About Kingston upon Thames
Kingston is both a vibrant Surrey market town and one of the liveliest Royal Boroughs, sited on the banks of the River Thames, twelve miles south west of the centre of London. An attractive blend of fine timber-framed Tudor buildings with modern stores and homes, it boasts great shopping, a colourful café culture, thriving arts scene and great nightlife.
Kingston-upon-Thames
Facts at a glance
- 19 million day time shoppers per year
- 3.9 million evening visitors per year
- 500 shops - and rising
- The 17th largest retail centre in the UK (3.5 million sq ft)
- The second most important shopping destination in London, after the West End
- Number one shopping destination for south west London and Surrey
Shopping in Kingston
Shopping is well catered for and is generally towards the upper end of expectations, with a good mixture of familiar High Street chains and more select boutiques. The shopping centre includes a shopping mall, "The Bentall Centre", containing the Bentalls department store and large branches of chain stores found in many British high streets. There is a branch of the John Lewis department store group, with a Waitrose supermarket, located in the basement.
Entertainment in Kingston
The Rotunda, located in the former Bentalls furniture depository building (a local landmark), includes a bowling alley, fitness centre, a 14-screen Odeon multiplex cinema and some restaurants. Recent developments along the riverside south of Kingston Bridge have added bars, restaurants and a theatre, the Rose Theatre which opened in 2008 with Sir Peter Hall as the director. The ancient market is still held daily in the Market Place.
Kingston Transport
The town is served by three railway stations on a line into Waterloo Station via New Malden and Wimbledon or via Richmond upon Thames (the long way round). The local stations are Kingston, Norbiton and Hampton Wick. Norbiton is east of the town centre near Kingston Hospital, and Hampton Wick is to the west across the river Thames.