Kingston Upon Thames

Yet Kingston is far from a museum piece. The town centre is broad, busy, and unmistakably contemporary, known for one of the best shopping districts in Greater London outside the West End. Large retail anchors sit beside independent boutiques, while cafés and bakeries lend the streets a casual, welcoming hum. Bentall Centre, with its vast atrium, pulls in shoppers from well beyond the borough, while the ancient market continues to sell everything from fresh produce to street food, adding texture and contrast to the more polished spaces around it.

Culturally, Kingston thrives. The Rose Theatre, modelled loosely on the Elizabethan original, brings in major productions and community performances alike. Galleries and riverside studios foster a quieter but steady artistic presence. The town’s university adds youth and a sense of experimentation, especially in the arts and design spheres, influencing local festivals and creative events. Evenings by the river are particularly atmospheric: fairy lights strung along the waterfront, the sound of conversation drifting from restaurant terraces, rowers returning to their boathouses as the sky fades into pastel colours.

What often surprises newcomers is the abundance of green space. Richmond Park lies just to the north, close enough that deer occasionally feel like honorary residents of the borough. Canbury Gardens and the Queen’s Promenade offer pockets of calm right on the river, while the wider borough contains leafy residential areas that feel almost suburban despite the town’s urban amenities.

Overall, Kingston upon Thames carries the character of a place that has grown over centuries but never lost its sense of itself. It feels lived-in, grounded, and distinctly human: a town where history is tangible, the river sets the rhythm, and everyday life moves with a balance of energy and ease.