Afternoon, Surbiton — and welcome to the week. Today I'm making good on two promises. Paul asked, more than once, for what's on for older residents; Sarah asked for free days out with little ones. I said I'd do both properly, so this issue carries two new sections — real, checked, with numbers to call — a little further down. First, though: a three-year dig into the hidden rivers under Bushy Park, the road changes that land this morning, and a warm welcome to Malcolm, Claire, Jane and Sue, who all wrote in over the weekend. Here's Monday.
There are lost rivers under Bushy Park — and a new project is going to map them
One for the history-minded (Sue, this one's for you). A new three-year archaeology project is setting out to uncover the hidden waterways beneath Richmond and Bushy Park — the underground conduits, wells and tunnels that once fed the royal parks and have been quietly running under our feet for centuries. There's nothing to see on the ground yet, but the findings will surface over the next few years, and it's the sort of thing that makes a familiar walk that bit more interesting. Next time you're among the deer, there's a whole waterworks under your feet.
The Monday changes I flagged yesterday land this morning — and they're mostly good news.
- Dysart School crossing: the temporary signals are coming down today.
- Hook Road roundabout: Vale Road North clears today. Two jobs remain — Gladstone Road to 29 July, and the Bridge Road side closed with signals to 31 July.
- Ewell Road, near Tolworth Close: the one new hold-up — two-way signals in from today for gully works, to 7 August.
- A3 at Tolworth: still looks finished — off TfL's disruption feed since Friday.
- Leatherhead Road at Bridge Road (towards Chessington): two-way lights for power works to 13 August.
- Ewell Road, the big one: unchanged — St Mark's Hill to Hollyfield signals into late October, cycle-route works to January 2027.
Jane — you asked for exactly this, and the Victoria Road shops; I'll come back to the shops as they change. K1, K2, K3, the 71 and the 281 all running normally.
Paul asked for this three times, which told me it was a gap rather than a one-off. Here's a proper, checked starting list — I'll keep adding as I find more.
- Kingston U3A — for the newly or nearly retired: dozens of daytime groups (walks, music, art, languages, table tennis, discussion) plus a monthly talk. Two run right here in Surbiton — a book group, and a new afternoon group (2.30–3.30pm) at St Mark's Church. Membership is just £13 a year, or £20 for a couple. kingstonu3a.org.uk
- Staywell — the borough's older-people charity for nearly 80 years. Two day centres with a hot two-course lunch, activities and chair-based exercise: The Bradbury in Kingston (Mon–Thu, 10am–2.30pm) and Raleigh House in New Malden (Mon–Fri, 10am–3pm, and able to support people living with dementia). Call 020 8949 4244.
- Sunray Community Centre, Tolworth — hosts regular groups and functions; a good local hall to know for something closer to home.
via Kingston U3A, Staywell & Connected Kingston
Sarah asked for free things for small children, and she's right it deserves its own spot. Everything here is free.
- The Summer Reading Challenge is on now. This year's is “Read to the Beat” — children sign up free at Surbiton or Tolworth library, read over the holidays and collect stickers, rewards and a certificate. The single best free thing running right now.
- Alexandra Recreation Ground (Surbiton/Berrylands) — the big playground: carousel, climbing frames, slides, swings and a sandpit, plus courts and room to run.
- Fishponds Park (Surbiton) — quieter: two ponds, woodland and a community orchard, lovely for littler ones and a scoot.
- Bushy Park — the deer and the playground, free all summer, with shade when it's hot.
- Library rhyme times (Surbiton, Tolworth, Tudor Drive) run in term time — over the holidays the libraries swap to summer crafts and activities, so check the What's On before you set off: libraries.kingston.gov.uk/events.
via the Summer Reading Challenge & Kingston Libraries
A bright start to the week: sunny intervals, a warm high of 26°C down to 17°C tonight, and next to no chance of rain. Tomorrow's warmer still at 28°C, with just a small chance of a shower late afternoon. The hosepipe ban is still on, so keep that watering can handy.
You wrote in. A warm welcome to four who got in touch over the weekend: Malcolm (crafts, markets and festivals — noted); Claire (events, and anything that happens locally); Jane (roadworks and the Victoria Road shops — see above, with more to come); and Sue, a lifelong local, after history, walks and nature — Sue, the parks story up top was practically written for you.
Paul, Sarah — the two sections above are the ones you asked for. Keep the requests coming; they genuinely set the agenda here.
Brunch — the first tip is in. Caroline swears by The French Tarte on Maple Road: the little boulangerie-café spun off from The French Table next door, and in her words “the original and still the best café in Surbiton.” It's open Tuesday to Sunday (from 8am, 9am at weekends, till 4pm) — closed Mondays, so save it for tomorrow. Keep the tips coming and I'll build the full reader-picked list.
Run something for the community? It goes in here free. A fair, a fundraiser, a residents' association, a repair café, a choir, a litter-pick, a support group — anything not-for-profit. Hit reply and tell me, and I'll promote it, no charge, always. That's rather the whole point of Surbiton Daily.
That's Monday — a bigger issue than usual, because you asked for more, and that's rather the point. Back tomorrow.
Mike, Surbiton Daily
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