Kingston 2025 - Celebrating our Past, Present and Future

Closed 23 Feb 2024

Opened 24 Oct 2023

Results updated 20 Jan 2025

Official opening 3 May 2025, your responses have shaped the key themes that will run through a programme of public events, exhibitions, performances and heritage projects providing opportunities for people of all ages to get involved.

  • Decolonising Kingston - exploring migration stories and the experiences of our diverse communities, including how they continue to shape Kingston 

  • Our Voices Less Heard - exploring the stories of groups and communities who are less known in histories of Kingston - from women and working class narratives to those of the LGBTQ+ communities. 

  • Suburban Dreams - exploring Kingston as a place of settlement, commerce, industry and exchange

  • Kingston’s changing landscape - looking at the borough’s journey from market town to a place that is both urban and rural. Current environmental initiatives will be highlighted especially around habitats and clean water. Communities will explore river heritage by celebrating their own river cultures and traditions. 

  • Kingston as a 21st Century Market Town - investigating opportunities for Kingston to reinvent itself as a 21st century market town and a centre for creativity and innovation rooted in a full appreciation of its heritage. 

We will be working with many local organisations and groups to bring together communities, schools, students and artists to share your stories of what Kingston means to you. Details of the programme, and how to be involved will be updated on the Kingston Heritage service website.  

Links:

Overview

In 2025 Kingston will mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of England, with a borough-wide celebration. 

The six month programme of cultural events and activities will launch in Spring 2025 and will be created in collaboration with local communities. As well as amplifying some of the great things already taking place, we want to hear your ideas on how we should celebrate contemporary Kingston’s past, present and future.

We will develop the Kingston 2025 programme with our different communities building on the ideas and themes identified in engagement discussions.

How to get in touch with us

If you have any questions, or need any of the information in a different format, please get in touch with us via email: celebratekingston@kingston.gov.uk

Why your views matter

This is a great opportunity to reflect on the people, places and stories that made Kingston, the changes that have taken place and our hopes for the future. Over a millennium ago Athelstan was crowned the first King of England in the heart of Kingston, uniting the Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. Today the borough is home to many different nationalities and communities that bring an extraordinary richness to our heritage and cultural life; our sense of place, purpose and identity.

So what stories should we share? Whose stories are they to tell and how can we come together to celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary. With our history of innovation, commerce and creativity, a thriving student population and many distinct neighbourhoods spanning town and countryside - let’s make 2025 a year to remember.

What happens next

Thank you for your contribution.

Responses to the survey will be considered by the Kingston 2025 Community Team who are working with the council to develop the programme during 2024. The programme will be published in early 2025.

Events

  • Join us at this community engagement session at the Rose Theatre to find out more about Kingston 2025.

    From 31 Oct 2023 at 15:00 to 31 Oct 2023 at 16:30

    In 2025 Kingston will mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of England, with a borough-wide celebration.

    The six month programme of cultural events and activities will launch in Spring 2025 and will be created in collaboration with local communities. As well as amplifying some of the great things already taking place, we want to hear your ideas on how we should celebrate contemporary Kingston’s past, present and future.

    We will develop the Kingston 2025 programme with our different communities building on the ideas and themes identified in engagement discussions.

    This is a great opportunity to reflect on the people, places and stories that made Kingston, the changes that have taken place and our hopes for the future. Over a millennium ago Athelstan was crowned the first King of England in the heart of Kingston, uniting the Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. Today the borough is home to many different nationalities and communities that bring an extraordinary richness to our heritage and cultural life; our sense of place, purpose and identity.

    So what stories should we share? Whose stories are they to tell and how can we come together to celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary. With our history of innovation, commerce and creativity, a thriving student population and many distinct neighbourhoods spanning town and countryside - let’s make 2025 a year to remember.

    If you would like to attend please book a FREE Ticket, as we will have limited capacity.

    https://billetto.co.uk/e/kingston-2025-community-meeting-tickets-886847

  • Join us at this community engagement session at St Andrew's Church's Glass House to find out more about Kingston 2025.

