Holiday apartment in Kingston Upon Thames: history and nature

Kingston upon Thames combines a long urban history with riverside landscapes, nature reserves and a variety of experiences. Since the early Middle Ages, Kingston has been an important market town, port and river crossing; historically, the town was located in Surrey. The old town centre retains a recognisably medieval street pattern, considered the best-preserved of its kind in outer London.

History and culture

Among the notable landmarks is Clattern Bridge, a Grade I listed medieval multi-arch bridge with impressive masonry and archaeological significance associated with its Saxon origins. The Coronation Stone is an ancient Sarsen stone with Grade I listing. Traditionally, it is associated with the legend that seven Saxon kings were crowned on it in Kingston in the 10th century.

The site of All Saints Church also has a long history: before the present church was built, it was an important estate of the West Saxon kings and a setting for royal coronations. All Saints Church was built in the 12th century. Inside, visitors can follow a free, self-guided tour of the most interesting stained-glass windows.

Kingston Museum was purpose-built in 1904 and has three permanent exhibitions: “Ancient Origins”, “Town of Kings” and “Eadweard Muybridge”. In addition, the Kingston History Centre provides access to the borough archive and local history collections containing maps, photographs, films, sound recordings, building plans, newspapers, as well as historical and modern family records. The Rose Theatre stages its own Rose productions and supplements its programme with touring theatre, comedy and music events. In Chessington, the earthworks of Castle Hill also commemorate the remains of a medieval hunting lodge in Chessington Park.

River, art and paths

The Stanley Picker Gallery is located on a small island on the Hogsmill River, next to Kingston School of Art on Kingston University's Knights Park Campus. All public areas of the gallery are on the ground floor and are step-free. Kingston History Centre is a 10-minute walk from Kingston station and is accessible via cycle paths. On the water, Turks Launches operates boat services between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court.

Nature and waterways

Tolworth Court Farm Fields consists of seven fields of lowland grassland, including a wet grassland meadow. The area is the largest nature reserve in Kingston, lies on the Hogsmill River in the borough's green corridor and is stated to cover 42 hectares. Hogsmill Valley River Park is a network of nature reserves along the Hogsmill river corridor, featuring woodland, grassland, flood meadows and river habitats.

Other landscapes have their own distinctive character: Berrylands Nature Reserve is a five-hectare protected area on Tolworth Brook with a small wildlife pond. Bonesgate Open Space Local Nature Reserve forms a green corridor along Bonesgate Brook; its mature woodland provides habitat for woodland birds. Canbury Gardens is situated in a riverside landscape shaped by the Thames. The public gardens opened on 8 November 1890.

Experiences and market life

Chessington offers rides and attractions. More than 1,000 animals live at Chessington Zoo, while the Chessington SEA LIFE Centre showcases sharks, rays and tropical fish in underwater habitats. For active days, Kingston offers organised cycling tours and cycle-friendly routes on low-traffic roads. Free cycle training is available for beginners, regular cyclists and families.

The Ancient Market complements the historical and natural impressions with a diverse market scene. It has more than 20 permanent stalls and a street-food scene featuring authentic cuisines from around the world. Traders include florists, fishmongers, butchers, greengrocers and a craft bakery.

More local pages: Surbiton, Kingston Upon Thames, Chessington, New Malden. Other destinations in the same region: Tower Hamlets, Brent, Kensington And Chelsea, Barnet.

To the higher-level travel overview: Greater London.