Parking

There is no coach parking at the museum. Instead, coaches should drop off groups at the bus stop outside the museum on St Faiths Street/Station Road. The nearest coach park is on Sittingbourne Road.

Pay and display car parking in Fremlin Walk Car Park is available for cars. Maidstone Museum does have space for up to two minibuses, but these must be booked in advance. We are also able to provide a space for disabled visitors.

Access

There are many small flights of stairs to get between the levels of the museum. Wheelchair access is provided to the ground floor, and also into the temporary exhibitions, Japanese gallery, and art gallery. Please inform us when booking if your group includes wheelchair users or people with mobility problems so that we can discuss emergency evacuation procedures. Please note some workshops are held in galleries.

Arrival

Maidstone Museum opens at 10am. We cannot accommodate entry before this time. Please have your classes divided into class groups (if more than one class). On arrival, please go to the schools entrance, which is through the old entrance via the courtyard, at the front of the building, where you will be met by a member of the team.

We provide a trolley for coats and bags – children must leave all of their bags and coats on this trolley. No food or drink can be consumed around the museum, and can only be consumed in a pre-arranged lunch room.

Be aware that if you arrive late, we may have to cut down your session. Please contact the museum on 01622 602838 if you are running late.

Toilets

Toilets are available near the classroom and through the Great Hall.

Group lunchroom

You are welcome to bring packed lunches and space is automatically allocated when workshops are booked. Please note that allocated lunch times may vary between 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the number of classes attending. If you are coming for a visit only and require lunch space, please arrange this in advance as it may have already been booked by another school. To preserve the collections, no food or drink can be consumed outside the designated areas. If the weather is good, you are welcome to sit in Brenchley Gardens for a picnic.

Shop

You are welcome to visit the shop with your class but please ensure they visit in groups of up to eight with an adult supervising at all times during their ‘museum time’ part of the visit. Alternatively, goody bags can be ordered for collection on the day. These need to be booked at least two weeks ahead of the visit by emailing christinecharlesworth@maidstone.gov.uk.

Photography

Photography is allowed for personal/school use. Photography may not be allowed in certain areas – there will be notices advising you of this

Gallery closures

Every attempt is made to keep galleries open, but on occasions areas are closed for cleaning, maintenance or redevelopment. Where practical, we will notify you in advance.

Light levels

In some areas of the museum. light levels are reduced in order to protect the objects from damage.