Kingston Town Centre

Kingston has a small town feeling that few boroughs close to London have. On top of that it has a lovely stretch of the Thames.
The Town Centre has a good selection of shop with several options for coffee. On a sunny day you will find street performers making a buck. This is however not annoying but rather contribute to the festivities.
The town also have a vibrant famers market on Saturdays filled with fresh fruit and veg.

Kingston town centre has decent car parks but the roads to reach them can be a nightmare of jams and if there has been an accident forget it. Much easier to reach by train as the station is only a few minutes walk from the action. Shops are pretty good and are viewed as competitors to the West End in some cases. Also plenty at the bargain end with Lidl and the 99p shop attracting the crowds. The historic market place has kept some of its history although the recently installed fountains are just plain silly. Seems busier than ever with people coming in from all directions supplemented by vast numbers of students from the local college and University. Worth avoiding at around 4pm on school days when the school kids aim to create as much noise and nuisance as possible.

Ah! Kingston town centre (Thames that is, not Jamaica) has much to offer. What comes to mind first? Is it the shopping? Certainly, it’s shopping heaven (or hell) — depending on your perspective — with the four-​level Bentall centre (not the highlight, as far as I’m concerned) and a good John Lewis; a plethora of the usual suspects in Clarence Street and Eden Street, enhanced by a combination of the predictable and more unusual in pretty Thames Street, Church Street and the High Street. The ancient Market Square should definitely feature on your agenda.
Although there are plenty of car parks in the proximity, it’s worth bearing in mind that the one-​way system can be hair-​tearingly frustrating and confusing. Parking restrictions seem to go from strict to stricter. So, perhaps you should consider public transport (plenty of options) when planning your visit. If shopping is your main purpose, consider that weekends are not for the faint-​hearted — heaving masses come to mind — credit-​crunch not withstanding. During the week, shops here close earlier than those in central London with little open beyond 6pm. Thursday is late-​night (until 8 or 9pm, depending on the outlet). Extended hours are more prevalent in the run-​up to Christmas.
A visit here is about far more than shopping, though. The new (–ish) Rose Theatre is worth a visit on its own merits; a pretty riverside amble, cycle or run is always a pleasure. There’s an improving selection of restaurants on offer, with something to please most palates (and pockets). Take a look at Qype’s surrounding reviews and have a happy visit!