Advantages: A practical, pleasant and prosperous town
Disadvantages: But short on character and maybe even charm

...This review was originally written as a guide to Ciao members about to attend a get-together in the town of Maidstone. As a town to live in it has numerous advantages, but I find it hard to defend it against the charge of being a bit dull. Holding the Ciao Meet there was one minor attempt to liven it up. A more desperate attempt still is to be found at the end of this review, in the form of a little quiz which attendees were invited to complete, with prizes for the best entries. The answers to the quiz and the prize-winners are now shown below. I must confess to having rather mixed feelings about Maidstone. Obviously, it must have something going for it or I wouldn't have stayed here for over twenty years, but it's hard to make its attractions sound very out of the ordinary, or indeed very attractive. Maidstone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Plenty to do
Disadvantages: No football stadium yet

...Following Torr's opinion on the historical place called Maidstone, that had some fallacious facts added for good measure, I will now entice you (well, maybe) to the place with some very basic low down facts! (I have paragraphed it with headings to make skimming easier!) I chose to move to Maidstone in 1978 when I purchased my first house with my then fiancé having scouted around the outer London area, from Basildon, Crawley and Canvey Island. We decided on Maidstone because it has excellent rail and road links into central London which was of major importance in those days as we both worked up there. Maidstone still has excellent links with London and the rest of the country's motorway network, although it has missed out on the High Speed Rail Link to Europe - this can be accessed via Ashford, twenty miles further down the county... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Not far to walk most places
Disadvantages: Taxis expensive

...This is a pretty hard review to do as it depends where you want to go! It is also not going to be of a lot of interest to a lot of people. So bear with me please! I actually live in Medway as do a lot of people who go to Maidstone, particularly on a night out. Then again Maidstone attacts a lot of Kentish people from all over as it has a lot of pubs/clubs compared to other areas in Kent. Getting there: When I go to Maidstone on a night out I tend to get the bus! I feel a bit stupid all dressed up in my glad rags but after 7 o'clock Arriva do a "happy hour" where you can go anywhere for a pound. The bus service is very good and frequent and most buses take you to the Chequers centre (shopping centre) which is right in the middle of Maidstone and next to the highstreet (where it all happens!) For further info on buses depending... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great Clubs/Pubs/Bars/Restaurants/Shops
Disadvantages: A slight attitude problem with local youths.

...I have lived in the Maidstone area all my life and have had various experiences in the 22 years i've been here. SHOPPING:- Maidstone town centre has many many shops to cater for everyones needs. Sport shops, music shops, card shops you've got your Argos and also fair share of fast food restaurants. With the newly built Fremlin Walk area of the town now completed it improves the shopping even further in Maidstone. House of Fraser being my personal favourite. The Chequers Centre or The Mall as it's now called is like a mini Bluewater which again houses all your well known shops and fast food restaurants so all you shopping lovers will be in your element in Maidstone. Motor World, Matalan and B&Q are also within the town. Saturday afternoons in particlar are extremely busy so expect traffic on the roads and the streets. NIGHT... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful