With a very high percentage of boys attending our school from the Wimbledon, Coombe, Kingston upon Thames and Putney areas we feel the information on this page may be helpful. We run an extensive bus service for the boys, of which details can be found here.
WIMBLEDON
Wimbledon is split into two areas, the “village” at the top of the hill and the “town” by the station but is most famous for the annual All England Lawn Tennis Championship. Locals and visitors alike love the upmarket vibe of the Village, where they can enjoy a variety of specialist boutiques, a wide range of pubs, restaurants and cafes, yet still, find peace and fresh air with a quick stroll on Wimbledon Common. The New Wimbledon Theatre, a Grade II listed Edwardian theatre, is a popular alternative to the West End for local residents and others in the area. The Polka Theatre is an excellent facility for children from the ages of 0 to 13.
Transport:
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Tube: Wimbledon Station and Wimbledon Park are both on the District Line which enables residents to reach Earl’s Court in approximately 17 minutes. Wimbledon South, on the Northern Line, can take you to Bank in 26 minutes.
Buses: Wimbledon is served by a huge network of buses to central London and surrounding areas.
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Rail: National Rail services run from Wimbledon Station, including a South West Trains service to Waterloo (18 minutes), Clapham Junction (7 minutes) or Vauxhall (12 minutes). Wimbledon Chase and Wimbledon are served by Thameslink trains that run to Farringdon in 38 minutes.
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Tram: A tram runs from Wimbledon to Beckenham Junction, stopping at Croydon and Mitcham Junction.
COOMBE
Coombe is set in tranquil and leafy surroundings only 8 miles from Knightsbridge and within easy reach of central London, the south coast and Heathrow and Gatwick airports via the A3 and M25 Motorway. With Richmond Park on the doorstep, its 2,368 acres of natural beauty is home to the beautiful Isabella Plantation, Pembroke Lodge and herds of Red and Fallow deer. This fabulous area is also home to five golf clubs, including the prestigious Coombe Hill Club. Coombe has good public transport links and close proximity to two major town centres (Wimbledon and Kingston).
Transport:
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Buses: 57 from Kingston to Clapham South, 200 from Tolworth to Putney Bridge, 213 from Kingston to Sutton, 265 from Tolworth to Putney Bridge.
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Rail: National rail services from Raynes Park Station to London Waterloo takes 21 minutes.
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Road: Coombe has excellent road connections. Its main thoroughfare is the busy A3, providing great access to central London.
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
The historic town centre of Kingston upon Thames with its excellent shopping facilities is a short drive. There are activities along the Thames with Turk Launches running 45 boat trips daily along the Thames from April to October. There is a 15 screen Odeon cinema and as well Ten Pin Bowling. Arts and history live side by side by the river in Kingston. Hampton Court Palace is great for a day out for history buffs or families. It is home to David Mach’s famous Out of Order installation of 12 tumbling telephone boxes. It also boasts the Rose Theatre, which offers a full programme of shows and special events.
Transport:
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Rail: Fast trains from Kingston station to Waterloo take 30 minutes, or locals can reach Victoria in 40 minutes via Clapham Junction.
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Bus: Kingston has an excellent bus network, with regular service provided by more than 30 routes. Numbers 65 (to Ealing), 85 (to Putney) and 281 (to Hounslow) take passengers north of the river, while the 406 (to Epsom) and 515 (to Guildford) travel into Surrey.
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Road: Kingston has excellent road connections (it’s only 8 miles to the M25). The A3 is its main thoroughfare and provides good access to central London.
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River: Like Putney, Kingston has River buses with peak time services between Kingston and several London stations, including London Bridge and Canary Wharf in the summer.
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Getting away: Kingston locals can take their pick of London’s main airports. Gatwick is only a 45-minute drive away and the handy X26 bus runs a regular service to Heathrow, taking 35 to 45 minutes.
PUTNEY
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race starts here, but that’s not the only thing that draws people to Putney. Putney has all the pluses of suburban life – Putney Heath and Putney Common on the doorstep, easy access to Wimbledon and Richmond Common, the River Thames with all its water-related activities. There are tennis and golf clubs, smart bars, riverside pubs and great restaurants and cafés aplenty. If that’s not enough, it’s only 20 minutes by rail to Waterloo. Putney has a vibrant nightlife with live music and late night clubs. The Half Moon in Putney is a particularly well-known music venue. The Putney Arts Theatre, just off the top of Putney High Street, runs drama courses for adults and children and produce around 8 shows a year with great opportunities for anyone interested in theatre.
Transport:
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Tube: The two Putney Tube stations straddle the Thames, with Putney Bridge station on its north bank, and East Putney station just south of the river. Both are in Zone 2 on the District Line with journey times of around 25 minutes to Victoria and 35 minutes to Monument.
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Rail: Trains take 20 minutes to Waterloo from Putney station. It’s only six minutes by train from Putney to Clapham Junction, a major rail interchange.
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Bus: The 37 (to Peckham), 170 (to Victoria) and 337 (to Richmond) all serve East Putney, while the 14 (to Warren Street), 74 (to Baker Street) and 430 (to South Kensington) stop at Putney Bridge. The 74 and 37 are 24-hour services.
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Road: Putney is well located on the A205 and the A3. The M4 is a 15-minute drive meaning locals have good access to the west of England and can be on the M25 in 40 minutes.
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River: Consider taking an alternative to bus, tube or train – the River Bus from Putney Pier (the RB6) runs to Blackfriars and from there, other services run as far as North Greenwich.
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Cycle: Biking commuters enjoy a half hour ride to Victoria.