It’s at all times the best way – there’s a lot on the market to find that we neglect to discover what’s proper on our doorstep, so whereas I stay round half an hour away, my daughter was one earlier than correctly beginning to discover Kingston with youngsters.
incorporates 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 may anticipate.
The traditional market city may not have such a excessive profile at present as when Saxon kings have 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 day by 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 London, additionally known as the Rose.
At this time, you will discover every little thing 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 beautiful classes for toddlers and preschoolers on the Rose, together with Monkey Music.
The Coronation Stone
Wander previous the Guildhall and also you may surprise why there’s a piece of stone surrounded by railings – till you get a bit nearer and uncover its fascinating origins.
The traditional Sarsen block – the identical form of stone used to construct Stonehenge – dates again over a thousand years, linked to the positioning the place seven Anglo-Saxon kings have been topped centuries in the past.
At this time there’s an engraving exhibiting the names of the seven kings topped right here, together with Ethelred the Unready in 979 in addition to earlier kings relationship again to the start of the tenth century.
Discover the historic bridges
Whenever you’re discovering the historical past at Kingston upon Thames with youngsters, you’ll be able to’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 picket bridge was constructed right here within the twelfth century and was the one crossing over the Thames till the 18th century, other than 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 stunning factor to do at any time of 12 months, 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 would stroll all the best way to Richmond if you happen to head off in a single course, or over to Hampton Courtroom within the different, if you happen to 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 cafes galore. Or simply stand and watch the swans gliding serenely alongside the Thames, with 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 – alas now closed, however it’s also possible to discover a string of family-friendly choices together with Cote Brasserie and Invoice’s, in addition to Thai at Rosa’s Thai, Lebanese at Comptoir Libanais, New Orleans-style po’boys at Poor Boys, 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.
If you happen to like the concept of getting behind the wheel of a ship your self, try the completely different choices from GoBoat London, with area for as much as eight in every electrical boat (and it’s dog-friendly as nicely).
You don’t have to have expertise earlier than you set off – there may be 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 Courtroom Palace.
You’ll get life jackets for infants and buoyancy aids for youngsters too. The captain should be over 18.
Take a look at our evaluate of GoBoat with youngsters from the central London location in Paddington
Or if you happen to’d choose another person to do the arduous 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-style stern wheeler) run most days between Richmond, Kingston and Hampton Courtroom, passing lovely Hampton Courtroom Palace, Teddington Lock and the quirkily fascinating Eel Pie Island.
Or Albany Park canoe and crusing centre runs programs and courses to assist youngsters learn to sail, in addition to canoeing and kayaking classes on the river.
Comply with a Treasure Path
For one technique to uncover a number of the secret highlights of Kingston with youngsters, choose 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, embellished with notables from Kingston’s historical past, right down to the river and passing a lot of quirky particulars alongside the best way.
With a puzzle to resolve, the loop by way of Kingston stretches for slightly below two miles and takes round two hours to finish.
Uncover some public artwork
There’s at all times 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 nicely.
One of the well-known is Out of Order, the place 12 pink cellphone bins lean in opposition to one another – the primary nonetheless upright, and the remainder 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.
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 at all times one thing new to identify, with a number of the newest eye-catching items of avenue artwork listed right here. Sadly Celebration Animal, which was within the Market Place, is not there.
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 nicely?
Tracing the historical past of the city, Kingston Museum has a string of shows exhibiting its Saxon heritage, proper by way of to highlights from the final century, together with a number of the space’s most well-known names.
There are additionally common short-term exhibitions to get pleasure from, together with images, artworks and extra. Entry is free though the museum is at present solely open on Thursday to Saturday.
Stanley Picker Gallery
An excellent place to go to in Kingston with teenagers, the Stanley Picker Gallery holds exhibitions and occasions all year long (although it closes through 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 at all times 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 no less than the early thirteenth century.
Working daily, with slightly below 30 everlasting stalls, you’ll discover every little thing from a greengrocer and fishmonger to avenue meals, and additional stalls showing for the Kingston Christmas market or for different particular occasions.
