This pretty town located on the banks of Thames, about 10 miles from Charing Cross is located in the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and has a long and rich history.

It was first mentioned in 838 as the site of a meeting between King Egbert of Wessex and Ceolnoth, Archbishop of Canterbury, when it was known as Cyninges tun. Since then it’s been called Chingestune in 1086, Kingeston in 1164, Kyngeston super Tamisiam in 1321 and Kingestowne upon Thames in 1589. So it’s easy to understand why most people just go with Kingston.

The town centre looks a little different now, with a great mixture of high-street chains and independent boutiques, along with a brilliant selection of restaurants, bars and pubs, many of which are located on the riverside with some truly stunning views. There’s a daily market, the wonderful Rose theatre, and numerous festivals including Kingston Readers' Festival, Think-in-Kingston and the Festival of the Voice, organised by the local council.

Transport wise, Kingston’s extremely well off, with three stations - Kingston, Norbiton and Hampton Wick - all offering quick trips into London Waterloo. And if you fancy something a bit more leisurely, there are regular riverboats running between Kingston and Hampton Court as well as Richmond during the summer.

Kingston also boasts a number of outstanding schools, including Bedelsford School, Collis Primary, Coombe Girls’ School, Coombe Junior, Dysart School, Esher Sixth Form College and Fern Hill Primary School. And Kingston university has the benefit of bringing a youthful verve to the area.

Golf fans are well catered for with courses at Coombe Wood Golf Club, and Hampton Court Palace Golf Club. While anyone who prefers their past times a bit more water-based can enjoy the Kingston Rowing Club and Thames Sailing Club.

And as for properties, Kingston’s got it all. Buyers can choose from entry-level flats in the centre of town, to pricey family homes in the Coombe Estate. Albany Park Road has fine detached double-fronted Edwardian houses; and Lower Ham Road has houses and flats overlooking the river, though understanably these don’t come on the market often. But there’s also everything in between, with a lovely mix of 1920s and 1930s period homes, often on quiet, tree-lined streets.