Maidstone Museum

In addition to locally-significant artefacts, the museum also has important international displays including a significant Japanese collection and the chair that Napoleon Bonaparte used while in exile.

It is housed in a Grade II* listed Elizabethan manor house, formerly known as Chillington Manor.

What to see at Maidstone Museum

Maidstone Museum offers visitors a diverse range of exhibits that encompass various aspects of art, natural history and human history.

The fine art collection showcases remarkable works from the 16th to the 20th centuries, including paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. The statue of Lady Godiva by John Thomas (1813–1862) is considered one of the highlights of the museum’s fine art collection.

The museum’s collection of Japanese fine and decorative arts is considered to be one of the best in the country and features over 750 Edo-period (1600–1868) woodblock prints.

The natural history exhibits feature fascinating specimens like fossils, minerals and a collection of animals from around the world.

Exploring the human history collection provides a captivating journey through the past, spanning from the Stone Age to the present day, with highlights including an Egyptian mummy, a 4000-year-old kernos from Melos in Greece as well as the chair that Napoleon Bonaparte sat in while in exile in St Helena.

The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum is also housed inside the museum. Its collection of regimental memorabilia includes four Victoria Crosses.

Temporary exhibitions at the Maidstone Museum

In addition to its permanent collection, Maidstone Museum also has a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:

Claude Cahun: Beneath this Mask
This exhibition (24 May–28 June 2025) features 42 giclée prints of self-portraits by Claude Cahun, created from scans of lost originals. Cahun, born Lucy Schwob, adopted her pseudonym in 1917 to challenge gender conventions. Her work explores identity through constructed personae and staged imagery. Initially linked with Surrealism, she later relocated to Jersey, where she developed her most well-known series.These portraits question fixed ideas of self, gender and representation. £4.50.

Titanic Honour and Glory
This touring exhibition (12 July–20 September 2025) presents the story of RMS Titanic from construction to sinking and later rediscovery. It includes photographs and artefacts linked to the ship, its passengers and crew. Titanic was the largest liner of her time and was considered a significant engineering achievement. The display explores the vessel’s short-lived maiden voyage and the impact of the disaster. Objects on show reflect both personal stories and broader historical themes. £4.50.

Visiting Maidstone Museum

Maidstone Museum is at the northern end of the town centre, on the opposite side of Brenchley Gardens to Maidstone East railway station. From here, it is a four-minute walk to Maidstone East railway station and most points of interest in the town centre are no more than a 10-minute walk away.

Admission to the museum is free of charge and it is open Monday to Saturday​​ between mid-July and late August and between Wednesday and Saturday outside the peak season.

Allow around an hour for your visit to the museum.