Trains to Strood

Trains first came to Strood in 1845, but the current station dates back to 1856 when the line was extended along the river to Maidstone. The 1850s saw substantial development in the town with a new road bridge over the River Medway, an esplanade and pier added. In 2009, high-speed services to London St Pancras were introduced, sparking the largest change to Strood's timetable in four decades, and today, the station sits on the North Kent Line providing trains to London, Gillingham and Ramsgate. Strood's High Street draws visitors from Rochester, on the other side of the river, with its impressive collection of shops. More independent shops can be found at The Angel and along Gun Lane. It's easy to have a mess about on the river in Strood with boat rental offered along much of the Medway estuary, and Upnor's. Nearby Upnor Castle, now a museum, is also worth a peek.