Kingston 2025 is a major six month cultural celebration to mark the 1100th anniversary of the crowning of King Athelstan, the first King of a united England, right in the heart of Kingston in 925.

A diverse programme of cultural and arts events and activities will be taking place from May to October 2025 and will enhance Kingston’s established cultural calendar.

There will be plenty for residents and visitors to see and do.

The programme includes large scale events, dance and music performances, art installations, film, immersive events and more.

Kingston 2025 is also working with community organisations, schools and business to deliver dozens of activities that will bring people together to experience, explore and enjoy.

Most activities and events are free.

Key dates have been released and the Kingston 2025 programme will continue to build over the Spring.

Festival programme – published April 2025

The programme is underpinned by a community research project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project will help to uncover the diverse and hidden histories of the borough.

Residents of all ages from communities across the borough will be able to bring to life the stories of the people and events that are important to them and have shaped Kingston.

These stories will be added to the borough’s rich history, ensuring they are saved for future generations.

The project will be shaped around five key themes developed with local people.

We understand our communities want to reflect stories of migration, trade, decolonisation, the natural environment and suburban aspiration.

Find out more about the engagement that shaped Kingston 2025
Visit  the Kingston Heritage Service Kingston 2025 webpagesfor the latest updates on the programme of events across the borough and how you can get involved.

KINGSTON 2025 EVENT LISTINGS

MAY – OCTOBER

May – October 2025 – Capture Kingston Competition

Venue: Kingston History Centre

Type: Photography competition

Public Talks on the Saxon Kings Embroideries

Dates and times:  May – October

Type: Talk

Rupert Bear Mural Celebrating Alfred Bestall at Surbiton Station

Date: May Installation in Surbiton Station

Type: Art

Kingston Museum’s Community Case re-launch

Time: Thursday-Saturday – 10am – 5pm

Venue: Kingston Museum

Type: Community Showcase

MAY

Saturday May 3 – Kingston 2025 Launch Event 

Time: Afternoon

Venue: Kingston town centre and Ancient Market Place

Type: Family Friendly / Performances

Tickets: N/A

Sunday 4 May 2025: Kingston international Film Festival Pre-Festival Outdoor Screening

Venue: Canbury Gardens

Type: Family Friendly / Film Screening

 

8 May – 19 July and 16 September 2025 – Stanley picker Gallery Programme

Venue: Kington School of Art

Type: Exhibition

Tickets: Free entry

Saturday 10 May – Get in Touch with History workshop

Venue: Guildhall

Tickets: email:adult.education@kingston.gov.uk £20 per person (*30% discount available, subject to eligibility)

Type: Workshop

Saturday 10 May 2025 – All Saints Kingston – Run for Cover gig

Time: Evening

Venue: All Saints Kingston

Type: Music

Tickets: £20 visit ticketsource.co.uk/all-saints-church-kingston

 

Sunday 11 May – Heritage Bus Tour around the Borough

Time: Afternoon

Venue: Meet In front of Guildhall

Type: Tour

Tickets: £25 – email mayors.office@kingston.gov.uk

 

Thursday 15 May – Kingston College, Send in the Clowns

Time: Evening

Venue: ACT Theatre, Kingston College, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 1AQ

Type: Dance Showcase

Email: marta.parszeniew@stcg.ac.uk

Friday 16 May Opening – Kingston Glamour: Art, Innovation and the Suburbs

Venu: Kingston museum

Type: Exhibition

Tickets: Free Entry

Saturday 17 – Thursday 22 May – Kingston College Higher Education Graduate Show

Time: Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm, Sat, 10am – 1pm

Venue: Penny School Gallery, Kingston College Creative Industries Centre

Type: Graduate Showcase

Tickets: Free entry

Saturday 17 May – Sunday 1 June 2025  Fashion Fortnight – Kingston’s Swinging Sixties – 60 years on 

Venue: Hollyfield Road, Surbiton

Type:  Event/family

Tickets: Free entry

Saturday 17 May – Music in Kingston

Time: Afternoon

Venue: All Saints Church

Type: Family Friendly / Music / Workshops

Tickets: Free entry

Saturday 17 May 2025 – Mini Day

Time: All day

Venue: Hollyfield Road, Surbiton

Type: Family Friendly / Event

Tickets: Free entry

Sunday 18 May 2025 – A ‘Royal’ Choral Evensong 

Time: Evening

Venue: All Saints Kingston

Type: Music / Service

Tickets: Free entry

Monday 19 May 2025 – Anglo-Saxon History Talk 

Time: Evening

Venue: Guildhall

Type: Talk

Tickets: £10 per person (*30% discount available, subject to eligibility criteria).

