Bearsted (/ˈbɛərstɛd/ ⓘ BAIR-sted, traditionally /ˈbɜːr-/ BUR-) is a village and civil parish with a railway station in mid-Kent, England, two miles (3.2 km) east of Maidstone town centre.

The area includes a small supermarket and shopping centre, a park and ride facility and primary school.

Many books on Kent describe the animals on the tower as bears, and say these represent the name of the village.

In early 2007, the Kent International Gateway Group announced plans to build a large rail-freight and logistics depot in the corridor between Bearsted bounded by the railway line and the M20 motorway, an area which in use as fields and woodland.

The controversial plans raised significant objections from local residents and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Following the public inquiry and review of the resulting Inspector's report, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, rejected the appeal and refused planning permission for the development on 5 August 2010.