Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, 32 miles (51 km) 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 was a major transport route, with boats carrying goods to and from the port of London. The town is home to two of the United Kingdom's major motorways, the M20 and M2, and the East Coast Main Line passes through it.
Maidstone has a population of about 110,000, and the metropolitan area, which includes the towns of Ashford, Tonbridge, and Sevenoaks, has a population of about 315,000. The town is served by Maidstone East and Maidstone West railway stations.
The town has a long and varied history, dating back to the Bronze Age. It was first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 841 AD. The Normans set up a