UK Travel Guide - Life in Maidstone

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4th January 2009 - by James Bevis

Life in Maidstone

Situated right in the centre of Kent, Maidstone could be described as the heart of the county. With its mix of lively bars, restaurants and shopping facilities combined with rural village attractions steeped in history, Maidstone has something for everyone. It’s not just a great place to visit though, due to the central location, travel an hour either way and you could find yourself in London or France!

A direct train line to London Victoria will see you arrive in under the hour, while the Docks at Dover are around 35 miles south of the town centre, making it an ideal place to live for those working in or around London who don’t want the hectic lifestyle associated with the capital. It’s not just city workers who will find the transport links useful, there are also four motorway junctions which allow access to the M20 and M25, making travel around the country as easy as possible.

Maidstone already houses over 140,000 resident s but yet never feels crowded. There is a real sense of industry about the town and that is backed up by unemployment figures of just over 1 (March 2005) and that seems to lend itself to a calm and pleasant atmosphere. This is underpinned by a great choice of educational facilities including primary, secondary and grammar schools which can be followed on by students looking to further their education with a selection of colleges and also The University College for the Creative which has already produced famous designers Zandra Rhodes and Karen Millen. For those looking for a degree to get an extra step ahead, there is a also a choice of The University of Kent and The University of Greenwich within a short distance.

So are you tempted yet? You’ve got the ideal location for work; the kids are sorted for schools, but what else is there? Lots! If you love shopping you’ll be pleased to know that Maidstone has made it into the top 50 shopping locations in the UK thanks to its mix of well known high street brands in two shopping centres combined with boutiques and smaller shops sprawled throughout the old town streets.

Shopping not your thing? Don’t worry; Maidstone can still keep you entertained with any number of things including its lively Nightlife. A selection of trendy cafe’s, bars and traditional pubs are complimented by a selection of clubs and late night bars for those of you who like to burn the candle at both ends, don’t worry about drinking on an empty stomach either...there are well over 50 restaurants in the town catering for every taste imaginable.

Sound a bit too lively? Fear not, there are plenty of places to escape to. Mote Park is a large and beautifully landscaped area just perfect for that picnic on a summer’s day. Had too much to eat already? Why not burn it off with a relaxing walk in the Maidstone Millennium River Park which has more than 6 Miles of river banks to explore by foot or cycle. Or if that just sounds a bit too sedate you could try your hand at pitch and putt or go all out and join one of many of Maidstone’s sports teams. In short, whatever you’re looking for, the chances are Maidstone has it!