Surbiton
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| Surbiton | |
|---|---|
| OS Grid Reference: | Template:Gbmappingsmall |
| Administration | |
| Borough: | Kingston |
| County: | Greater London |
| Region: | Greater London |
| Nation: | England |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial County: | Greater London |
| Traditional County: | Surrey |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post town: | SURBITON |
| Postcode: | KT6 |
| Dialling Code: | 020 |
Surbiton is a suburban area of London situated in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
It is a commuter town next to the river Thames, populated with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, spacious and grand late-19th century town houses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates.
The town first prospered when a plan to build the main railway line down to the south coast through nearby Kingston was rejected by the residents there, resulting in the line being routed through Surbiton. As a result Kingston is now located on a branch line whereas passengers from Surbiton, a smaller town by comparison, can reach central London in one direction in around 15 minutes and stations as distant as Portsmouth or Southampton in the opposite. This makes Surbiton a good town from which to commute into central London, and the population reflects this.
Surbiton's main claim to popular fame is as an icon of suburbia in such British television programs as The Good Life (starring Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal), and John Sessions' comedy series Stella Street, which has on occasion led to the town being nicknamed "Suburbiton". Other related trivia: the character from the 1980s Sinclair Spectrum computer games Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy was described as a Surbiton resident, and Black Sabbath played at the Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 19th May 1970. The Assembly Rooms have since been sold off by Kingston Council to a local school.
Nightlife
Surbiton has a number of fine drinking establishments, though it plays second fiddle to its larger neighbour Kingston upon Thames.
Starting at the east of the town centre one finds the Coronation Hall, a former theatre now part of the J.D.Wetherspoon chain. In the past the building was also home to a planned naturist health club which ran out of funding and never opened. It is rumoured that underneath the pub there is a working Jacuzzi.
The next pub along the street is the Rat and Parrot. This pub's name reflects no history of the area, but is a popular spot at weekends.
The Surbiton Flyer is, as its name implies, next door to Surbiton station. A Fullers house, it was refurbished during 2004. Other local pubs include The Antelope, The Grove and The Victoria.
There is also a modern "West End chic" cocktail bar, The Rubicon, on Maple Road. Try the Surbiton Ice Tea or Sex in the Suburbs.
For a late drink head down towards the YMCA - the Saucy Kettle is open until late at weekends.
Nearest places:
- Kingston upon Thames
- Thames Ditton
- Long Ditton
- Tolworth
- Norbiton
- Teddington
- Hampton
- Petersham
- Twickenham
- Chessington
External Links
- Kingston Borough Council (http://www.kingston.gov.uk/su.asp)
- Surbiton.com - community website (http://www.surbiton.com/)
- Knowhere Guide of Surbiton (http://www.knowhere.co.uk/3520.html)