Kingston-upon-Thames was, up until its incorporation as a London borough in the early 1960's, the county town of Surrey. Despite the cathedral city of Guildford having taken over that function nowadays, many still regard Kingston as Surrey's principal town. It's quite an ancient settlement and was a town of some considerable importance in medieval times, and boasted the only bridge over the Thames upstream of London Bridge until 1750, when Westminster Bridge was built.
Modern Kingston is one of a number of vibrant and interesting towns around south west and south London, although it must be admitted that it has been strangled by traffic to some extent and that it has not exploited its river frontage as much as it might have. The borough's second "town" is nearby Surbiton, and most of the middle reaches of the borough consists of residential districts such as Berrylands, Coombe and New Malden. To the north the borough borders the extensive green acres of Richmond Park, while to the south it extends a wedge into the rural green belt beyond Chessington.
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The Bentall Centre |
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The London LOOP in Kingston |
Surrey
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This page last updated 16th July 2006
