All Saints Church, Kingston

The lowdown

Kingston upon Thames means king's stone, and this is why. Long before London dominated, Anglo-Saxon kings of England were crowned here in the tenth century, including Aethelstan, often called the first king of all England. The ancient Coronation Stone now sits just outside the nearby Guildhall.

All Saints, the big free parish church at the centre of the market town, stands on that royal ground. Inside it is light and lofty, with medieval arches, memorials and a surprisingly relaxed feel, including a café set out under the columns where you can sit with a coffee surrounded by centuries of history.

It is the kind of place coronation crowds once filled and that shoppers now walk straight past. Stepping in for free, between the market stalls and the high street, is a quiet way to stand on the foundations of England.