Kingston upon Thames successfully blends its unique heritage with its appeal as a destination for investment, learning or leisure. The borough was recently ranked highest in London as a place to live and work, with strong growth prospects. An enviable cultural heritage combines with a diverse range of communities, including Europe’s largest Korean population. Kingston town centre itself sits in an enviable location on the banks of the River Thames, it is regularly ranked as one of the country’s best and most resilient retail centres and is home to the UK’s first Business Improvement District.
The borough has always been a place of innovation and evolution, and has more recently become home to a range of national and international businesses, including Unilever and Lidl. Kingston University is the largest education provider in South London, with one of the finest art schools in the UK.
Recent job growth has been driven by health activities, food and beverage and social and residential care, but also through professional, scientific, and technical activities.
“South London is well placed to play an important role in London’s success – but a successful economy is only successful if everyone reaps the rewards. Enhanced orbital transport links across the region are crucial for realising our ambitions, unlocking economic opportunities, reduced congestion, and better connecting businesses with local talent.”
Councillor Andreas Kirsch, Leader, Kingston Council
Major Employers
Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Lidl, Unilever, Chelsea Women’s FC, NHS - Kingston Hospital & Oliver Bonas.
85% ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE RESIDENTS
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85% ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE RESIDENTS
20K+ STUDENTS IN KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
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20K+ STUDENTS IN KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
74% START-UP YEAR 2 SURVIVAL RATE
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74% START-UP YEAR 2 SURVIVAL RATE
77K JOBS
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77K JOBS
INNOVATION & INVESTMENT IN KINGSTON
The riverside north of Kingston is transforming from a run-down and grossly underused area to a commercial and cultural location, helping to diversify the town centre. The new flexible workspace and Fusebox multi-arts venue underline the value of combining funding opportunities from the Mayor of London, the government and Kingston Council.
Enabling this progress has been a collaboration between John Lewis Partnership and Kingston Council to bring forward a disused restaurant space, nightclub and vast undercroft containing the remains of Kingston’s 12th-century bridge. The location now provides essential business support and start-up advice, which will help to create up to 500 new jobs.
Strategies & Plans
Kingston Economic Strategy
‘Confident in Kingston’ is the Economic Development Strategy for Kingston upon Thames, 2024-2028.
Invest in Kingston
These pages highlight the emerging opportunities, recent transformation projects, and how their location, connectivity, talent and quality of life make Kingston the perfect place to invest in for forward-thinking developers and businesses.
Transform Kingston
Their vision is to reshape the historic town centre to make it even better for residents, local businesses, students and visitors. Investing in and reinvigorating Kingston is at the core of their plans to transform the town centre.
Kingston Heritage Service / Kingston 2025
Kingston Heritage Service is part of the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames Council. Their mission… ‘We aim to engage visitors and residents across the borough in activities focusing on local heritage, past and present. We work with communities to identify and celebrate what is uniquely special about our borough and its people, locales, traditions and institutions. We aim to build on this history while striving to discover, record and share the new stories occurring all around us.’