    From 1 Nov 2023 at 15:00 to 1 Nov 2023 at 16:30

    The Glass Room St Andrews Church, KT6 4DS Surbiton

    In 2025 Kingston will mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of England, with a borough-wide celebration.

    The six month programme of cultural events and activities will launch in Spring 2025 and will be created in collaboration with local communities. As well as amplifying some of the great things already taking place, we want to hear your ideas on how we should celebrate contemporary Kingston’s past, present and future.

    We will develop the Kingston 2025 programme with our different communities building on the ideas and themes identified in engagement discussions.

    This is a great opportunity to reflect on the people, places and stories that made Kingston, the changes that have taken place and our hopes for the future. Over a millennium ago Athelstan was crowned the first King of England in the heart of Kingston, uniting the Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. Today the borough is home to many different nationalities and communities that bring an extraordinary richness to our heritage and cultural life; our sense of place, purpose and identity.

    So what stories should we share? Whose stories are they to tell and how can we come together to celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary. With our history of innovation, commerce and creativity, a thriving student population and many distinct neighbourhoods spanning town and countryside - let’s make 2025 a year to remember.

    If you would like to attend please book a FREE Ticket, as we will have limited capacity.

    https://billetto.co.uk/e/kingston-2025-community-meeting-tickets-886852

  • Untitled EvenJoin us at this community engagement session at New Malden Methodist Church to find out more about Kingston 2025.t

    From 2 Nov 2023 at 13:30 to 2 Nov 2023 at 15:00

    New Malden Methodist Church (Lower Hall) 49 High St, KT3 4BY New Malden

    In 2025 Kingston will mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of England, with a borough-wide celebration.

    The six month programme of cultural events and activities will launch in Spring 2025 and will be created in collaboration with local communities. As well as amplifying some of the great things already taking place, we want to hear your ideas on how we should celebrate contemporary Kingston’s past, present and future.

    We will develop the Kingston 2025 programme with our different communities building on the ideas and themes identified in engagement discussions.

    This is a great opportunity to reflect on the people, places and stories that made Kingston, the changes that have taken place and our hopes for the future. Over a millennium ago Athelstan was crowned the first King of England in the heart of Kingston, uniting the Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. Today the borough is home to many different nationalities and communities that bring an extraordinary richness to our heritage and cultural life; our sense of place, purpose and identity.


    So what stories should we share? Whose stories are they to tell and how can we come together to celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary. With our history of innovation, commerce and creativity, a thriving student population and many distinct neighbourhoods spanning town and countryside - let’s make 2025 a year to remember.

    If you would like to attend please book FREE Ticket, as we will have limited capacity.

    https://billetto.co.uk/e/kingston-2025-community-meeting-tickets-886856

  • Join us at this community engagement session at the Hook Centre to find out more about Kingston 2025.Untitled Event

    From 9 Nov 2023 at 15:00 to 9 Nov 2023 at 16:30

    Hook Centre, KT9 Chessington

    In 2025 Kingston will mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of England, with a borough-wide celebration.

    The six month programme of cultural events and activities will launch in Spring 2025 and will be created in collaboration with local communities. As well as amplifying some of the great things already taking place, we want to hear your ideas on how we should celebrate contemporary Kingston’s past, present and future.

    We will develop the Kingston 2025 programme with our different communities building on the ideas and themes identified in engagement discussions.

    This is a great opportunity to reflect on the people, places and stories that made Kingston, the changes that have taken place and our hopes for the future. Over a millennium ago Athelstan was crowned the first King of England in the heart of Kingston, uniting the Kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. Today the borough is home to many different nationalities and communities that bring an extraordinary richness to our heritage and cultural life; our sense of place, purpose and identity.

    So what stories should we share? Whose stories are they to tell and how can we come together to celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary. With our history of innovation, commerce and creativity, a thriving student population and many distinct neighbourhoods spanning town and countryside - let’s make 2025 a year to remember.

    If you would like to attend please book a FREE Ticket, as we will have limited capacity.

    https://billetto.co.uk/e/kingston-2025-community-meeting-tickets-886867

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