Mote Park

About

Discover why Mote Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Maidstone. Find out how this magnificent park has survived since medieval times and what there is to see and do here now.

An Award-Winning Park

Mote Park is a huge green space in the heart of Maidstone and is extremely popular with both visitors and locals alike. In 2015, it placed third in the People’s Choice for their Favourite Green Flag Park. Covering over 450 acres, it includes natural features such as grassland, woodland, rivers and a 30 acre lake. The vast numbers of mature trees create a beautiful, tranquil landscape offering cool shade in the summer and glorious colour in autumn. It is also home to over-wintering birds, many of whom stay to nest and raise their chicks here in the spring. 

Things to Do in Mote Park

Walking and Cycling

Mote Park is great for walking and cycling with lots of paths and trails to follow throughout the park. For the more adventurous, there is a BMX track. This is great fun and free and, with practice, it’s possible to get faster at completing the course. The jumps and spins add an extra dimension and the track offers a great challenge for those bringing their bikes on holiday.

Model Railway

Model enthusiasts will love the model railway. Operated by the Maidstone Model Engineering Society, this is ideal for all the family. It runs every Sunday during British Summer Time and on Boxing Day from 2.30pm to 5pm.  Cost is 30p per ride.  Model boats can also be found on the lake. These are organised and run by The Maidstone Cygnets Model Boat Club.

Children's Play Areas

The fantasic play areas are enjoyed by many families, including a natural woodland play area for ages 8 to 15 years and a skate park.To keep the kids entertained, there are two children’s play areas. The largest is near the main car park and a smaller area can be found near the School Lane entrance.

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Mote Park Outdoor Adventure

Plenty of adrenaline filled action to try. Climb high on the 32ft Sky Trail or the 32ft Climbing Wall. There are ground level actvities too, with a Segway course or  9 holes of Dino Mini Golf. Open weekends Easte to October and daily through the school holidays. Find out more about Mote Park Outdoor Adventure

Mote Park Watersport Centre

Water babies are spoilt for choice withy a variety of sailing, boating, diving and swimming facilities on the lake. You can try out rowing and windsurfing too, or just get the family into a pedalo swan and explore the islands, reeds and trees. Open all year round for kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, boat hire and more. The lake is a very safe venue with shallow waters, no boat traffic and no moving currents. Find out more about Mote Park Watersport Centre

Events and Festivals

Mote Park plays host to a variety of events throughout the year. These include large music festivals, ticketed events, outdoor theatre and charity fun runs. Smaller events are also organised by the volunteers, such as wildlife data capture and bird/bat watching. Check out Events in Mote Park for more details about dates and times.

Food and Drink

The new Mote Park Café is now open. An exciting menu of tasty dishes, hot and cold drinks, light bites and snacks are available.

Sports Facilities

Mote Park is a great place to get active. Whatever your current fitness level or sporting interest, you are sure to find something to suit you. 

Maidstone Leisure Centre

The centre backs on to the park and includes a fitness pool, diving pool, teaching pools and a leisure pool with waves and flume. The centre also has a fitness gym, sports hall, children’s play area and café making it an ideal venue whatever the weather. If you prefer to exercise in the open air, then head towards the main car park in Mote Park where you will find some outdoor training equipment. Find out more about Maidstone Leisure Centre

Angling 

Keen fishermen can apply for a daily permit to fish in the park. You will need your rod licence to buy a permit and the service is managed by Maidstone Victory Angling and Medway Preservation Society. To buy a permit, you will need a rod licence. You need to bring a copy of your rod licence with you to get the permit. They are £6 a day for adults and £3 a day for children.   Permits are available online for members of  Maidstone Victory Angling and Medway Preservation Society.

Permits can also be purchased at::

Mote Cricket Club

The cricket club provides cricket facilities for all levels and has existed at the park since 1857. Maidstone Rugby Club also has a long association with the park having been founded in 1880. It plays at the cricket club in Mote Park. 

Football and Rugby Pitches

There are many public football and rugby pitches available for hire. Find out more about hiring a football pitch

Mote Park Indoor Bowls Club

This is a private members club with 8 rinks, a restaurant and bar. New members are always welcome.

A Brief History

Mote Park was originally the main water source for a Roman villa. Then, in later years, Mote Park House became a country estate and the owners planted and developed the park around their home. The original mansion house was demolished in 1793 and rebuilt by 1800. At this time, the River Len was also dammed to form the lake and internal roads were added, along with walls, a boathouse and a bridge over the lake (now demolished). The lake was then expanded to 30 acres and surrounding land was purchased to extend the park.

The park was bought by Maidstone Borough Council in 1929 at a cost of £50,000 and is now looked after by the Council and an amazing team of volunteers.

Parking

There are three car parks, all with disabled parking.

All the money raised goes back into maintaining the park.

Disabled Parking

Parking is free for blue badge holders, if all the bays are full you may park in a standard bay so long as the blue badge is clearly on display.

The bays are located at:

• Mote Park Main (next to Café) has 13 disabled bays
• School Lane has 2 disabled bays
• Burning Ground has 2 disabled bays

Get Involved

Mote Park Fellowship is a group of volunteers who help to look after and maintain the park. 

For parks related enquiries please email the Parks and Open Spaces Team at Maidstone Borough Council

For events and filming permission please email the Events Team at Maidstone Borough Council

For general information about visiting Mote Park please contact Maidstone Visitor Information on 01622 602169 or email Maidstone Visitor Information