Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway, Kent, in the south-east of England, sitting on the south bank of the River Medway and forming one of the Medway towns alongside Chatham and Rochester. It grew markedly in the 19th century to house workers for the nearby Chatham Dockyard and still shows those maritime links; economically it now combines retail and service sectors, light industry, healthcare centred on Medway Maritime Hospital and a significant commuter population travelling to London.
On the cultural and social side, sport is important locally - Gillingham Football Club plays at Priestfield Stadium - and the town benefits from proximity to the heritage and festivals of Rochester. Recent riverside and housing regeneration has aimed to strengthen local amenities and create a mixed, diverse community with good rail and road connections across Kent and beyond.