Must-see London: Kingston upon Thames

Whether you’re heading to the English capital for the weekend or a week, for business or a holiday, London is a city that boasts more than its fair share of great sights to see, fun things to do and fantastic places to visit.

Places like Kingston upon Thames

A river boat in Kingston upon Thames in LondonNestled on the banks of the mighty River Thames, Kingston is a market town in historic Surrey, just 12 miles (19km) south west of central London.

The sun seems to always want to shine here, as Londoners lounge along the river, rowing, paddling, sipping alcoholic beverages in some of London’s finest riverside pubs or coffee at Kingston’s many cafes.

And like everything in London, the township is seemingly steeped in history. Dating back to 838 when Kingston was first recorded in a royal document, the town was later a coronation place for Anglo Saxon kings and many of its beautiful Tudor buildings still stand here today.

A lovely summer's day in Kingston, LondonThe transport links are good – a train from London Waterloo to Kingston Rail Station will take just 30mins – and the shopping is even better.

As it was hundreds of years ago, Kingston is an active market town with numerous open-air markets taking place around the town on any given week. The best of which takes place in Kingston’s historic market place – which has been in use since roughly 1170 – primarily on weekends.

The town has a weekly Monday market, too, when more than 50 traders descend on the Cattle Market Surface Car Park to sell meat and fresh produce from 9am to 1:30pm. For more information visit Kingston’s official market guide.

A boat on the River Thames in Kingston, London

Be sure to also check out Man vs World’s 5 favourite London day trips and cheap and cheerful things to do in London.

About Simon Petersen 500 Articles
Travel blogger, journalist, sports and movie fiend. Chronicling the life and times of a Kiwi at home and abroad.

4 Comments

  1. The Thames Path around here is really well worth a look as well. The London part starts from Hampton Court Palace which is just under an hour’s pleasant walk south of Kingston and you can get up to Kew Gardens by following the river north. That’s about a two hour stroll that takes in nearby Richmond as well – with all its riverside pubs and restaurants. Lovely places.

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