The Bearsted and Downswood ward sits on the eastern fringe of Maidstone in Kent, combining the attractive, historic village of Bearsted with the more wooded, post‑war suburb of Downswood. Bearsted still centres on a well‑kept village green, pond and an old church, while the area edges into the rolling countryside of the Kent Downs and the valley of the River Len, giving a pleasant mix of rural character and suburban amenity.
Locally there are primary schools, pubs, community groups and sports clubs and a small commercial base, but many residents commute into Maidstone or London thanks to nearby road and rail links with the M20 close by. The neighbourhood reflects Kent’s agricultural past - former hop fields and oast houses remain in the landscape - alongside modern housing, producing a strong community feel without sacrificing access to town services.
Postcode districts covering Bearsted & Downswood
Most populated places nearby
- Southend-on-Sea 20.6 miles
- Bexley 22.9 miles
- Basildon 21.3 miles
- Maidstone 2.4 miles
- Gillingham 7.3 miles
- Grays 18.2 miles
- Chatham 6.7 miles
- Royal Tunbridge Wells 15.9 miles
- Ashford 15.7 miles
- Dartford 19.7 miles
- Canterbury 22.4 miles
- Gravesend 13.7 miles
Neighbouring places
- Bearsted Built-up area 0.2 miles
- Downswood Parish 0.6 miles
- Otham Built-up area 1.1 miles
- Grove Green & Vinters Park Ward 1.2 miles
- Shepway Ward 1.4 miles
- Senacre Ward 1.4 miles
- Thurnham Parish 1.5 miles
- Detling Built-up area 1.8 miles
- Park Wood & Mangravet Ward 1.9 miles
- Langley Built-up area 1.9 miles
- High Street Ward 2 miles
- Leeds & Langley Ward 2.1 miles
Example postcodes in Bearsted & Downswood
ME15 8UU, ME14 4HX, ME15 8JR, ME15 8PA, ME15 8NY, ME14 4AW, ME14 4BW, ME15 8NW, ME15 8TF … See all
Transport links
- London Southend Airport 21.7 miles
- London City Airport 27.7 miles
- Bearsted Railway Station 0.6 miles
- Maidstone East Railway Station 2.3 miles
Hotels near Bearsted & Downswood Ad
- The Potting Shed Maidstone 2.3 miles
- The Black Horse Inn 4 1.8 miles
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club 4 0.7 miles
- Orida Maidstone Hotel 4 1.6 miles
- Miller & Carter Maidstone by Innkeeper's Collection 4 2.4 miles
- Days Inn Maidstone 3 1.8 miles
- Chilston Park Hotel 4 6.9 miles
- The Plough Inn 4 9.9 miles
- Village Hotel Maidstone 4 3.3 miles
- Weald of Kent 3 5.7 miles
Schools in Bearsted & Downswood
- Madginford Primary School Primary
- Roseacre Junior School Primary
- Thurnham C of E Infant School Primary
Local points of interest
- Boxley Abbey Historic site 3.1 miles
- University for the Creative Arts - Maidstone University 3.2 miles
- Boxley Hills Hill 3.6 miles
- Boughton Place Estate 3.9 miles
- Yalding Gardens Gardens 7.1 miles
- Spotlites at Kings Theatre Theatre 8 miles
- Priestfield Stadium Stadium 8.1 miles
- University for the Creative Arts - Rochester University 8.2 miles
- MidKent College - Medway College 8.9 miles
- University of Greenwich - Medway University 9.1 miles
- Hale Wood Forest 12.4 miles
- Pulans Wood Forest 12.5 miles