How to get there

​

Downloads for this page

​

​​​

​

​​

By car
Kent Showground is located alongside the A249 to the east of Maidstone and between the M20 (Junction 7) and M2 (Junction 5) motorways. It has a very large car parking area and parking is free.

 

There is an area for Blue Badge holders close to the pedestrian entrance from the car park, Gate 4, into the event.

 

If you need to park in that area please tell the marshals who will be directing cars through the car park.

A frequent free bus service runs around the showground that can be used to get from the entrance from the car park to the vehicle displays, the main exhibition hall and the Heritage Transport Show.

A map of the area showing the location of the showground can be seen by clicking the 'Area map' button at the top of this page.

For those using SatNav, the showground's Post Code is ME14 3JF.

​

Please note that, due to the nature of the A249 dual carriageway, anyone travelling from London, the Dartford Crossing, the M26 or West Kent should use the M20 and exit at Junction 7 onto the A249 which will take you straight to the showground.

 

If you approach from the M2 you will have to travel a significant distance along the A249 to the M20 Junction 7 roundabout to turn round and then head back along the eastbound A249 carriageway and up Detling Hill to the showground as there is no facility for turning from the westbound carriageway into the showground.

​​

By bus​

There is no regular public bus service to the showground but we are grateful to some local bus operators who will provide links from a number of Kent towns direct to the showground, as shown below.

​

When buses depart the showground they will do so from the bus stop located outside Entrance 1 (the main showground entrance).​​​​​

​

From Maidstone and the Medway Towns

Nu-Venture will provide a bus link from the Medway Towns and Maidstone direct to the South East Bus Festival.
 

Service X21 will run from Rochester Railway Station (Stop D) at 0930, Chatham Waterfront Bus Station (Stop D18, opposite Argos) at 0940, Davis Estate (Tiger Moth, A229) at 0952, Maidstone East Railway Station (County Hall, Stop O) at 1005, Maidstone Lower High Street (opposite the Cannon, Stop T) at 1010, and Maidstone, King Street (opposite Boots, Stop K1) at 1015, to arrive at Kent Showground at 1030.
 

A second journey will run from Maidstone East Railway Station (County Hall, Stop O) at 1205, Maidstone Lower High Street (opposite the Cannon, Stop T) at 1210, and Maidstone, King Street (opposite Boots, Stop K1) at 1215, to arrive at Kent Showground at 1230.
 

Buses will pick up only at the stops listed above.
 

Buses back from the showground will run at 1415 to Maidstone town centre and Maidstone East Railway Station only, and at 1615 to Maidstone, Davis Estate, Chatham and Rochester Railway Station.
 

This service is being provided commercially by Nu-Venture and a £5 adult single fare will apply in each direction. Those under 16 years of age will be able to travel free of charge. All-day adult Discovery Tickets costing £10 will be available and accepted on Service X21. You can see further information about the Discovery Ticket here.
 

English National Concessionary Passes, Kent Travel Savers and PlusBus tickets will not be valid for travel on this service and it is not part of the Government’s £3 maximum single fare scheme.

 

You can download the X21 timetable here.

​​

From Dover, Folkestone and Ashford      

YMS Travel will provide a bus link from Dover, Folkestone and Ashford direct to the South East Bus Festival.

​

Service X22 will run from Dover (Pencester Road) at 0900, Folkestone (Bouverie Square) at 0920 and Ashford (Park Street) at 0945. It will pick up only at the places listed and is due to arrive at Kent Showground at 1030.

​

The bus back from the showground will depart at 1630, returning to Ashford, Folkestone and Dover.

​

This service is being provided commercially by YMS Travel and a £10 adult return fare will apply, but there will also be a £6 single fare for those who only use the service in one direction. 

​

Those under 16 years of age will be able to travel free of charge.

​

English National Concessionary Passes, Kent Travel Savers and PlusBus tickets will not be valid for travel on this service and it is not part of the Government’s £3 maximum single fare scheme.

​

You can download the X22 timetable here.

​

From Thanet, Canterbury and Faversham

YMS Travel will provide a bus link from Ramsgate (Westwood), Margate, Canterbury and Faversham direct to the South East Bus Festival.

Service X23 will run from Westwood (Bus Garage) at 0830, Margate Railway Station at 0845, Canterbury (Whitefriars, Stop 4) at 0920 and Faversham Railway Station at 0940. It will pick up only at the places listed and is due to arrive at Kent Showground at 1030.

​

The bus back from the showground will depart at 1630, returning to Faversham, Canterbury, Margate and Westwood.

​

This service is being provided commercially by YMS Travel and a £10 adult return fare will apply, but there will also be a £6 single fare for those who only use the service in one direction. 

​

Those under 16 years of age will be able to travel free of charge.

​

English National Concessionary Passes, Kent Travel Savers and PlusBus tickets will not be valid for travel on this service and it is not part of the Government’s £3 maximum single fare scheme.

​

You can download the X23 timetable here.

​

From the Gravesend, Ebbsfleet and Dartford area

1st Bus Stop will provide a bus link from Gravesend, Ebbsfleet, Greenhithe, Bluewater and Dartford direct to the showground.

​

Service X25 will run from Gravesend (Garrick Street, Stop D) at 0823, Ebbsfleet International Rail Station (Stop B) at 0845, Greenhithe Rail Station (Stop 2) at 0856, Bluewater Bus Station (Stop 6) at 0915 and Dartford (Home Gardens, Stop E) at 0940. It is due to arrive at Kent Showground at 1030.

​

The bus back from the showground will depart at 1630.

​

This service is being provided commercially by 1st Bus Stop and an £8 adult return fare will apply, but there will also be a £5 single fare for those who only use the service in one direction.

 

Contactless payment is preferred but cash can be accepted providing that it is for the exact amount.

​

English National Concessionary Passes, Kent Travel Savers and PlusBus and Discovery tickets will not be valid for travel on this service and it is not part of the Government’s £3 maximum single fare scheme.

​

You can download the X25 timetable here.        

​​

By train​
The nearest train stations for the event are Maidstone East, Maidstone West and Sittingbourne but there are no regular bus services to and from the showground.

​

However, Nu-Venture Buses will provide a direct link to the showground from Rochester Station, Chatham Bus Station, Maidstone East Station and Maidstone Town Centre.

 

You can download the X21 timetable here.

​

If arriving by train on the North Kent Line, you should alight at Rochester and catch the bus from the bus stop outside the station.

​

For those using the Maidstone East Line, the X21 bus will depart from Bus Stop O, outside County Hall, which is opposite the main entrance to Maidstone East Station.

​

People using the Medway Valley Line should alight at Maidstone West and walk to the High Street where the X21 will pick up from Bus Stop T at the bridge end of the High Street, a five to ten-minute walk from Maidstone West Station.

​

It is hoped that arrangements can be made for links from other areas and any such services that are offered will be advertised here and on our Facebook page.

​

Please check back later for details.