It’s all the time the best way – there’s a lot on the market to find that we overlook to discover what’s proper on our doorstep, so whereas I stay beneath an hour away, my daughter was one earlier than I managed to start out exploring Kingston with youngsters.
comprises affiliate hyperlinks*
For sure, we’ve been again greater than as soon as since then as there are extra issues to do with youngsters in Kingston upon Thames than you would possibly anticipate.
The traditional market city won’t have such a excessive profile as we speak as when Saxon kings had been topped there, however there’s nonetheless loads to find, not least the ‘Coronation stone’ within the grounds of the Guildhall in addition to a each day market in Market Place.
Rose Theatre
One of many greatest sights in Kingston for teenagers, the Rose Theatre was modelled on the unique Elizabethan Theatre on Bankside in Longon, additionally known as the Rose.
Right now, you will discover all the pieces from musicals to Shakespeare in addition to loads of family-friendly productions – comparable to an adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom, Zog, and The Smeds and the Smoos, in addition to a stay Hey Duggee present.
You’ll additionally discover pretty periods for toddlers and preschoolers on the Rose, together with Monkey Music.
The Coronation Stone
Wander previous the Guildhall and also you would possibly marvel why there’s a bit of stone surrounded by railings – till you get a bit nearer and uncover its fascinating origins.
The traditional Sarsen block – the identical type of stone used to construct Stonehenge – dates again over a thousand years, linked to the positioning the place seven Anglo-Saxon kings had been topped centuries in the past.
Right now there’s an engraving displaying the names of the seven kings topped right here, together with Ethelred the Unready in 979 in addition to earlier kings courting again to the start of the tenth century.
Discover the historic bridges
Once you’re discovering the historical past at Kingston upon Thames with youngsters, you may’t miss the Clattern Bridge. One of many oldest intact bridges in England, it dates from round 1200, crossing the Hogsmill River.
The title supposedly comes from the clattering made by horses’ hooves as they crossed the cobbles over the bridge.
A lot larger, Kingston Bridge has its personal memorable historical past. The unique wood bridge was constructed right here within the twelfth century and was the one crossing over the Thames till the 18th century, aside from London Bridge.
The primary stone bridge adopted in 1826 and it has been widened twice since then: observe the trail downstream and hold your eye open for the situation of the primary bridge marked within the cobbles.
Discover the riverside
A stroll alongside the Thames is a beautiful factor to do at any time of yr, and it’s as simple to go for a brief stroll or an extended stroll earlier than refuelling in one of many family-friendly eating places.
You may stroll all the best way to Richmond in the event you head off in a single course, or over to Hampton Court docket within the different, in the event you fancy a peek on the Tudor Palace (or a go to inside).
There’s additionally some inexperienced area to get pleasure from and a play space at Canbury Gardens, in addition to eating places and aces galore or simply watch the swans gliding serenely alongside the Thames, narrowboats lined up alongside the financial institution, so as to add a splash of color on a really gray day.
My daughter’s first go to to Kingston noticed us testing the burgers at Byron Burger Kingston, however you may as well discover a string of family-friendly choices together with Cote Bresserie and Invoice’s, in addition to Thai at Busaba, Indian meals at Chakra and Lebanese at Comptoir Libanais, plus waterside pubs.
Head out on the river
Even higher than strolling by the river in Kingston is to get out onto the water itself.
When you like the concept of getting behind the wheel of a ship your self, take a look at the completely different choices from GoBoat London, with area for as much as eight in every electrical boat (and it’s dog-friendly as effectively).
You don’t have to have expertise earlier than you set off – there’s coaching given on arrival, together with a route map of the place to see alongside the river in West London between Teddington Lock and Molesley Lock, passing Hampton Court docket Palace.
You’ll get life jackets for infants and buoyancy aids for youngsters too. The captain have to be over 18.
Or in the event you’d favor another person to do the laborious work, the boat excursions from Turks River Cruises have been travelling alongside the Thames for over 300 years.
The attention-catching boats (most famously a Mississippi fashion stern wheeler) run most days between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Court docket, passing lovely Hampton Court docket Palace, Teddington Lock and the quirkily fascinating Eel Pie Island.
