Museum of Carriages

The Museum of Carriages, on Mill Street in central Maidstone, holds one of the UK's most significant collections of horse-drawn vehicles, with more than 60 largely unrestored examples spanning the late 17th to the 20th century. You'll see state and ceremonial carriages linked to royal use, Victorian taxis known as 'growlers', sedan chairs and everyday transport, alongside harnesses, tools and archival material. It suits visitors interested in social history and craftsmanship, housed fittingly in the 14th-century stables of the Archbishop's Palace. It's a separate site from Maidstone Museum, so allow time to travel between them if visiting both. Maidstone West station is just 0.3 miles away, and there are 33 bookable places to stay within 5 miles on BritStays, making it an easy addition to a short break.