For extra unbiased retailers in Kingston, head to Previous London Highway, though you’ll even be spoiled for alternative in relation to excessive avenue buying on Clarence Avenue and the Bentall Centre
Attempt an escape room
There are two completely different Escape Rooms in Kingston for teenagers, with puzzles which might be good for households to strive.
Kingston Escape Rooms has a candy choice for youthful youngsters, serving to the Loopy Cat Woman discover her lacking cats – appropriate for age 5+, it was successful with my teen daughter and her buddies who beloved having the ability to play alone – in addition to An Hour To Kill Hollywood.
Or the video games at Escape Hunt Kingston are appropriate for age 8+ with every little thing from pirate enjoyable in Blackbeard’s Treasure, plus Journey to Atlantis, Alice in Puzzleland and Escape the Wild West.
Discover mushy play
Sadly Caterpillars Cafe, the mushy play at Kingston’s Bentall Centre (which my daughter beloved when she was youthful) has since closed, together with Jellybugs.
However you’ll be able to nonetheless discover mushy play at The Pod, within the YMCA Hawker Centre. The 2-storey mushy 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, aimed toward youngsters below 24 months or with further wants benefiting from sensory play. Plus there’s a riverside cafe for folks to seize a espresso whereas their youngsters let off steam.
PICNIC play village
Aimed toward youngsters aged six and below, 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 prepare dinner up a couple of desserts within the bakery, in addition to delivering the submit for good measure.
It’s the form of factor my daughter adored when she was little (the place we tried one thing comparable at locations like Eureka Youngsters’s Museum in Yorkshire), with 10 themed play areas set across the village sq..
Mini golf & video games at Pop Playrooms
The Rotunda Kingston is house from a model new leisure hub known as Pop Playrooms, together with nine-hole immersive mini gold plus American pool tables and AR darts.
And in between the enjoyable, there are many locations to eat, together with avenue meals like Wing Wing for Korean-style crispy double-fried hen, plus design impressed by a string of pop movies – good for tweens and youths.
Issues to do close to Kingston with youngsters
Whereas there’s lots to entertain households in Kingston upon Thames itself, you’ll discover a couple of extra nice days out if you happen to’re basing your self within the city.
Hampton Courtroom Palace
This spectacular Tudor Palace – ‘acquired’ by Henry VIII from Cardinal Wolsey – is certainly one of my favorite issues to do in London with youngsters and Hampton Courtroom Palace is barely round 10 minutes from Kingston with youngsters.
A implausible place to get a style of how the royal court docket lived, you’ll be able to see every little thing from the sprawling kitchens catering to the inhabitants to a collection of rooms embellished from completely different time intervals, together with grand Tudor ceilings and Georgian flats, courtyards and thrones below canopies, plus the attractive chapel royal.
As you stroll alongside the Haunted Gallery, it’s mentioned that Catherine Howard’s ghost can nonetheless be heard pleading for mercy.
Exterior, there’s as a lot to see within the gardens. House to the well-known maze, the Magic Backyard youngsters’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 court docket as nicely to see if you happen to can catch a show of Henry VIII’s favorite sport.
Go to a Royal Park
The largest of the royal parks, Richmond Park stretches for an astonishing 2,500 acres and can be a nature reserve.
Most well-known for its herds of untamed deer, each pink and fallow deer, you’ve bought 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 necessary to do not forget that they’re wild animals although, so don’t attempt to feed them and at all times hold no less than 50m away, particularly through the rutting season (from September to November) and through Could to July when fawns are born.
Don’t miss the beautiful Isabella Plantation gardens, with beautiful 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 lovely locations to stroll.
White Spider Climbing
Attempt a brand new problem at White Spider Climbing in Surbiton, with the possibility for teenagers to strive taster classes in holidays together with choices appropriate for ages 5+, with separate classes for youthful youngsters and youths.
Or flip up for Clip and Go classes for all ages and talents, though youngsters should weigh greater than 15kg to do that.
There are additionally drop-in classes for the Spider’s Fort 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 way 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 complete.
The course in New Malden is barely round quarter-hour from Kingston by automotive, or round half-hour by public transport.
*First printed 2013, final up to date 2026*
Disclosure: This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Predominant picture/Richmond Park courtesy of Depositphotos, Out Of Order through Picfair, all others copyright MummyTravels
LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER