The oldest of Royal Boroughs its associations with royalty date back to Anglo-Saxon times when 7 kings were crowned during the 10th century. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Kingston was a royal manor with a church, 5 mills and 3 salmon fisheries. There has been a market since 1242, granted a charter by Charles I in 1628. The Market Place is now a conservation area and the town has preserved its Medieval street pattern. Kingston has nearly 3 miles of attractive riverfront with pubs, restaurants and boats.

	WHEN TO GO Some attractions are closed on Sunday and the museum also closes on Mondays & Wednesdays. The weekly market operates on Monday although there are stalls in the Market Place on other days.
	GETTING THERE There is a mainline station and a good bus service including buses from Richmond (nearest tube station on the District line). Travelcard Zone 6
	INFORMATION VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE in the Market House. Tel 020 8547 5592. Online information from the Leisure section of the government website or Kingston Online. Research the history of the area at the History Centre. Tel 020 8547 6738. Open Wed - Sat 10-5 (7pm on Thursday).
	WALKS I have a Kingston route [click here] Kingston is at the end of the 7 mile Hogsmill River Walk and section 8 of the LONDON LOOP. It is the starting point of the 15 mile Thames Down Link and also on the Thames Path [see trails]
	PLACES TO VISIT KINGSTON MUSEUM Wheatfield Way, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PS. Tel 020 8547 6460 The story of Kingston, display relating to the life & work of Eadweard Muybridge (pioneer photograher) and art gallery with changing exhibitions. Gift shop. Open Tue & Thurs - Sat 10-5 (7pm Thursdays).
	ENTERTAINMENT/EVENTS KINGSTON MUSEUM Wheatfield Way, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PS. Tel 020 8547 6460 Events programme including some evening talks organised by the Friends organisation . THE ROSE AT KINGSTON is a new theatre based on the Elizabethan Rose. 'Groundling' tickets are reasonably priced and there are free events in the Cafe. Tel 0871 230 1552. An events calendar for Kingston is available online
	EATING OUT Riverside seating available including 2 parks (see below). Green spaces around the parish church and in the Garden of Remembrance in Union Street (beware pigeons!). Under cover seats in the shopping centres.
	SHOPPING/MARKETS Kingston is a major shopping town with the Bentalls and other centres, John Lewis and other large stores plus specialist shops. There are stalls in the Market Place with a weekly market near the bus station on Mondays.
	CHURCHES ALL SAINTS CHURCH Market Place. Tel 020 8546 2644. The Medieval parish church houses a Frobenius organ installed in 1988.
	GREEN SPACES There are green spaces around the parish church and in the Garden of Remembrance in Union Street. Fairfield Recreation Ground is on the east side of the town. There are riverside parks: Queen's Promenade Gardens (south) and Canbury Gardens (north). Bushy Park and the Home Park of Hampton Court are just across the river.
	WATER FEATURES The waterfront (on the Thames Path) is attractive The Hogsmill River can be followed from the town
	WORTH SEEING The fallen telephone boxes in London Road - public art by David Mach [pix] Remains of a 600 year old undercroft in the John Lewis building (view from the riverside). The Lovekyn Chapel at Kingston Grammar School (the oldest free-standing chantry chapel in England). The new Rose Theatre opposite the Guildhall

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