Maidstone Carriage Museum | Maidstone Museum
Source: https://museum.maidstone.gov.uk/our-museums/carriage-museum
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:39
Maidstone Carriage Museum | Maidstone Museum
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Carriage Museum
As one of the best collections of carriages in Europe, Maidstone Carriage Museum represents a must-see attraction
Maidstone Carriage Museum
Located on Mill Street in the centre of Maidstone, the Carriage Museum offers an insight into the fascinating history of transport and is home to a unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles and transport curiosities. More than 60 vehicles are on display, ranging from grand carriages such as Queen Victoria’s State Landau, to antique sedan chairs and Victorian ‘growlers’.
Housed in the 14th-century stables of the medieval Archbishop’s Palace complex used by the Archbishop of Canterbury when travelling through the county, the Carriage Museum collection was the gift of Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, 12-time Mayor of Maidstone. He began collecting carriages when he realised that the horse-drawn vehicles of his childhood were being forced off the road by the motor car. Thanks to his energy and enthusiasm, Maidstone Carriage Museum opened in 1946 and was the first of its kind in Britain and is still viewed as one of the finest in Europe.
Maidstone Carriage Museum
The Maidstone Carriage Museum is now open for the summer season:
Saturdays and Sundays, 11am – 3pm
If you’d like to support the Carriage Museum by volunteering, please visit our
Volunteer
page and complete the application form.
Contact Us
If you need more information or want to plan your visit, our friendly team is here to help.
Call:
01622 602838
Email:
museuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk
Enquiries
General enquiries
For up to date opening hours please
check here.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Carriage museum to help us keep it open please visit our
Volunteer page
and complete the application form.
Entry is free but donations will be welcome.
For more information, or to discuss a visit to Maidstone Carriage Museum, you can contact our friendly team today. Simply call us on 01622 602838 or submit an online enquiry form specifying an interest in the Carriage Museum, we’ll be in touch.
For enquiries or to contact us about the Carriage Museum
click here
Share this page
@Maidstone
Museum
Skip to main content
Learn
Wheels of Time
For adults
For education
Book workshops
Work Experience Placements
Get in touch with us
Plan your visit in advance
Explore
Collections
Loans
Research enquiries
Get in touch with us
See out latest events
What’s On
Events
Exhibitions
Talks & Tours
Museum Lates
School holiday activities
Get in touch with us
Explore our collections
Visit Us
Opening Times
Group visits
Accessibility
Contact us
Get in touch with us
Book a birthday party
Carriage Museum
As one of the best collections of carriages in Europe, Maidstone Carriage Museum represents a must-see attraction
Maidstone Carriage Museum
Located on Mill Street in the centre of Maidstone, the Carriage Museum offers an insight into the fascinating history of transport and is home to a unique collection of horse-drawn vehicles and transport curiosities. More than 60 vehicles are on display, ranging from grand carriages such as Queen Victoria’s State Landau, to antique sedan chairs and Victorian ‘growlers’.
Housed in the 14th-century stables of the medieval Archbishop’s Palace complex used by the Archbishop of Canterbury when travelling through the county, the Carriage Museum collection was the gift of Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, 12-time Mayor of Maidstone. He began collecting carriages when he realised that the horse-drawn vehicles of his childhood were being forced off the road by the motor car. Thanks to his energy and enthusiasm, Maidstone Carriage Museum opened in 1946 and was the first of its kind in Britain and is still viewed as one of the finest in Europe.
Maidstone Carriage Museum
The Maidstone Carriage Museum is now open for the summer season:
Saturdays and Sundays, 11am – 3pm
If you’d like to support the Carriage Museum by volunteering, please visit our
Volunteer
page and complete the application form.
Contact Us
If you need more information or want to plan your visit, our friendly team is here to help.
Call:
01622 602838
Email:
museuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk
Enquiries
General enquiries
For up to date opening hours please
check here.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Carriage museum to help us keep it open please visit our
Volunteer page
and complete the application form.
Entry is free but donations will be welcome.
For more information, or to discuss a visit to Maidstone Carriage Museum, you can contact our friendly team today. Simply call us on 01622 602838 or submit an online enquiry form specifying an interest in the Carriage Museum, we’ll be in touch.
For enquiries or to contact us about the Carriage Museum
click here
Share this page
@Maidstone
Museum