Home / Local guides / Maidstone
Kent · England
Spiritual Maidstone
If you live in or near Maidstone, this page brings the night sky, the old sites and the seasons together in one place. It covers where to find properly dark skies, what the sun and moon are doing across the year at Maidstone's latitude (51.3°N), the heritage and folklore places nearby, and when to order so your crystals, tarot or candles arrive in time.
Kit's Coty House, Aylesford. Photo: Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Region Kent
- Dark skies Moore's Reserve (South Downs International Dark Sky Reserve)
- Delivery UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days
Places to visit
Real photographs, with directions. Tap a map link to open the exact spot.
History, folklore and tips
The history
Kit's Coty House is the remains of a Neolithic long barrow built around 4000 BC, part of the Medway Megaliths, the only group of megalithic tombs in eastern England. Leeds Castle, on islands in a lake, has been a royal palace and is now open to visitors.
Folklore and tradition
Folklore says the stones of the nearby Countless Stones (Little Kit's Coty) cannot be counted the same way twice.
Visiting tips
- Kit's Coty is free and open at reasonable times; walk up from Blue Bell Hill.
- Leeds Castle needs a ticket.
- Blue Bell Hill picnic site has wide views.
From the shop
Shop for Maidstone
Crystals and gifts, delivered across Maidstone. UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days.
Sky almanac for Maidstone
Dark skies and stargazing near Maidstone
Dark skies and stargazing near Maidstone
The nearest certified dark-sky place to Maidstone is Moore's Reserve (South Downs International Dark Sky Reserve), about 98 km (61 miles) away as the crow flies. The next nearest is Cranborne Chase International Dark Sky Reserve, about 183 km (114 miles) away. The best nights are clear, moonless ones around a new moon. The next new moons are on 9 November, 9 December, 7 January, 6 February. Find event dates on the Moore's Reserve website.
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Maidstone
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Maidstone
At the June solstice on 21 June 2027, the sun rises in Maidstone at about 04:41 and sets at about 21:17 (BST), giving 16h 35m of daylight, 3 minutes less than in London. At the December solstice on 21 December 2026 it rises at about 07:00 and sets at about 15:52 (GMT), giving only 7h 52m. Around the March equinox (20 March 2027), sunrise is about 06:03 and sunset about 18:09. Between roughly 25 May and 20 July, the sun never sinks far enough below the horizon for full astronomical darkness, so the faintest stars and the Milky Way are hard to see. In folk tradition the full moon marks the month. The next full moons fall on 24 November, 24 December, 22 January, 20 February, 22 March. Times are calculated (NOAA formulas) and approximate.
Best times of year
Best times of year
If you only plan a few nights a year from Maidstone, choose clear, moonless nights in the colder months.
For the Perseids in August 2027 the moon is 84% lit and sets over Maidstone at about 01:11, so the best watching is after moonset and before dawn. Full darkness on 12 August starts around 22:51 at 51.3°N.
The Quadrantids peak on the night of 3–4 January 2027 with the moon 12% lit. They are short and sharp, best after midnight, and the January cold means layers and a flask are essential.
Moore's Reserve (South Downs International Dark Sky Reserve) is about 98 km away if you want truly dark skies; otherwise a park or field away from streetlights will still show the brighter meteors.
On 2 August 2027 a partial solar eclipse is visible across the UK, weather permitting. Never look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses.
Maidstone: local questions
Where is the nearest dark sky reserve to Maidstone?
The nearest certified dark-sky place is Moore's Reserve (South Downs International Dark Sky Reserve), roughly 98 km away in a straight line.
What time is sunrise in Maidstone on the summer solstice?
About 04:41 BST on 21 June 2027, with sunset about 21:17.
Are there ancient or sacred sites near Maidstone?
Yes. Nearby places include Kit's Coty House, Leeds Castle. See the heritage section for details.
How much is delivery to Maidstone?
UK delivery to Maidstone is £3.95 and free on orders over £40. Most orders arrive within 2–5 working days.
Photographs are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown, resized and converted for the web. Folklore is described as tradition. Starseed UK makes no health claims for any product.