Maxwell was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland but spent the early part of his life living in a rural area between Rathfriland and Newry. He went to Iveagh Primary School in Rathfriland and then to Knockbreda Primary School when his family moved back to Belfast in 1994. Maxwell then went on to study at Methodist College Belfast and then to Queen’s University Belfast where he read politics.

Immediately after graduating he went to work on the political desk of The Times in Westminster, London.