If you’re renting a car in Kingston, it’s within easy reach of Kew Gardens, Richmond Park and historical Hampton Court Palace. However, this bustling market town has an appeal of its own, with a huge variety of stores and restaurants, as well as one of the UK’s best neighborhood theaters.
Follow in the footsteps of Henry VIII
Henry VIII’s magnificent Hampton Court Palace stands on the banks of the Thames, just across the river from Kingston-upon-Thames. This huge, sprawling collection of red-brick royal buildings, half of it Tudor and the other half baroque, requires a whole day to do it justice
Among the many highlights is the glorious Chapel Royal, best visited during a choral service. The palace’s art collection is overwhelming, but search out the Cumberland Art Gallery, which includes gems by Hans Holbein the Younger and Van Dyck.
Live re-enactments are not only great fun but also historically accurate too. If the weather’s good, make sure you head out to enjoy the wonderful gardens and lose yourself in the famous Hampton Court Maze. If you want to arrive in style, as King Henry VIII would have done, take one of the regular boats from Kingston pier.
Visit the world’s best garden
A short distance up the river from Hampton Court, and a six-mile drive from Kingston-upon-Thames, sits Kew Gardens, one of the world’s greatest green spaces and not to be missed, especially on a fine day. Kew boasts the world’s largest and most diverse collection of plant species, spread over 300 acres of beautiful lawns, woodlands, gardens and glasshouses.
Don’t miss Temperate House. Re-opened in 2018 following a five-year refurbishment project, this is the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure. When you get tired of walking, hop on the land train that will take you around the gardens, and afterwards you can enjoy a well-earned refreshment or a bite to eat in the Orangery restaurant.
Take a walk on the wild side
If you prefer your greenery to be a bit wilder, head to Richmond Park, a vast open space of woods, grasslands and roaming herds of deer. Richmond is one of London’s eight royal parks and protected as a National Nature Reserve.
Its 2,500 acres are fringed by roads and you can park at one of the entrances and wander – or cycle – the paths and trails to your heart’s content. The southern entrance to the park is barely a mile from the center of Kingston-upon-Thames.
Shop hard then see a play
The center of Kingston-upon-Thames is one of the best places in the capital for shopping. Clustered around the streets south of the rail station are more than 500 stores and two shopping malls offering a hugely varied retail experience.
Old London Road is home to lots of quirky independent stores selling antiques and vintage and retro clothing and homeware. While you’re browsing, look out for the town’s famous toppling red telephone boxes, an art installation by British artist David Mach.
After a day’s shopping, enjoy an evening of entertainment at the acclaimed Rose Theater, one of London’s most exciting venues and always guaranteed to be hosting something worth seeing.
Car rental from Kingston-upon-Thames is a great way to see the best of this corner of London and the highlights of the UK capital.