24 May – 1 November 2025 – Chimera – An Alternative Kingston Heritage Trail 

Launch event: Saturday 24 May

Time: Morning

Venue: Town House

Type: Trail

Tickets: Free entry

Thursday 29 May 2025 – Celebrate Chessington 

Time: 12pm – 4.30pm

Venue: Churchfields Recreation Ground

Type: Family Friendly Event

Tickets: Free entry (purchase tickets for stalls, food and activities @ £1 / token)

JUNE

4 june – 22 June – Kingston Adult Education festival of learning

Type: Exhibition

 

Friday 6 June 2025 –  Echoes of Kingston – Cine Schools

Time: Afternoon

Venue: Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston KT1 1HL

Type: Music / Screening / Family Friendly

Tickets: Free to schools

Friday 6 June- Sunday 8 June 2025 – Kingston International Film Festival 

64 films, 5 venues, 4 days for all ages

Venue: Rose Theatre, Odeon, Kingston University Town House

Type: Film

Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 June and Saturday 14 to Sunday 15 June – Kingston Artists Open Studios 

Time: All day

Venue: FUSEBOX 2 Bucklands Wharf

Type: Art

Saturday 14 June 2025 – Voices of Hope, Summer Tea Party

Time: 2pm

Venue: Kingston United Reformed Church

Type: Music

Tickets: Free entry

Sunday 15 June 2025 – DanceWest Fest Community Showcase 

Time: Performance at 1.30pm and 7pm

Venue: Rose Theatre

Type: Dance Showcase

Tickets: £10, £6 conc

16 – 19 June – Our Beautiful World – A Primary Singing Festival

Venue: Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston KT1 1HL

Tickets: £10, £7 (concessions)

Type: Music/Family

Monday 16 June to Friday 27 June 2025 – Summer Show 2025 

Time: Mon – Fri, 10am – 5pm

Main event: Wednesday 18 June 2025

Venue: Kingston College Creative Industries Centre

Type: Showcase

19 June – 19 July 2025 – Ian Wornast – A Journey Through Kingston

Time: Tuesday – Saturday, All day

Venue: Stanley Picker Gallery Project Studio

Tickets: Free entry.

21 June 1pm-5pm – Dorich House Garden Party

Venue: Dorich House Museum, 67 Kingston Vale, London, SW15 3RN

Tickets: Free entry

Type: Garden Party

Bridging Kingston – New Music Commission for Schools 

Date: Saturday 28 June 2025

Time: Performance times, 1:30pm and 7pm *matinee time chaged*

Venue: Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1H

Type: Family friendly

Tickets: £12, £7 (Concessions)

Saturday 28 June to Sunday 6 July – FUSE International Festival 

Venues: Rose Theatre, FUSEBOX & Arthur Cotterell Theatre

Type: Theatre / Dance / Comedy / Music

Tickets: at www.fuseinternational.org

JULY

July – September Kingston 2025 Reading Challenge

Webesite: https://libraries.kingston.gov.uk/home 

Type: Family

6, 13 and 20 July, 3, 10, 17 and 31 August, and 6, 7 September 2025 – Kingston Carnival – Drumming Workshop Programme 

Venue: Kingston Market House

Email: info@communitydrumming.co.uk

Type: Family friendly

Tickets: £60/adults or £100/family

 

Sunday July 20 – Dragon Boat Festival

Venue: Canbury Gardens

Type: Family friendly

Tickets: Free entry

Saturday 26  and Sunday 27 July Athel’s Town: Saxon Encampment and Reenactment 

Time: Day 1 – 10am – 8pm Day 2 – 10am – 5pm

Type: Family friendly

Tickets: Free Entry

AUGUST

18 August – 14 September 2025 – The Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim Walk 

Type: Walk / Family

Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 August – Royal Borough of Kingston Street Art

Venue: Kingston Town Centre

Type: Exhibition

Tickets: Free Entry

SEPTEMBER

September – London Design Festival comes to Kingston

Venue: Kingston Town Centre

Type: Festival / Art

 

Wednesday 3 to Thursday 4 September – The Athelstan 1100 Pilgrim’s Cycle Ride

email: hello@athelstan1100.co.uk

Register: Email your name, contact details and cycling club affiliation by May 16 to register your interest

Type: Cycle

Thursday 4 September 2025 – Han Do-hyun | Icheon Ceramics 

Time: Thursday – Saturday, All day

Venue: Dorich House Museum

Type: Exhibition

Tickets: Free entry

Thursday 4 September – Seven Saxon Kings Embroidery Grand Unveiling and the Athelstan Anniversary Address by celebrated historian Tom Holland

Time: 2pm

Venue: All Saint Kingston

Type: Talk

Tickets: Free (limited tickets)

Thurday 4 September – Festival Service for the 1100th Anniversary of the Coronation of King Athelston

Time: 6:30 pm

Venu: All Saints Kingston

Type: Service

Tickets: Free (limited tickets)

Saturday 6 Septermber – Kingston River Cultures Festival

Venu: Canbury Gardens

Type: Family

Tickets: Free entry

Saturday 6 September –  Athelstan Garden opening

Time: 12 noon

Venu: Queens Promenade Gardens

Type: Family

 

Sunday 7 September – Kingston Carnival 

Venue: Kingston Town Centre

Type: Event/Family

Sunday 7 September – Festival Choral Eucharist with the Bishop of Southwark

Time: 9:30am

Venu: All Saints Kingston

Type: Service

Saturday 13 September – East Southeast Asian Culture Festival

Time: 11am – 5pm

Venu: Ancient Market Place, Kingston KT1 1JT

Type: Family / Music

Tickets: Free Entry

OCTOBER

Saturday 4 October – Korean Arts Festival

Time: 7pm

Venue: Town House, Kingston University

Type: Festival

Tickets: £20 adult, £10 under 15

Wednesday 29 October – Sunday 2 November – Horrible Histories – Gorgeous Georgians & Vile Victorians 

Venue: Rose Theatre 24-26 High Street, Kingston, KT1 1HL

Type: Family

NOVEMBER

Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 November – Solta o Jogo 3

Venue: Town House Courtyard, Kingston University

Type: Family

Tickets: Free

 

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