The Tyrwhitt-Drake Maidstone Museum of Carriages is housed in the 14th-Century stables of the Archbishop’s Palace complex, used by the Archbishop of Canterbury when travelling through the county. The collection was the gift of Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, the 12-time Mayor of Maidstone, who started the collection when he realised that they were being replaced by cars. Opened in 1946, it is the first of its kind and is considered one of the finest collections in Europe, with over 60 vehicles on display.

Part of Maidstone Museums - see our listing for the Maidstone Museum here, and our link here for the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regimental Museum within the main Museum.

Kent's Museums
See our Museums in Kent Guide to discover the rich heritage and culture on display across the Garden of England.

Opening Times
Check their website for opening hours.

Price
Free - donations welcome.

Train
Maidstone East, 2 minutes, or Maidstone Barracks, 5 minutes.

Bus
Maidstone Chequers Bus Station - 10 minutes.

Parking
Fremlin Walk multistory - Pay & Display.

Explore Maidstone
Looking for more things to do in Maidstone. Check out our Maidstone Area Guide for local attractions, or visit the latest What’s On in Kent to see what’s happening - you can filter by location.

Picture Credit: © Maidstone Museum.

See Kent, Know Kent
🏛️ 🌹 Explore more of the Garden of England with our Things to do in Kent category for local attractions and historic places to visit.

Discover More
🎭 🎤  What’s On In Kent: Check our events menu for the latest updates.
💡 Ideas & Inspiration: Don't miss our features - Seasonal Round-ups, Festivals, County Shows, and School Holiday highlights for Kent.
🏰🦒 Top Guides: Explore our Top Attractions in Kent, 18 Adventure Activities, Animal Experiences, and Festivals in Kent.

SeekENT!
📧 Sign up for the FREE See Kent E-Newsletter and keep up-to-date with things to do and events in Kent.