Tours and Sightseeing

Kent has a wealth of heritage, countryside and culture to explore and there are many ways to enjoy the Maidstone area.

Boat Tours

An excellent way to discover more about the River Medway and its history is to take a boat trip on the Kentish Lady. She travels from her mooring in the town centre to East Farleigh and to Allington Lock. Trips vary during different seasons and can be two hours, three hours or just half-an-hour down the River from the town centre to Allington Lock. For sightseeing under your own steam hire a self-driver cruiser and explore the river at your own pace.  Check the Kentish Lady page for trips to Allington Castle and Gardens.  

Bike Tours

UK Electric Bike Tours at Headcorn have a wide range of electric bikes for you to try or buy.  They also offer some exceptional tours with maps, where you can discover quiet country lanes, vineyards, castles, glorious pub lunches, farm shops and delightful fun and exploration of Kent. 

Guided Tours

Maidstone offers a number of options for guided tours. Our local guides offer different types of tours, from historical walks around the town to exploring some of the villages that have great histories. Some exclusive tours are available to private properties not generally open to the public. There are also tours which take in workshops and heritage tours or fruit production.  To find a guide put Guides into the search box and it will select a list for you to choose from under the attractions tab.
UK Electric bike hire also offer some guided and some self-guided tours. They may take in historical locations, some vineyards, pubs and farm shops full of local produce.  

Maidstone has a historical town walking tour, which is self-guided that you can download. Here you can discover where the battles were fought, where Maidstone led the way in the Peasants Revolt and where King Henry VIII stayed.

Group Tours

Many of our attractions offer group tours which can be exclusive or shared with another small group. Leeds Castle offer a variety of behind the scenes tours, and Kent Life Heritage Farm Park tours give a flavour of past rural lives in the Kentish Countryside.  Kentish Lady Boat Trips are relaxing, interesting and great for spotting the wildlife along the river banks.

Our vineyards in this part of Kent offer amazing group visits, with tastings and opportunities to purchase some of these world class products.  Balfour Winery has a new visitors centre and Biddenden Vineyards have been a favourite with groups for many years.  Both places offer exceptional knowledge about viticulture and winemaking in England.  Chapel Down Vineyards have recently planted vines on the chalk at the foot of the North Downs at Boxley and Kits Coty. 

Gin has featured strongly in Maidstone’s past, in the 1800 producing 5000 gallons a week.  Maidstone is still active in producing gin.  The boutique distillery The Maidstone Distillery and the larger Anno Gin Distillery offer group tours.

Maidstone Museum can provide tours with their curators into the archives and behind the scenes.  These are fascinating and the subject can be tailored to your group.  It could be fashion, cloth production, Egypt and mummification, watercolours, old masters or any one of a great many interesting subjects.

Day Trips

Maidstone is the perfect place in Kent to base yourself to explore all the castles and gardens of Kent. The Kentish Lady works well with a trip to Kent Life or to Maidstone Museum. Leeds Castle is a wonderful trip in its own right with so much to do and see on the one site.

Exploring the villages on a driving tour and finding a great little pub for lunch can make a perfect day out along with a walk along the river. Try the water meadows from Teston Country Park to Wateringbury where you can stop and take in a cream tea at the boat yard making a lovely afternoon.

If you are bringing your own bicycles then a ride along the tow path is great with a stop for coffee, lunch or tea.

Film Location Tours

The Kent countryside has long attracted film and TV producers looking for authentic buildings and beautiful scenery to stage their productions. It has also provided inspiration to authors such as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Now you can explore some of the most iconic locations on a series of trails (some will require a car to drive between stops, while others can be done by bike or on foot). Visit Kent Movie Map and select the trail you're interested in for more details.

Don't forget

Keep your eyes on our What’s On pages. They are full of wonderful days out at special events. There are workshops, music festivals and sporting spectaculars all to be enjoyed.