Starting university in Kingston? Here is your guide for things to do in Kingston and how to get the best out of student life in this buzzing area.
Kingston’s Arbury Court student accommodation has all the perks of being part of the big city, whilst retaining the charm of a town steeped in history. It doesn’t matter whether you love to go out for a few cocktails or your idea of a good time is a long riverside walk, Kingston student life is pretty good!
Shops
It’s likely that one of the first things you will want to do when you’ve unpacked is head to the supermarket so you don’t have to live on the 10kg sack of rice your mum gave you and shopping is made easy at Arbury Court.
Aldi: located just around from the building, making it easy to do a food shop on foot.
H Mart: stocks all the ingredients you will need to create beautiful Asian cuisine.
Cafés
Grabbing a coffee is a great way to lift your spirits and get a feel for the place once you arrive. Head into the centre for big brand names like Starbucks and Costa, who do reliably good coffee and sweet treats. If you want to push the boat out, convince your family that the only way to send you off in style is a trip to Warren House. The building is spectacularly beautiful and their afternoon teas are the stuff of legend.
(Oh, and also, the very best hangover fry ups are to be found across the road at King Café!)
Pubs
Everyone knows the best way to get settled into a new home is to find a good local pub. Whether you take your dad for a final pint or you’re heading out with your new housemates, finding somewhere to have a quiet drink is essential. Kingston’s best watering holes can be found down towards the river and you’ll soon grow to love watching the boats drift past as you enjoy a drink outside.
Woody’s: has the perfect outdoor terrace overlooking the river
Boaters Inn: if you know a bit about interesting beers
The Druid’s Head: where Jerome K Jerome sat and wrote the famous Three Men in a Boat.
Getting Around
Kingston has great transport connections making it simple to explore and travel into the centre of London. At Arbury Court, we run a free and regular bus service to Kingston University too.
Cycling is both the cheapest and the greenest way to get around with great cycling facilities. Dedicated cycle paths can now be found across the area, with many running through parks and open spaces along the way.
There are several train stations serving the Kingston area, so you’ll have plenty of options if you’re wanting to travel into greater London. New Malden train station is the easiest to get to from Arbury Court. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even get around Kingston by boat!
Kingston attractions
South West London is packed full of exciting activities, wonderful food, and vibrant nightlife, so you’ll never be stuck for something to do. If anything, the biggest problem is choosing where to get started!
Hampton Court Palace: a massive Tudor palace right on the edge of the river. You can even get to it by boat from Kingston if you want the full royal experience. With a superb art collection, famed formal gardens as far as the eye can see, and a fun maze to get lost in, you can easily spend the full day here.
Football stadium tours: Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge offers hour long tours of the stadium, along with a museum visit and tours of the dressing room, press room, and pitch.
Dining Out
Dining out in London can feel a little overwhelming get so much choice! Here are our top picks on a student budget:
New Malden’s Little Korea: the area has a large Korean community and the foodie scene here is getting a lot of attention because of its amazing quality. Check out Sorabol at the end of the High Street for amazing Korean BBQ and kimchi that is out of this world.
Pizza: if you’re heading out of the area, we’d seriously recommend you take a trip to Brixton to soak up the cool vibes and have some of the best pizza you’ll ever eat. Franco Manca is on every London foodie list and all under £10!
Shopping
Shopping is serious business in South West London and the area is famed for its tiny, upmarket boutiques where you’re guaranteed to find something no one else is wearing. Head to Belgravia for cool, concept fashion stores and If you want a department store vibe, head to Chelsea for a look around the world-famous Harrods.
Shopping in Kingston itself is also a great place to indulge in a little retail therapy. The town centre is home to the Bentall Shopping Centre has an amazing range of shops, from the stylish minimalist-chic & Other Stories to fashion’s leading designers such as Chanel and Tom Ford.
If you’re looking for something a little more unique, head to the Ancient Market Place, where there is a market selling fresh fruit, veg, fish, flower, artisan, foods, vintage clothes and more, every day of the week. What’s more, the worn brick pavements, cluttered with old-fashioned market stalls, make for the perfect Instagram pictures.
Drinking
South West London has plenty of trendy nightlife options to choose from, especially in areas like Clapham and Brixton that are just a short journey away from Kingston.
Clapham boasts drinking destinations such as Sugar Cane, where you’re guaranteed to find the cool kids sipping a cocktail to an eclectic playlist.
Sugar Cane: has a slightly different vibe, offering a bit of tiki sunshine on even the greyest of London days. The fabulous selection of cocktails and tacky-chic décor are offset by an amazing mix of music, with everything from hip-hop, jazz, and funk to old school classics.
The Windmill in Brixton: attracting the very best in up-and-coming live bands, you can expect the beer to be cheap and the music to be loud. You never know, you might even discover the next big thing.
Find out more about living at Arbury Court, your perfect student home in this vibrant city.
