Maidstone is six miles downstream from where the River Medway, having flowed in a generally west-east direction, is joined by the Rivers Teise and Beult at Yalding and changes its course to a northerly one. It cuts through the ridge formed by the greensand, so that the town occupies a site on two opposite hills, the easterly one containing the town centre. Beyond that, and higher, is Penenden Heath. The River Len joins the Medway at Maidstone. Though a short river, it provided the water to drive numerous watermills. The Loose Stream, which rises at Langley and joins at Tovil, once
KMFM Maidstone the hospital radio station, Maidstone Festival Radio set up their own studio before later changing the station's name to CTR FM (County Town Radio). At the request of the Radio Authority, it was rebranded a second time to 20/20fm (after the A20 and M20 trunk roads that run through the area), following concerns that the station could be confused with the similarly named 106CTFM which had just launched a full-time service in Canterbury. Six applications were filed for a new Maidstone and Mid-Kent licence by January 2003, with the winning application being declared as Maidstone Radio Ltd (20/20fm) in the