How to get there

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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.

Please note that an improved traffic management system will be deployed at the end of the event to ensure that visitors and exhibitors can leave the showground more efficiently than was the case at the 2024 event. This year those vehicles departing from the main showground will leave via Entrance 1 but cars in the external car parking areas will use a separate exit which joins the A249 further to the east. This should avoid queues forming and the carriageway will have cones positioned between the two lanes to allow vehicles leaving from Entrance 1 to join the carriageway without having to wait for a gap in the traffic.

By bus

There is no longer a regular public bus service to the showground but we are very grateful to four local bus operators who will provide links from a number of Kent towns direct to the showground.

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

These are:

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 the Isle of Sheppey, Iwade and Sittingbourne

Chalkwell Coaches will provide a bus link from the Isle of Sheppey, Iwade and Sittingbourne direct to the South East Bus Festival.

Service X20 will run from Sheerness (Tesco) at 0900, Sheerness (Aldi) at 0905, Minster (Wards Hill, Bottom) at 0916, Minster (Harps Inn) at 0919, Halfway (The Heritage) at 0922, Queenborough Corner at 0926, Iwade (School Lane) at 0936, Sonora Fields (Jacinth Drive) at 0942, Sittingbourne (Morrisons) at 0950, Sittingbourne Bus Hub (close to the Rail Station) at 1000 and London Road (opposite The Coniston Hotel) at 1003. It is due to arrive at Kent Showground at 1025.

A second journey will run from Sittingbourne Bus Hub at 1200, running via London Road (opposite The Coniston Hotel) at 1203 and due to arrive at Kent Showground at 1225.

Buses back from the showground will run at 1415 to Sittingbourne only, and at 1615 to Sittingbourne, Iwade and Sheerness.

This service is being provided commercially by Chalkwell Coaches and a £10 adult return fare will apply, but there will also be a £5 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.

All-day adult Discovery Tickets will be accepted on these buses. 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 X20 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 0840, Greenhithe Rail Station (Stop 2) at 0855, Bluewater Bus Station (Stop 6) at 0910 and Dartford (Home Gardens, Stop E) at 0930. It is due to arrive at Kent Showground at 1006.

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.

From East Kent

YMS Travel will provide two bus links direct to the South East Bus Festival, Services X22 and X23. Both services will pick up only at the places listed and are both scheduled to arrive at the showground at 1030.

Service X22 will run from Dover (Pencester Road) at 0900, Folkestone (Bouverie Square) at 0920 and Ashford (Park Street) at 0945. The bus back from the showground will depart at 1630.

Service X23 will run from Westwood Cross (Bus Garage) at 0830, Canterbury (Whitefriars, Stop 4, alongside the bus station) at 0910 and Faversham Railway Station at 0940. The bus back from the showground will depart at 1630.

Both services are being provided commercially by YMS Travel 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.

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 and the X23 timetable here.

By train

PLEASE NOTE: Due to planned engineering works, no trains will serve London Victoria on 5th April. Southeastern services to and from Maidstone East, Rochester, Chatham and Sittingbourne will start instead from London Cannon Street or London Charing Cross and will run non-stop between London Bridge and St. Mary Cray or Swanley before resuming their normal routes. Please visit Southeastern's website for full details (https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-updates/planned-engineering-work).

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

However, the special bus services listed above will provide direct links from a number of railway stations to the showground.