Seven things to do with your elderly parents in Kingston

Kingston is a beautiful, ancient market town, set on the edge of the River Thames. As well as being the place where Saxon kings were crowned, it holds a royal charter and is one of the oldest towns in England. Although accessibility wasn't top of the list hundreds of years ago, there are still plenty of activities to enjoy with an older relative who has limited mobility.

Here are seven ideas for a day out with your parents in Kingston, plus practical tips on accessibility and planning ahead.

1. Hampton Court Palace

Henry VIII's grand palace sits just outside the town centre and has strong associations with the Tudors. Queen Victoria first opened it to the public, and it remains a lovely setting for a family day out, with acres of gardens where much of the ground is flat and accessible.

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be borrowed free of charge for use around the gardens, though booking ahead is recommended. Inside, a staff-operated lift reaches the State Apartments on the first floor. You'll find accessible restrooms throughout, and access guides detailing step-free routes are available at any entrance. If your loved one has a carer with them, one accompanying carer ticket is free when booked alongside the visitor's ticket. See the full accessibility guide before you go, since some areas of this 500-year-old building do have uneven flooring and stairs.

2. Shopping in the town centre

Kingston is well known for its shopping, and much of the town centre is pedestrianised. The Bentall Centre offers step-free entrances at both first floor and lower ground floor level, along with accessible toilets.

Eden Walk shopping centre goes a step further: it hosts the Kingston Shopmobility service, which hires out manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters for the day, so your parent can browse the shops without tiring. The Shopmobility office is on level 2 of the Eden Walk multi-storey car park and runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.

3. Kingston Museum

Museums can be a great way to spend time with a parent living with dementia, since looking through historical objects and images can bring back memories and spark conversation.

Kingston Museum offers free admission and level access into the building. The Muybridge Gallery is reached via a platform lift, or through the adjoining Kingston Library if preferred. There's a wheelchair-accessible toilet on the ground floor (ask at the front desk for the key), and a large-print guide to the permanent galleries is available to borrow, or by email in an accessible digital format. See the full access guide for more detail.

4. Canbury Gardens

This Green Flag-winning park runs alongside the River Thames and is a lovely spot for a gentle stroll or a picnic lunch. It's flat, fully accessible, and open 24 hours a day, with plenty of benches along the paths to rest on. There's on-street Blue Badge parking available on Lower Ham Road, right by the park.

5. All Saints Church

This 12th-century church stands on the site where several Saxon kings, including Athelstan, are believed to have been crowned. Its North and West entrances are both flat and step-free (the West entrance has a button to open the door automatically), though the South, market-facing door has a small step and isn't wheelchair accessible. Inside, there's a hearing loop and an accessible, gender-neutral toilet. See how to get to All Saints Church for parking details, as nearby restrictions apply between 10am and 5pm unless you hold a Blue Badge.

6. Kingston Riverside

Enjoy a picturesque walk along the riverside, with plenty of restaurants and cafes offering outdoor seating for a relaxed lunch. The paths here are mostly flat and well maintained, making it one of the easier outings on this list for anyone with limited mobility.

7. A river cruise to Hampton Court

If your parents are up for it, a passenger boat trip along the Thames from Kingston towards Hampton Court or Richmond makes for a scenic and relaxed day out, running seasonally from March to October. Worth knowing before you book: many of the traditional Thames passenger boats are older vessels not designed with modern accessibility in mind. Boarding can involve uneven steps, so this trip suits parents who are reasonably mobile. If your loved one uses a wheelchair or has significant mobility needs, check the operator's accessibility policy or contact them directly beforehand to see what they can accommodate.

Did you know?

• Canbury Gardens has held Green Flag status for three consecutive years, a national mark of quality for green spaces.
• Kingston Shopmobility can provide a wheelchair or scooter for the day with no need to book weeks in advance.
• Hampton Court Palace's Painted Hall takes part in the Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Friends initiative.

Staying active together: Jan's story

Jan's mum Jean has always been independent, with an active social life and a love of sport. Live-in care meant that didn't have to change: her carers make a point of sharing what she loves, including Betty, who's just as sporty as Jean and watches Wimbledon and football with her and her husband Fred.

"My mum has always been really independent, with an active social life and into sports," Jan says. "I wanted her to be able to keep as much of that as possible."

Read Jan's full story

Don't forget about arranging care for the day

Even if your parents or another loved one has additional needs, such as difficulty walking or memory problems, a great day out in Kingston is still very much possible. If they normally have live-in care in Kingston or another home care arrangement, it's often worth bringing their regular carer along, since they already know your parent's needs and routine.

Alternatively, a day out could be a good moment for your usual carer to take a short break, with temporary respite care arranged to cover the gap.

If your loved one needs specialist dementia care, it's worth planning with a bit more care: someone living with dementia can become disorientated quickly in a busy, unfamiliar place, so if they usually need 24/7 support at home, arrange cover for the trip too.

Keep the itinerary light so you don't tire your parents out, while leaving plenty to see and enjoy.

Exploring beyond Kingston?

We've put together similar guides for other days out with your parents closer to home:

• Things to do with your older loved ones in Surrey
• Things to do with your older loved ones in Kent
• Things to do with your older loved ones in Essex
• Things to do with your older loved ones in Oxfordshire

If you have a loved one who needs 24/7 support, get in touch with our care advisors to talk through your situation and arrange a free care appraisal. Elder can arrange live-in care across London and the rest of Great Britain.