Kingston derives it's name from the King's Stone on which the Kings of Wessex
were crowned. The last coronation in Kingston was that of Ethelred II in 979 but
the most fomous would have to be Alfred the Great in about 871. Indeed the
King's stone is still in Kingston in amongst the sprawling Guild Hall complexes.

It is situated on the River Thames just to the south of Richmond Park
¹
and just the other side of Kingston Bridge is the Royal Palace of Hampton Court.

Kinston-upon-Thames is one of the few Royal Boroughs in England partially
because of it's long and loyal connections with the Royal family.

Kingston is still a market town and has a permanent market still open daily
on the market square. Modern marketing has also come to Kingston and it is one
of the growing shopping areas of London with the Bentall's Centre , a large John
Lewis store and various other high street giants on the high street and
surrounding shopping areas.

Kingston University
is also now one of the new Universities
, having until the early 1990s only had a Polytechnic. In fact one of the oldest
marathons in the world finishes along the banks of the Thames at Kingston and
is known as the Kingston and Polytechnic Athletic Club Marathon. The club still
meets at the tartan track at Kingsmeadow.

Kingsmeadow is also the home of Kingstonian, the FA trophy winners of 1998-9 and currently riding high in the Vauxhall
Conference. Kingstonian are trying to emulate local neighbours Wimbledon in
trying to reach the heights of the football league and then beyond.

The most famous MP to have represented Kingston was Norman Lamont who was
Chancellor of the Exchequer at the time of the fear over the European Monetary
System. He was forced to resign as Chancellor following the debacle of the day
when the government rose interest rates by 5% in one day only for them to be
returned to 10% at the end of the day.

The Nightlife

• Options a cinema/disco/bar complex just down the road from the train
  station, student night is Wednesday so get there early before the educated
  drunks of the borough ².
  
• Volts a
  nightclub with a massive dance space plus plenty of nooks and crannies for those
  all important liaisons.
• Bacchus a favourite with many because it has
  No Dress Code.
• Other bars try the Ram on High Street or the Grey Horse on
  Richmond Road check the boards outside for live gig info.

To round off the night
fancy an Indian? Check out:


• Modern India on Coombe Road. In the words of
  fellow researcher Austin Morris "It's been around
  since the 60's, so it can't be too bad".