Summer In Kingston: Queen’s Promenade

If you are planning to live in Seething Wells or somewhere near Surbiton, I highly recommend taking a walk by the Thames river along the Queen’s Promenade when you have the time!

Despite having lived relatively nearby at Clayhill for the majority of the past year, I only recently discovered the boardwalk along Portsmouth Rd which is the Queen’s Promenade. If you are looking for a scenic running route, grabbing a coffee with a friend or just want some quiet time by the river, the boardwalk is the perfect spot. :colondollar:

Interestingly, what we now know was the Queen’s Promenade was only a gravel pit till the 1850s. It was only because of William Woods, a large property developer at that time that saw an opportunity to create an exclusive riverside walk. With the help of the council, the promenade was developed and eventually opened for the public. The promenade was well known for drawing large crowds for boating regattas and served as a well known spot for strolling by the river!

Unfortunately the promenade fell into disarray in the 20th century with its fine gardens and structures lost to time. Luckily, due to the help of gardening volunteers and regenerative efforts in recent years, the riverside is a lot more friendly to pedestrians and cyclists. Although the river can be quite dreary during the winter months, it really comes alive during spring and summer with large large sunflowers and an assortment of blooming flowers. :u: