London’s Borough Of Kings: Best Things To Do In Kingston Upon Thames

best things to do in kingston upon thames uk
Roselle
Roselle 
Updated
| 3 min read

Sitting by the Thames River, Kingston intrigues with existing historical flavor. A place where two Saxon kings were crowned and where the ancient market still stands, Kingston is the borough of Saxon Kings and Henry VIII. Moving past its historical roots, Kingston a has wonderful abundance of wildlife and nature. Enter a town not too far from London, with a list of the best things to do in Kingston.

1. Kingston Ancient Market Place

Market Hall, Kingston-Upon-Thames
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Antares used under CC0

Surviving in the same spot since the medieval times, Kingston Ancient Market Place is a perfect blend of ancient and modern. There are even some cafes serving international food like Namu, selling Japanese gyoza, Katsu, Tempura, and curries. The market has a variety of vegetables, meat and food and something to see, shop and eat for everyone.

Kingston Ancient Market Place

Address: Market House Market Place, KT1 1JS Kingston upon Thames, England

Website: Kingston Market Place

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2. All Saints Church

All Saints' Church, Kingston
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Robert Cutts used under CC BY 2.0

The All Saints Church has a great, deep and intriguing history. There had been a church on this site since the 9th century when it was originally part of the Saxon royal estate. A few highlights are a 14th-century wall painting of St. Blaise, the tomb of Sir Anthony Benn, a 17th-century marble font attributed to Sir Christopher Wren and more. The beautiful All Saints Church is a place worth visiting.

All Saints Church

Address: 14-16 Market Pl, KT1 1JP Kingston upon Thames, UK

Website: All Saints Church

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3. Bentall Centre

Inside The Bentalls Centre, Kingston-upon-Thames - London.
Source: Photo by user Jim Linwood used under CC BY 2.0

Time for some urban life and shopping! The highlight of this mall is the anchor store, Bentalls, Kingston’s premium department store. Bentalls offer premium brands across men’s wear, women’s wear, children’s wear, homeware, and cosmetics. There are also other luxurious brands in the mall like Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss, DKNY, Paul Smith Black, Joseph, and Farhi. For something to munch on, Restaurant On 3 is a great place for a cup of tea or wine!

Bentall Centre

Address: Wood Street, KT11TP Kingston upon Thames, England

Website: Bentall Centre

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4. Riverside walk

Barge Walk, Kingston
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user brian gillman used under CC BY 3.0

Pretty, calming, beautiful and relaxing is the feeling you get when strolling along this river. The river gives a great opportunity to walk past some pubs, bars, restaurants, and some small chic cafes. The pavement is flat, which makes it easy to stroll a pram or a pushchair. Watch boats passing by the river while you sit down and enjoy some ice cream on a warm summer day!

Riverside walk

Website: Riverside Walk

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5. Coombe Conduit

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

One of Kingston’s most important ancient monuments, Coombe Conduit had been collecting fresh water from nearby springs on Kingston Hill and channeling it to the palace of Hampton Court for 350 years. Built around 1540 as part of a water collection system, visitors can still see clear water flowing in its interior leading to cisterns. The surviving structure represents the ingenious Tudor waterworks system.

Coombe Conduit

Address: English Heritage, Coombe Ln W, KT2 7HE Kingston upon Thames

Website: Coombe Conduit

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6. Turk Launches

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Take a cruise along the Thames aboard the Turk Launches. The boat trips run daily along the most scenic stretch of the River Thames. Landmarks along the river include Eel Pie Island, Teddington Lock, Richmond Hill and Hampton Court Palace. The Turks have two outstanding boats, The Yarmouth Belle, a pretty English side-wheeler and the New Southern Belle, a Mississippi-styled paddle steamer.

Turk Launches

Address: Town End Pier 68 High Street, KT1 1HN Kingston upon Thames, England

Website: Turk Launches

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7. Rose Theatre

The Rose Theatre, Kingston, London
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jim Linwood used under CC BY 2.0

Serving the entire region, the Rose Theatre offers a rich program of artistry for people of all walks of life. Despite its smaller size, it gives an intimate absorption of being with the performance. Located centrally, the auditorium has a huge variety of different performances. There is also a spacious cafe serving snacks from the courteous staff.

Rose Theatre

Address: 24-26 High Street, KT1 1HL Kingston upon Thames, England

Website: Rose Theatre

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8. Chessington World of Adventures

Not too far from Kingston is the Chessington World of Adventures. A family-friendly theme park with over 40 rides and attractions in 10 different themed lands. There is also a zoo with more than 1,000 animals including lions, tigers, monkeys, and daily live shows with events. If you’re planning to visit the Chessington World of Adventures, check out this ticket deal which includes lunch at a choice of the resort’s restaurants.

Chessington World of Adventures

Address: Leatherhead Road, KT9 2NE Chessington, England

Website:

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9. Canbury Gardens

Canbury Gardens Kingston Upon Thames
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ron Belcher used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Located right by the river Thames, Canbury Gardens is a pretty garden for a stroll or a picnic. The garden is well looked after and there is a clean and safe play area for kids. Cyclists can find a separate path to explore the garden. A wonderful spot for overlooking the river in this quiet and peaceful garden.

Canbury Gardens

Address: Lower Ham Road, KT2 5AU Kingston upon Thames, England

Website: Canbury Gardens

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10. Game of Stones

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Here’s a fun, interesting, interactive and unique way to explore Kingston that even the locals enjoy. A treasure hunting interactive game on your mobile phone! Collect talisman at alleys, inns, and graveyards to find interesting clues. There will be a secret prize at the end of the game. So charge your phone with a full battery, for this is going to be a unique adventure in Kingston!

Game of Stones

Address: (Game starting point) Kingston Guildhall Steps, 2 High Street, KT1 1EU Kingston Upon Thames

Website: Game of Stones

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The king's manor

In a town of kings upon a historical river, where Saxon and several other kings were crowned, Kingston’s name speaks for itself. Ancient and thriving, the town gives an atmosphere of historical wonder. Kingston still has something to offer even if you’re not a history buff with their wondrous parks and gardens. Not too far from London, take a boat down to Kingston, for it’s the king’s chosen town.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Roselle is a 3D Artist originally from Singapore. She is currently living as a Digital Nomad in Bali with her Husband. She plans to continue her journeys to Thailand, Vietnam and more. She has been...Read more

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