Kingston-upon-Thames: Great accommodation, great borough, great access to the Olympics

As the name suggests, Kingston-upon-Thames is a striking place to stay, based right on the riverside

A long weekend in Kingston-upon-Thames just isn’t enough, and if you are planning to stay in London for the duration of the sporting events in 2012, this may well be the place to consider.

Because it isn’t one of the hosting boroughs for the games, you may find that finding cheap and well-appointed Olympics accommodation is simpler.

Well known for their theatres, art scene and the beautiful greenery that surrounds the River Thames, Kingston-upon-Thames is the idyllic venue for those who want to appreciate the great outdoors during their ‘staycation’. If you haven’t been to the city before, this borough is a picturesque offering – the perfect fusion between urban and rural.

You’ll love strolling down the riverside during those warm and hazy summer nights, with plenty of rustic pubs serving real ale and gorgeous food, rustled up from local produce. With the birds tweeting and the sun setting, you might feel slightly envious that every evening can’t be as perfect as it will be during your escape to Kingston-upon-Thames. We haven’t even mentioned all of the sports activities that you will be in easy reach of yet!

What are you going to watch during the Olympics?

Kingston-upon-Thames offers an idyllic base for you to commute to nearby sporting events.

The Olympic Park in Newham is where most of the action is going to be kicking off, and thanks to the frequent transport links that run every evening, going to see night time events such as the opening ceremony won’t be a problem.

Just imagine being there as history unfolds, with record-breaking athletes and stories that will make it into the history books. You don’t want to be sat in your accommodation watching the coverage on the BBC – get out there and watch the events for yourself!

Of course, just because you are based in London doesn’t mean that you have to restrict yourself to watching sport here. If you’ve got a secret passion for one of the countries taking part in the football, you may find that they have matches in Manchester, Coventry and Glasgow. In these cases, be sure to investigate the best train routes and motorways to use to make the most out of your holiday.

Best London holiday accommodation

Boats, beer and brilliant food: The attractions in Kingston-upon-Thames

Shopping in Kingston-upon-Thames

We’ve all had those Monday mornings where things just don’t seem to be going right. So: let the Monday morning market in Kingston-upon-Thames transform your perceptions for the better! From 8am until 2pm, high-quality clothes and other goodies can be snapped up at low prices.

Wining and dining in Kingston-upon-Thames

As we mentioned earlier, the wide range of restaurants allows you to enjoy international cuisine that comprises imported ingredients from around the world, as well as simply-cooked produce from the local area. Sometimes, for a meal to be flavoursome, it doesn’t have to be made in an elaborate way with liberal amounts of herbs and spices. The award-winning chefs in the area will testify to this, as will their loyal customers!

Spending your leisure time in Kingston-upon-Thames

If you fancy yourself as an aspiring athlete in Kingston-upon-Thames, you might want to consider getting your trainers and going for a jog around the numerous parks and leisure facilities in the area. Even some of the indoor centres are free to access, allowing you to practice your swimming technique and time yourself against world-class athletes!

Buses, planes and trains in Kingston-upon-Thames

Getting a boat up the River Thames might take a while, and this is why it might be a better idea to choose reliable transport providers in Kingston-upon-Thames instead.

London Heathrow and Gatwick, as with many other boroughs, aren’t too far away. National Rail services will take you across the country too, and the nearest station to Kingston-upon-Thames is Berrylands, Chessington North and Chessington South. There isn’t a London Underground link in Kingston-upon-Thames, but there are buses to Wimbledon (yes, the venue famous for tennis!), where picking up the District line is a doddle.

Getting to Central London is easy once you’re on the Tube, so make sure you get out to Newham to see Olympic Park in all of its splendour, too!