Or Albany Park canoe and crusing centre runs programs and courses to assist youngsters discover ways to sail, in addition to canoeing and kayaking periods on the river.
Comply with a Treasure Path
For one method to uncover a few of the secret highlights of Kingston with youngsters, decide up a enjoyable Treasure Path across the city.
The spy mission takes you from the Market Sq., with its gilded statue of Queen Anne and the historic buildings, adorned with notables from Kingston’s historical past, right down to the river and passing numerous quirky particulars alongside the best way.
With a puzzle to unravel, the loop by means of Kingston stretches for slightly below two miles and takes round two hours to finish.
Uncover some public artwork
There’s all the time new avenue artwork to identify as you discover Kingston upon Thames with youngsters, however hold your eyes open for a couple of particular public artworks as effectively.
Some of the well-known is Out of Order, the place 12 crimson telephone bins lean towards one another – the primary nonetheless upright, and the remaining tilting over in a curve till the final one lies virtually flat upon the bottom. The work by artist David Mach sits on Previous London Highway.
Within the Market Place, spot Occasion Animal by Alex RT Davies, the winner of the 2021 Kingston Sculpture path, with a visitors cone resting on a bronze aim’s again – the goat’s golden nostril is getting shinier and shinier as passers-by rub it as they move. It’s made to be interacted with, so climbing on the goat’s again is inspired – a particular bonus in the event you’re visiting with youngsters.
Or head right down to Riverside Stroll, to see Echolocation by Mat Collishaw, an 11m lengthy video set up within the undercroft between Cote and The Bishop Pub.
Plus there’s all the time one thing new to identify, with a few of the newest eye-catching items of avenue artwork listed right here.
Kingston Museum
Do you know that one of many early pioneers of movie was born and died in Kingston upon Thames? Or that the city has hyperlinks to aviation historical past as effectively?
Tracing the historical past of the city, Kingston Museum has a string of shows displaying its Saxon heritage, proper by means of to highlights from the final century, together with a few of the space’s most well-known names.
There are additionally common momentary exhibitions to get pleasure from, together with photographs, artworks and extra. Entry is free though the museum is at the moment solely open on Thursday to Saturday.
Stanley Picker Gallery
An important place to go to in Kingston with teenagers, the Stanley Picker Gallery holds exhibitions and occasions all year long (although it closes in the course of the summer time months) that includes work by native artists and designers in addition to college students at Kingston College.
Set on an island alongside the Hogsmill river, it’s a straightforward stroll from the city centre and there’s all the time one thing new to find.
Go to Kingston Market
Given Kingston’s historical past, it’s no shock to find that the city’s market has an equally lengthy pedigree – there was a market in Market Sq. since not less than the early thirteenth century.
Working on daily basis, with slightly below 30 everlasting stalls, you’ll discover all the pieces from a greengrocer and fishmonger to avenue meals, and additional stalls showing for the Kingston Christmas market or for different particular occasions.
For extra impartial retailers in Kingston, head to Previous London Highway, though you’ll even be spoiled for selection in relation to excessive avenue buying on Clarence Road and the Bentall Centre
Attempt an escape room
There are two completely different Escape Rooms in Kingston for teenagers, with puzzles which are good for households to attempt.
Kingston Escape Rooms has a candy choice for youthful youngsters, serving to the Loopy Cat Girl discover her lacking cats – appropriate for age 5+ – in addition to An Hour To Kill Hollywood.
Or the video games at Escape Hunt Kingston are appropriate for age 8+ with all the pieces from pirate enjoyable in Blackbeard’s Treasure, plus Journey to Atlantis, Alice in Puzzleland and Escape the Wild West.
There are Digital Actuality video games right here that are appropriate for ages 12+ as effectively.
Discover comfortable play
Sadly Caterpillars Cafe, the comfortable play at Kingston’s Bentall Centre (which my daughter beloved when she was youthful) has since closed, together with Jellybugs.
However you may nonetheless discover comfortable play at The Pod, within the YMCA Hawker Centre. The 2-storey comfortable play centre has one thing for all ages as much as 11, with areas for infants and toddlers in addition to area for older youngsters to be lively.
