| Maidstone | |
|---|---|
| Town and non-metropolitan district | |
 From top left: River Medway with Maidstone's historic All Saints Church, County Hall, Leeds Castle, Mote Park, The Mall Maidstone shopping centre. | |
  Maidstone Location within Kent | |
| Population | 109,490 (2021)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TQ759556 |
| • London | 32 miles (51 km)[2] |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MAIDSTONE |
| Postcode district | ME14–ME18 |
| Dialling code | 01622 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| UK Parliament | |
Maidstone is the largest town in Kent, England, of which it is the county town. Maidstone is historically important and lies 32 miles (51 km) east-south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it with Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river carried much of the town's trade as the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, which is known as the Garden of England. There is evidence of settlement in the area dating back before the Stone Age. The town, part of the borough of Maidstone, had an approximate population of 100,000 in 2019. Since World War II, the town's economy has shifted from heavy industry towards light industry and services.
- ^ "2021 Mid-year population estimates: Total population in Kent" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Grid Reference Finder". gridreferencefinder.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2021.