Our Monthly Sunday Walks
Every other week, on Sunday afternoons in the summer months, we also offer two other guided walks:
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a walk down Old London Road and Clarence Street
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a walk pointing out the old pubs of Kingston
Please see Walk Times for details.
Kingston Tour Guides
Illustrated Talks and Free Walking Tours around the ancient town of Kingston upon Thames.
Explore Kingston and Surbiton and their long history on one of our free walking tours. Our tours are designed to suit all ages and all walking abilities.
We have been delivering our regular Sunday Kingston walks for more than twenty years; however, we now also offer monthly Sunday walks of both Surbiton and our Pubs of Old Kingston walk.
In addition we can provide walks for schools at a time and day to be arranged and dementia-friendly Historical Memory walks. See details below.
Did you know that we also offer a selection of talks for your organisation? Check our Walks and Talks page for more details.
Kingston Walks. Our weekly Sunday walking tours of historic Kingston upon Thames start at 11:00 a.m, underneath the statue of the Golden Queen in the Ancient Market Place. Walks typically last from 1½ to 2 hours but you may leave the walk at any time.
Join us while we tell you about the history of All Saints Church, why the river was so important to Kingston's development, about the bridges that cross the river now and in the past, the development of the Market Place and much, much more.
Please click here to reserve a place on a Sunday walk of your choice.
Surbiton Walks. Discover Surbiton, the "Queen of the Suburbs", on our monthly walk. Learn about the Victorian churches of St Mark's and St Andrews, the Clock Tower and the forgotten Victorian whose foresight led to the development of Surbiton.
The walks start at 11:00 a.m. from the forecourt of Surbiton Station on the 4th Sunday of every month, from April to September.
Please click here to reserve a place on a Surbiton walk of your choice.
Pubs of Old Kingston. Did you know that in the 19th century, there were 52 pubs within 20 minutes walk of the Market Place?
Our new monthly walking tour explores the history of brewing and drinking in Kingston, from Roman times to the present day.
Tours start at 2:00 p.m, outside the Fighting Cocks pub in Old London Road on the 3rd Sunday of every month from April to September.
Please click here to reserve a place on a Pubs of Old Kingston walk.
Walking Tours for Schools. Step back in time and spark children’s imagination as you walk in the footsteps of Saxon Kings, medieval market folk,Tudor courtiers and soldiers, Georgian gentry and famous Queens too - not forgetting the paw prints of the world famous Nipper the Dog !
Let us guide YOU - Teachers, Parents, Children and Students through our town, bringing to life our rich and exciting history. Let your feet do the walking and we will do the talking!
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For more information, contact Carole at schools@kingstontourguides.org.uk
Historical Memory Walks. Join our dementia-friendly tour of the historic town of Kingston upon Thames, a relaxing walk around the centre of Kingston, stopping at key places and briefly chatting about the history associated with the location.
We meet at 10:30 a.m. in the café in All Saints Church. The walks last around 60 minutes and are led by our volunteer guides. After the walk, we’ll sit and talk over a tea or coffee (our treat!) in the quiet calm of the church café. Support workers, carers, family members or friends are very welcome to join the walk. Please click here to reserve a place.
The first recorded mention of Kingston in history was in 838 A.D. when King Egbert called a Great Council to take place in what he called "That Famous Place". That probably makes Kingston over 1,200 years old!
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Unfortunately, we don't have a photograph of Kingston from that time. However, All Saints Church, the oldest building in Kingston (and Grade I listed), dates from around 1130 A.D.
The church is much modified since it was originally built in Norman times. Join our Sunday morning tour and we'll tell you more of All Saints' history, talk about some of the people who are buried there and much more.
We'll describe the coaching inns that lined the Ancient Market Place and the football match that was held there every Shrove Tuesday. Learn about the Market House and the Golden Queen who presides over the Market Place.
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Let us tell you why the River Thames was important in Kingston's development, learn about the barge trade and the old and new bridges across the river.
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Alternatively, why not join us on our new walk and let us tell you about 28 Kingston Pubs, some long gone, some thankfully still with us.
Whichever walk you come on with us, we can almost guarantee you'll learn a lot more about Kingston than you ever thought possible!
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Take a brief tour of Kingston's History.