Accessibility

Maidstone welcomes visitors with limited mobility and accessibility challenges. The hotels and attractions have worked hard to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable visit, so you can relax and enjoy your stay or day out.

Of course some attractions are in ancient and listed buildings* and therefore may have limited access. However everyone at these attractions will be welcoming and will try to ensure you have a great day and can enjoy as much of it as possible.

A dementia friendly walk in Mote Park allows visitors to enjoy a safe, enjoyable route around the park. The walk which is approximately one-mile long, features a mix of visual interpretation panels and audio posts, and walkers are also encouraged to feel the bark textures on certain individual trees. There is a leaflet including a map to accompany the walk, that can be picked up at Maidstone Visitor Information.

Accessibility to shops, the town centre, restaurants and services is generally very good but we do appreciate that mobility can be difficult in the heritage areas that are paved with cobbles and flagstones. There are many other places in the town that do have a more comfortable route for wheelchairs and for the visually impaired. The AccessAble website provides an online guide where you can check access concerns at hundreds of shops, pubs and restaurants.

Accessible Accommodation

Many accommodation providers are able to cater for people with a range of disabilities. Have a look at our guide to accessible accommodation in Maidstone, but do contact the establishment direct to discuss your individual requirements.

Visitor Information

Maidstone Visitor Information is fully accessible and has a hearing loop. It is located in Maidstone Museum and has street level access. To further aid customers all staff have received training in either Disability Awareness or "Welcome All".

Accessible Shopping Centres

The Mall Maidsotne has accessible parking bays on level 2 of the multi-story car park and on level 7 of the roof top car park. Ramps and lifts then provide access to all floors. To hire a manual wheelchair these can be booked on 01622 691130 and collected from the Ask Me point between Matalan and New Look on the middle level.

The Mall has accessible toilets on the 2nd floor which is free of charge and accessed with a radar key.  An emergency alarm inside is there for your peace of mind. A freshen up facility is also available on the 2nd floor adjacent to Iceland.  The Mall prides itself on the comfort and standards of these toilet facilities.

The Mall has a quiet hour every day for those who find crowds and loud noises disturbing. Music is switched off along with loud product demos.

Sunflower lanyards, which are universally recognised for people with hidden disabilities to signal that help may be required is understood.  Lanyards can be purchased from https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/ 

Baby Fresh

The Mall Chequers Centre, has provided a baby fresh room where you can change your baby, or feed your baby in a comfortable clean area.  Soft seating and a small soft play area is provided which those with more than one small child find very helpful.

A Few Other Tips on Accessiblity which you might find helpful.

 * Sometimes the preservation of buildings does not allow for wheelchair access to all parts of it but often there will be a book of photographs or a DVD or articles from that part of the property that you can look at or handle, to help you get the most from your day out. Occasionally it is simply that corridors are not wide enough or there are spiral staircases in towers and it is impossible to make those corridors wider or to put in a lift. We appreciate your understanding in these matters and feel sure you will also want to preserve these buildings for the future.

We also understand that lots of people with accessible needs also enjoy the natural world and find it relaxing to get out of an urban environment from time to time. Maidstone River Park run along the river through the heart of Maidstone and the further your travel along it more rural it becomes.  There are also some fantastic wildlife opportunities to witness along the way. Watch our for wild flowers, kingfishers and a hots of wild fowl, all easily accessible from your wheels.  The Old Boat Cafe is a great favourite as well, as you pull up alongside order your food and go to a table and they bring food to you.  Works really well with scooters and wheelchairs.  They also have an accessible toilet.  Love Food at Lockmeadow also offers a brilliant selection of food and ramps make everything easy.  Great outdoor area too.

Keep an eye open to for our Heart of Kent Walking Festival as we have "scooter friendly" walks lead by a scooter user, which gets you well out into the rural areas.

Visit Maidstone hopes you enjoy some of these tips.