The Kings Hill Art Company

Kings Hill Art Company sits just outside Maidstone and functions as both working studio and gallery space - the kind of place where you might actually catch artists at their benches rather than just looking at finished pieces behind glass. It's a proper working creative hub, not a sterile white-walled setup.

What you get here depends entirely on what's on show when you visit, as it operates as a contemporary art space with rotating exhibitions. The gallery itself is fairly compact, so don't expect to spend hours browsing - most people will work through it in 30-45 minutes, which suits it perfectly as a half-hour detour from Maidstone town centre rather than a full afternoon commitment.

It appeals most to people who actually like looking at art rather than ticking boxes. If you're staying at one of the local parks - Gatehouse Wood is just under 3 miles away - it's worth checking what's exhibiting before you head over. The camping spots nearby make Kings Hill viable as part of a wider creative trail through the area, though honestly you'd want to combine it with Maidstone's other attractions to justify the trip.

I'd ring ahead before visiting to confirm opening hours and what's currently showing - there's nothing worse than turning up to a gallery only to find it's closed for an exhibition changeover. Admission details aren't widely advertised either, so a quick call sorts that out in seconds.