Kingston or Windsor for day out shopping and lunching

[nicole333]

I've been to neither, but keep hearing about how nice Kingston is to walk around or lunch by the river. I've also heard the shopping is great.

Which would you choose and why?

Also, I've seen on TA that Windsor has some ok hotels in the centre, what's Kingston like for decent, but value for money places to stay? We'd like to stay the night after shopping and then go off to somewhere else before going home so will definetly be taking the car.

Thanks

Kingston is better for shopping and is flat. The river is nice and there are pubs by the water. Windsor has a nice park(it is abit out of town by the station on the Datchet side, but walkable and parking nearby,) bus tours, boat trips etc, but personally the shopping is not as good and I think things are more expensive there. The river is good for feeding the swans and ducks. There is also a fantastic mexican restaurant called Charleys Horse. It also has the castle which I think is expensive and there a long queues. I don't know about hotels as we are close to both and we used to live in Windsor. Kingston for shopping, Windsor for a nice place to go. There are all the usual shops in Windsor.

I haven't been to Windsor but I LOVE Kingston for shopping. I think it's one of my absolute favourites actually""

"Kingston for shopping, Windsor for a nice place to go."

Sums up everything I would have said in a much more long-winded post. So depends on your priorities really.

Can't actually think of any hotels in Kingston - although there are some near Hampton Court, only a couple of miles away. Don't know about value for money, though, as it's a major tourist place.

Kingston if fine if you want big department stores (Bentalls/JohnLewis/M&S), but not a destination IYSWIM.

Windsor is much nicer for mooching around, lunching and overnight. Windsor Royal Shopping centre has Hobbs, Mint Velvet, Joules, Phase Eight, Kew, FCUK etc., there's a quirky department store called Daniels, and plenty of other shops like Cath Kidston, TK Maxx, Fenwicks. Several nice coffee shops and lunch places. The river, park and castle for strolling around.

Several central hotels - Harte & Garter opposite the castle, Travelodge etc.

Parking is pricey in both places btw. Windsor info here

Thanks for all the info. I feel torn! It is Hampton court we were thinking of doing the day after. I wonder if I could do Kingston and Windsor. Hmmm

Agree with others - Kingston for shopping.

Both places have typical UK High Street shops. The advantage with Kingston is John Lewis.

I think Windsor probably wins for eating.

If you are in Windsor in the mornings, you can catch the Changing of the Guards.

So would you liken them to Bristol and Bath? I know them both well and would say Bristol for all the main shopping, but Bath is the one you'd probably enjoy a bumble around?

Yes, that's a reasonable comparison.

Thankyou