per child for this arrangement).
Adults - £7.00 Seniors - £5.50 Children 3-13 years - £5.00 Under 3 years - FREE OF CHARGE Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 children) - £20.00
www.museum-kentlife.co.uk
*****Overall*****
Maidstone does have a wide range of facilities from shops, parks and family days out. I love living here, one hour from London but not the hustle and bustle a few minutes walk and you can find some green space somewhere!
I hope I have given you an incite into what is available in my home town and that you may visit one day to learn a little bit about what used to go on in Maidstone or to do some Christmas shopping!
Ah good old Maidstone! Yes your review is very E worthy, I'm impressed. Maidstone has all these things going on, but I never seem to notice. It feels very small to me. x
Chouchinciao 29.11.2006 17:08
Good comprehensive round-up. I think the rejuvenation of Earl Street and its eateries recently has helped the centre a lot.
alleycat01 27.11.2006 15:15
I often have to work in Miadstone and never realised there was so much there! Now I know! alley x
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