# Strood

Strood 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.

## Get in
### By car

* From London, take the A2 arterial road (32 miles, 51 km) or continue on to the M2 to Junction 2.
* From Canterbury, take the A2 and the M2 to Junction 2 for the Rochester exit (32 miles, 51 km, about 40 min).

#### Town Centre car parking

It is recommended that you park in Commercial Road car park (enter from Commercial Road) or Strood Retail Park car park (enter from Knight Road).

### By train

* 51.3963570.5002081 Strood (SOO) Station, Canal Road, ME2 4DR (at the far end of Strood (near Rochester Bridge)). Trains are operated by SouthEastern From London Charing Cross (via Dartford) (typical journey time 65–70 minutes) and London Victoria (typical journey time 75–80 minutes). Trains from Ramsgate and Dover also serve Chatham and Rochester. The Javelin high speed service operates every 30 minutes from London St Pancras with a journey time of 30-35 minutes. There is a supplement for using this service unless travelling from outside of the London region. (updated Apr 2017)

## Get around
### By bus

Local buses are operated by Arriva Kent and Surrey, Nu-Venture and ASD Coaches
Buy your ticket from the driver when you board the bus (any operator), For Arriva services buy tickets on the Arriva App or pay contactless.
The Traveline and Medway Council websites provide journey planners and route maps.

### By taxi

* Strood Cabs - +44 1634 710001
* Computer Cabs - +44 1634 666666 - https://www.computercabsltd.co.uk/

## See

* 51.390020.4916061 Temple Manor, Knight Road, ME2 2AH. Jul-Aug: Sa Su 10AM-4PM). Temple Manor is a historic building. It is a manor house of the Knights Templar, built in about 1240. Free. (updated Feb 2023)
* 51.3839220.4577552 Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve (Ranscombe Farm), Sundridge Hill, Cuxton, Kent. Walk: 24 hr, 365 days, Car park varies. See: April: Bluebell, Early purple orchid May: Lady Orchid, Fly Orchid, Man Orchid June: Meadow Clary, Hairy Mallow, Ground Pine, common milkwort July: Corncockle, Clustered Bellflower, Four species of poppy (Common, Rough, Prickly and Long-headed) Free. (updated Apr 2017)

## Do

    Medway Valley Park:
* 51.3832420.4793521 Diggerland, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Roman Way, ME2 2NU, ☏ +44 871 2277007, mail@diggerland.com. Open weekends Mar - Oct and daily during Jul, Aug and most school holidays 10AM - 5PM (4PM in winter). An assortment of rides based on construction equipment. The rides include sitting in the modified bucket of a digger and operating some of the diggers. General admission: adults to age 65 & children 100 cm or over £38.00 per person, age 65+ (ID required) £17.50 per person, children under 100 cm free, disabled visitor £38.00 per person, disabled carer free. (updated Feb 2025)
* 51.3815710.4802162 Hollywood Bowl Strood (Rochester), Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, ME2 2SS, ☏ +44 844 243 0077. M-Th 10AM-11PM, F 10AM-midnight, Sa 9AM-midnight, Su 9AM-11PM. Adults £7.60 per game, Under 16s £6.60 per game, family of 4 (max 2 adults 16+) £26.98 per game, family of 5 (max 2 adults 16+) £33.25 per game, Seniors, Registered Disabled and Carers £3.80 per game, Student £6.84 per game. (updated Feb 2025)
* 51.3795820.4748263 Cineworld Strood (Rochester), Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, ME2 2SS, ☏ +44 330 333 4444. varies depending on film. (updated Feb 2025)
* 51.3807210.4778954 Buzz Bingo, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, ME2 2NU, ☏ +44 1634 290799, medway.club@buzzbingo.com. M-Th 10AM-1AM, F Sa 10AM-2AM, Su Noon-2AM. varies depending on bingo tickets. (updated Feb 2025)

## Buy

The main shopping area is the High Street between Papa Johns (Gun Lane/Cuxton Road) and Rochester Bridge. This has a mixture of shops, There is also a Retail Park on Commercial Road.

## Eat

Strood has a range of places to eat.

### Strood & Strood town centre

* 51.399380.4538111 The Three Crutches, Old Watling Street, ME2 3UG, ☏ +44 1634 763410. M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM. (updated Feb 2025)
* 51.3931870.4930042 Morrisons Cafe, Knight Road, ME2 2BD. Cafe: M-Sa 8AM-5PM, Su 9:30AM-4PM; store: M-Sa 6AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Large supermarket with a cafe. (updated Feb 2025)

### Medway Valley Park

* 51.3789360.4747133 Frankie & Benny's, Chariot Way, ME2 2SS, ☏ +44 1634 712209, Rochester@frankieandbennys.co.uk. M-Th noon-9PM, F-Sa noon-10PM, Su noon-PM,. American themed chain restaurant. (updated Feb 2025)
* 51.3791240.4752284 Waters Edge, Chariot Way, ME2 2SS, ☏ +44 1634 719306. Opening hours: M-Su 11AM-11PM, Serving hours: M-Su 11AM-9PM. (updated Feb 2025)

## Drink

* 51.3968680.4845561 The Coach & Horses, 40 London Road, ME2 3PA, ☏ +44 7487 827694, manager.thecoachandhorses@outlook.com. (updated Feb 2025)

## Sleep

* 51.380560.4767991 Premier Inn Strood, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, ME2 2SS. Rooms from £68 per night. (updated Feb 2025)

## Go next

* Rochester
* Chatham
* Gravesend