| ABOUT MAIDSTONE | 
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| All
Saints' Church in Mill Street was originally a Saxon site and rebuilt in the 14th
Century An
audio guide is available from the Visitor Information Centre in the Town Hall
as well as guided walks (phone 01622 602169). The Town Hall is a fine Georgian
building dating from 1762 and above the council chamber is the old prison cell
where prisoners were held awaiting deportation. Maidstone
is also an excellent shopping centre and is known as one of the best retail centres
in the South East with a traditional covered stall market operating at Lockmeadow
Market on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. There are 2 main covered shopping malls,
the Chequers Centre with a range of popular high street names, and Royal Star
Arcade, with a variety of designer fashion outlets, in March 2005 the new Fremlins
Walk shopping centre opened. There
is a vibrant night life in Maidstone with a wide range of pubs, bars and restaurants
and over 10 nightclubs in the town centre. Live bands playa range of music from
jazz to blues, rock and country. The Lockmeadow Entertainment Complex includes
8-screen Odeon Multiplex cinema, nightclub restaurants, cafes and bars close to
the town centre. |
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King
Street Hotel Bed and Breakfast Accommodation 74 King Street Maidstone Kent ME14 1BH | |||||||||||||||
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Maidstone
is the County Town of Kent and was in the past a centre of religion and government.
Steeped in history, there are many 14th century buildings including the Archbishops'
Palace and the College of Priests, and the Archbishops Stables. This wonderful
medieval Palace was originally built for the Archbishops of Canterbury and is
now mainly used for weddings as Maidstone's Register Office. In the grounds, a
traditional apothecary's herb garden is open to the public.
and
is called "the grandest Perpendicular church in England". 
The
River Medway has a 10 km length walk from Teston to Allington set in a lovely
park along its banks with nature trail and adventure playground and river boat
trips can be taken from Archbishops' Palace.