It may not have a London postcode, but everything else about it is totally London, argues reporter Ellie McKinnell
17:05, 22 Jun 2019Updated 17:05, 22 Jun 2019
We heart Kingston Market(Image: Lucy Harrison )
Kingston is one of those places that is on the outskirts of London, so people in Surrey want to try to claim it as their own.
Well hands off, because Kingston is ours.
It has in fact officially been a part of Greater London since 1965. It should need no more argument than that.
Still not convinced? Here is why Kingston is definitely in London, not Surrey.
It's just so pretty(Image: Mark Davison)
1. You can use an Oyster Card there
Yes, it's in the dreaded Zone 6, but surely if you can use your Oyster Card it has to be in London.
I mean, there's a Zone 9.
2. All the official things say it is
It's served by the London Fire and Ambulance service, plus the Met Police. It has an 020 dial code, a London Assembly and is part of London in the EU parliament.
We might not know what all these things do, but we know it all means Kingston is in London.
The Guildhall really is stunning(Image: )
3. You can vote for the Mayor of London
If you can vote for who's going to be the Mayor of a city then you're part of that city.
That's just simple democracy.
15 South London clubs and bars from the 2000s we all really miss4. It has London-themed art
Anyone who's been to Kingston will have seen the sculpture 'out of order'. Its made of 12 red telephone boxes which have fallen against each other like dominos.
If that doesn't scream London then I don't know what does.
5. It's a Royal Borough, next to a Royal London Park
There are three London Royal Boroughs - Kensington and Chelsea, Greenwich and Kingston. Would you deny the other two are part of London?
Plus it's right next to Richmond Park, regularly lauded one of the best parks in London.
The Bentall Centre is way to good for Surrey shopping(Image: TMS)
6. The shops are so
The whole shopping area is lovely, with more on offer than you would get in a normal suburban city - including the legendary Bentall Centre.
Also, there are three Pret a Mangers. Within a four minute walk. That's classic London.
7. You call the neighbours London
Twickenham, Richmond, Wimbledon, Mitcham - they're all 100 per cent London, right?
So why on earth would Kingston not be?
8. You only doubt it because Surrey have made you
Surrey residents like to claim Kingston is in Surrey because it's such a nice place. If they didn't claim it, there would be no doubt in people's mind.
Why's it such a desirable place? Because it's in London. Obviously.