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:

Japan: A Floating World in Print
This exhibition (5 February 2025–10 May 2025) showcases Ukiyo-e prints by Edo and Meiji period masters, including Utamaro, Hokusai and Hiroshige. The works depict themes like dramatic landscapes and depictions of women. Interest in Japanese art grew after the Edo period ended in 1868, with Western collectors assembling significant collections. Many prints on display were donated by Sir Walter Samuel, who collected them during travels in Japan. £4.

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.