Gillingham (Kent)
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Gillingham is a town on the River Medway in the north of the English county of Kent. Together with its neighbouring towns of Rochester and Chatham it forms a large urban area known as the Medway Towns.
There is also a town of Gillingham in Dorset.
Get in
By car
- From London, take the A2 arterial road (32 mi, 51 km).
- From Canterbury, take the A2 and the M2 to Junction 3 for the Rochester exit (32 mi, 51 km, about 40 min).
By train
Trains are operated to Gillingham station by SouthEastern from London Charing Cross (via Dartford) (typical journey time 60 - 65 minutes) and Victoria (typical journey time 45 - 60 minutes). Trains from Ramsgate and Dover also serve Chatham. The Javelin high speed service operates every 30 minutes from London St Pancras with a journey time of 45 minutes. There is a supplement for using this service unless travelling from outside of the London region.
When buying a rail ticket, make clear that it is Gillingham in Kent that you want (not the one in Dorset).
Get around
See
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phone: +44 1634 822839address: Prince Arthur Road, ME4 4UGAdult £6.99 for a ticket that allows you to come back for further visits within a year (children's and concessionary tickets also available). Museum on military engineering and the history of the British Empire. A quite extensive collection that takes about half a day to see. Of most interest to fans of British and military history or civil engineering. The outside collection of tank mounted bridges etc can be seen for free. There is also an extensive series of themed special event weekends, admission to which is included in the cost of the annual ticket.
Do
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Watch football ie soccer at
address: Priestfield StadiumThey play in League One, the third tier of English football.
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phone: +44 1634 827979address: Capstone Road, ME7 3JHOutdoor dry ski slope and the longest toboggan track in the UK.
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phone: +44 1634 388477address: Ambley Road, Gillingham Business Park, ME8 0PUIndoor ice skating rink.
Buy
The main shopping area is the pedestrianised part of the High Street between the railway station and the library. This has a mixture of independent and lower end chain shops. There is an Aldi supermarket on Duncan Road, near the station.
On Saturdays and Mondays an open air market is held on the High Street. This has various food, clothes and hardware stalls.
On Saturdays and Mondays an open air market is held on the High Street. This has various food, clothes and hardware stalls.
Eat
Gillingham has a range of places to eat.
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address: 4 High Street, ME7 1BB
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Thai Won Mien
address: 59-61 High Street, ME7 1BJReally popular oriental restaurant with a mixture foods including noodles, duck and other oriental staples. -
address: 3 King Street, ME6 1EYChinese restaurant just off the High Street.
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Ossie's Fish and Chips
address: 75 Richmond Road, ME7 1LSExcellent fish and chips.
Drink
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The Frog And Toad
address: 38 Burnt Oak Terrace, ME7 1DRNice backstreet pub, hidden amongst the terraced houses. Nothing special, but a good selection of draught and bottled beers.
Sleep
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phone: +44 870 770 5964address: Capstone Road, ME7 3JE40-bed summer hostel about 3 miles from Gillingham, housed in a districtive converted Oast House in a semi-rural setting.
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phone: +44 1634 830303address: Brompton Road, ME7 5QT
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phone: +44 8701 977 105address: Will Adams Way, ME8 6BYChain hotel in a location that may not be convenient if you don't have a car.