‘Please come and take a look at beautiful Kingston-Upon-Thames, we think you’ll love it’. When I received this message from a PR company I assumed it was aimed at anyone but me.

I assumed it had gone out to journalists around the country and hoped to demonstrate to them what a great place Kingston is to visit.

However, when I replied to explain The Surrey Comet has been serving Kingston for 164 years, we know the patch better than almost anyone and already love the place, if anything they were even more insistent.

So, despite it feeling a bit like a busman’s holiday that is how I found myself spending a weekend in a place I thought I knew very well.

But, I use the word ‘thought’ advisedly because as many of us know, it’s very often the fantastic places right on our own doorstep that get overlooked as we seek holidays and breaks further afield.

Driving in on the Saturday, the first thing I noticed was that the traffic seemed a lot lighter than usual. Then I realised it might always be like this but because 99 times out of 100 when I visit Kingston it’s on business, and I’m usually in a hurry, it just seems busier.

Anyway, I’m pleased to report the journey in was stress-free and very pleasant. We found the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel very easily and within 10 minutes were parked up being welcomed to our luxurious room.

Now, I’m assuming we were upgraded to one of the very best rooms the hotel has on offer on the top floor so being the ever-inquisitive journalist I persuaded one of the staff to show me another room on a lower level. I’m pleased to be able to report that whilst it might not have had quite so much room or quite such a great view across town, it was nevertheless superbly equipped, beautifully laid out and looked very comfortable.

I could have headed straight for the hotel gym, but instead decided to listen to my wife who persuaded me retail therapy would be much more beneficial.

Like the traffic issue, when I visit Kingston I realise shops don’t usually fall within my focus. Of course, I know it is incredibly well endowed with two big department stores and that both John Lewis and Bentalls justify their status as local institutions. But again, I wouldn’t normally visit the shops – so, as well as being hugely impressed by the number and variety of great shops in the Bentalls Centre I was also interested to note how many excellent independent shops there are both in the high street and beyond. If shopping is your thing I think this is one of the best destinations in south London.

By now it was lunchtime and we headed to Chakra, a restaurant perfectly placed right next to the river. Normally I would associate an Indian restaurant with dining in the evening but I’m really glad we were persuaded to take lunch here. Not only is it a great venue with top class service, but the lunch menu is perfect for a lighter mid-day meal. The flavours and the quality of the food is as good as any Indian restaurant I’ve visited but the subtlety and lightness of each dish is what made the meal special.

We headed from here to a Kingston and Thames institution I definitely was aware of – a Turks boat trip. A short walk to Turk Pier and within minutes we were heading towards Richmond on the New Southern Belle. I love boats of all shapes and sizes, so it was a real treat to spend a couple of hours on this Mississippi-style stern wheeler as she cruised along the river. I always find views along the Thames fascinating anyway but add to this some glorious early evening sunshine and several pints of lager from the bar onboard and I’m in my element. If you do manage to escape to Kingston allow enough time for a boat trip with Turks.

The following day, after a leisurely and tasty breakfast, it was time for a walking tour with our guide David. The British weather had struck and after a sunny Saturday it was proverbial cats and dogs by 11am on Sunday.

Undaunted, our ever-cheery guide was a real trouper and so taken with his subject he hardly seemed to notice the rain himself. We met outside Market House in Ancient Market Place for the hour-long tour.

I thought I knew all about this ancient market town, its historic bridges, its links to a variety of kings and churches dating back centuries.

But David’s knowledge was incredible and his delivery of fascinating facts just as impressive.

I know it’s going to keep you busy, but you really should add a walking tour to your itinerary as well as a boat trip.

After thinking I knew exactly what Kingston had to offer, all it took was one weekend to make me realise just how much I’d been missing out on right here on my own doorstep.

And, I haven’t even mentioned all the other great restaurants and pubs, the Rose Theatre, the Coronation Stone. The list goes on and on.

Do yourself a favour and take a break in a town you think you already know – I promise you won’t be disappointed.

If you would like any more information, just visit: www.inkingston.co.uk

Kingston Tour Guides: www.kingstontourguides.org.uk

This trip was kindly organised by Kingston First.