The Sensory Room has additionally been refurbished, geared toward kids beneath 24 months or with further wants benefiting from sensory play. Plus there’s a riverside cafe for fogeys to seize a espresso whereas their youngsters let off steam.
PICNIC play village
Aimed toward kids aged six and beneath, the mini world of PICNIC is heaven for youthful youngsters.
Contained in the play village, with its mini city, little ones can head off to the store to play at being a cashier or selecting up necessities, fulfil a couple of goals of being a firefighter, placed on a efficiency within the theatre or cook dinner up a couple of muffins within the bakery, in addition to delivering the publish for good measure.
It’s the type of factor my daughter adored when she was little (the place we tried one thing related at locations like Eureka Kids’s Museum in Yorkshire), with 10 themed play areas set across the village sq..
Issues to do close to Kingston with youngsters
Whereas there’s a lot to entertain households in Kingston upon Thames itself, you’ll discover a couple of extra nice days out in the event you’re basing your self within the city.
Hampton Court docket Palace
This spectacular Tudor Palace – ‘acquired’ by Henry VIII from Cardinal Wolsey – is one among my favorite issues to do in London with youngsters and Hampton Court docket Palace is barely round 10 minutes from Kingston with youngsters.
A implausible place to get a style of how the royal courtroom lived, you may see all the pieces from the sprawling kitchens catering to the inhabitants to a sequence of rooms adorned from completely different time durations, together with grand Tudor ceilings and Georgian flats, courtyards and thrones beneath canopies, plus the gorgeous chapel royal.
As you stroll alongside the Haunted Gallery, it’s stated that Catherine Howard’s ghost can nonetheless be heard pleading for mercy.
Outdoors, there’s as a lot to see within the gardens. Residence to the well-known maze, the Magic Backyard kids’s playground is one other favorite with youngsters plus there are common household actions throughout college holidays – something from Tudor sports activities to Easter hunts. Cease by the true tennis courtroom as effectively to see in the event you can catch a show of Henry VIII’s favorite recreation.
Go to a Royal Park
The largest of the royal parks, Richmond Park stretches for an astonishing 2,500 acres and can also be a nature reserve.
Most well-known for its herds of untamed deer, each crimson and fallow deer, you’ve obtained a great probability of recognizing them as you wander – the Tamsin Path, alongside the sting of the park is right for households, because it’s virtually car-free, and is an effective path to observe to get a couple of glimpses.
It’s essential to do not forget that they’re wild animals although, so don’t attempt to feed them and all the time hold not less than 50m away, particularly in the course of the rutting season (from September to November) and through Might to July when fawns are born.
Don’t miss the gorgeous Isabella Plantation gardens, with pretty winding paths previous the flowers and water, or on a transparent day, climb King Henry’s Mound and look throughout in direction of St Paul’s Cathedral greater than 10 miles away. It’s a protected view, so nothing is allowed to be constructed within the sightline.
You’re additionally near Bushy Park, the capital’s second largest royal park, with its personal deer herds, seventeenth century water gardens and beautiful locations to stroll.
White Spider Climbing
Attempt a brand new problem at White Spider Climbing in Surbiton, with the prospect for teenagers to attempt taster periods in holidays together with choices appropriate for ages 5+, with separate periods for youthful youngsters and teenagers.
Or flip up for Clip and Go periods for all ages and talents, though kids should weigh greater than 15kg to do this.
There are additionally drop-in periods for the Spider’s Fortress play space, for youngsters aged 3+, with a labyrinth to discover and towers and turrets to scale – there are bouldering routes for all talents, plus passages to climb by means of and slides to find in case your youngsters don’t fancy climbing.
Jurassic Encounter mini golf
Dodge 9 close to life-size dinosaurs as you problem your self to the mini golf course at Jurassic Encounter.
The holes take you thru prehistoric caves in addition to previous cascading waterfalls and over islands, with 18 holes in whole.
The course in New Malden is barely round quarter-hour from Kingston by automobile, or round half-hour by public transport.
*First printed 2013, final up to date 2022*
Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Primary picture/Richmond Park courtesy of Depositphotos, Out Of Order through Picfair, all others copyright MummyTravels