Surbiton

{{Short description|Neighbourhood in Kingston upon Thames, London}}

{{other uses}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox UK place

| static_image_name = Victoria rd surbiton.id.jpg

| static_image_caption = Victoria Road, Surbiton's high street

| country = England

| map_type = Greater London

| region = London

| area_total_km2 = 7.18

| population = 45,132

| official_name = Surbiton

| coordinates = {{coord|51.394|-0.307|display=inline,title}}

| os_grid_reference = TQ180673

| london_borough = Kingston

| post_town = SURBITON

| postcode_area = KT

| postcode_district = KT5, KT6

| dial_code = 020

| constituency_westminster = Kingston & Surbiton

}}

Surbiton is a suburban neighbourhood in South West London, within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (RBK). It is next to the River Thames, {{convert|11|mi|km|}} southwest of Charing Cross. Surbiton was in the historic county of Surrey and since 1965 it has been in Greater London. Surbiton comprises five of the RBK's wards: Alexandra, Berrylands, St. Mark's, Surbiton Hill, and Tolworth.{{cite web |url=https://www.kingston.gov.uk/neighbourhoods/learn-neighbourhood/4|title=Learn more about your neighbourhood|publisher=Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames |website=www.kingston.gov.uk |access-date=6 December 2024}}

Founded originally as Kingston-upon-Railway when the area was first developed in the 1840s,{{Cite book |last=Sampson |first=June |date=1991 |title=All Change; Kingston, Surbiton & New Malden in the 19th century |pages=2–4 |edition=2nd|publisher=St. Luke's Church, Surbiton |isbn=0950995800}} Surbiton possesses a mixture of grand 19th-century townhouses, Art Deco courts, and more recent residential blocks blending in with semi-detached 20th-century housing estates. With a population of 45,132 in 2016, it accounts for approximately 25% of the total population of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.{{cite web |url=https://data.kingston.gov.uk/population/?geography_id=b5b6b1d33ada4b42acd03da18c640b75&feature_id=E09000021 |title=Population |publisher=Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames |website=www.data.kingston.gov.uk |access-date=7 February 2018}} Surbiton extends over an area of {{convert|7.18|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=https://ons.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=a79de233ad254a6d9f76298e666abb2b |title=Standard Area Measurements (2016) for Administrative Areas in the United Kingdom |publisher=Office for National Statistics |website=www.ons.maps.arcgis.com |access-date=7 February 2018}}

Etymology

Though Surbiton only received its current name in 1869, the name is attested as Suberton in 1179, Surbeton in 1263, Surpeton in 1486, and finally Surbiton 1597.{{cite book |url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199566785.001.0001/acref-9780199566785-e-1403 |publisher=Oxford Reference |access-date=7 February 2018 |title=Surbiton |isbn=978-0-19-956678-5 |quote=Suberton 1179, Surbeton 1263, Surpeton 1486, Surbiton 1597, that is 'the southern grange or outlying farm', from Old English su ̄th and bere-tu ̄n, so called in relation to Norbiton; both were granges of the royal manor of Kingston.}} Sūth Bere-tūn means "southern grange" or "outlying farm" in Old English, as opposed to nearby Norbiton; both Norbiton and Surbiton were possessions of the royal manor of Kingston.

History

{{See also|Thomas Pooley}}

File:Surbiton Railway Station.jpg

The present-day town came into existence after a plan to build a London-Southampton railway line through nearby Kingston was rejected by Kingston Council, who feared that it would be detrimental to the coaching trade. This resulted in the line being routed further south, through a cutting in the hill south of Surbiton. Surbiton railway station opened in 1838, and was originally named Kingston-upon-Railway.{{cite web |url=http://www.steamindex.com/magrack/rse.htm |access-date=10 August 2007 |title=Railways South East |quote=A township developed on the hill near the railway. This was named New Kingston, New Town and Kingston-upon-Railway before becoming Surbiton }} It was only renamed Surbiton to distinguish it from the new Kingston railway station on the Shepperton branch line, which opened on 1 January 1869. The present station has an art deco façade.

As a result, Kingston is now on a branch line, whereas passengers from Surbiton (smaller in comparison) can reach London Waterloo in as little as 16 minutes{{Cite web|url=https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/timetables|title=Train Timetable {{!}} South Western Railway|website=www.southwesternrailway.com|access-date=2019-06-18}} on a fast direct service; as well as places further afield, including Portsmouth and Southampton.

Surbiton was once home to Surbiton Studios which were owned by Stoll Pictures, before the company shifted its main production to Cricklewood Studios.

Politics

{{See also|Municipal Borough of Surbiton}}

file:Sessions House, Surbiton.jpg housed the Municipal Borough of Surbiton before Surbiton became part of Greater London in 1965.]]

file:Surbiton London UK blank ward map.svg and Greater London]]

=National politics=

{{See also|Kingston and Surbiton}}

Surbiton falls within the UK parliamentary constituency of Kingston and Surbiton, which is represented in the House of Commons by Sir Ed Davey, currently the leader of the Liberal Democrats who served as Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change during the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition. Davey also represented the constituency between 1997 and 2015, having been ousted for a short period of time by Conservative James Berry. In the 2017 general election, Davey went on to defeat Berry by 45% to 38%.{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/uk-general-elections/2017-uk-general-election-results |title=2017 UK general election results |publisher=The Electoral Commission |access-date=7 February 2018}} Both Davey's and Berry's offices were located in Surbiton's Berrylands ward.

In the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, Kingston and Surbiton voted to remain a member of the European Union by 61.7% of the local vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/eu-referendum/electorate-and-count-information |title=EU referendum results |publisher=The Electoral Commission |access-date=8 February 2018}}

=London politics=

{{See also|South West (London Assembly constituency)}}

Surbiton is represented in the London Assembly by Liberal Democrat politician Gareth Roberts, as part of Greater London's South West constituency.

=Local councillors=

Surbiton elects 12 of the Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council's 48 councillors. As of the 2018 local elections, the council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, and all Surbiton's elected councillors are members of that party.

class="wikitable"

|+ Councillors from Surbiton's four Kingston Council wards{{cite web|url=https://moderngov.kingston.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=17&RPID=15829896 |title=Local Elections - Thursday 3 May 2018 |date=3 May 2018 |publisher=Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames |access-date=4 May 2018}}

Party

!Councillors (12)

!Change

style="width:200px;"|Liberal Democrats

|{{Composition bar|12|12|{{party color|Liberal Democrats}}|border=none|per=1}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{increase}}5

style="width:200px;"|Conservatives

|{{Composition bar|0|12|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=none|per=1}}

|style="text-align:center;"|{{decrease}}5

Transport

File:Arriva Guildford & West Surrey 3976 GN07 AVR.JPG

Surbiton is served by a number of regular bus services. Transport for London bus routes 71, 281, 406, 418, 465, K1, K2, K3, and K4, as well as Hallmark Connections route 458, Reptons Coaches route 513, Falcon Coaches routes 514, 515 and 715 all serve the area. These provide links to Chessington, Kingston town centre, Twickenham, Hounslow, Epsom, Leatherhead, Dorking, Cobham, Staines, Weybridge and Guildford.

Surbiton is also close to two of London's largest airports: Heathrow and Gatwick.

Railways have served the town since it was founded. Surbiton and Berrylands stations are both served by South Western Railway services. It provides rail links to London Waterloo, Surrey and Hampshire.

If approval is granted for the project, Surbiton will be connected with the London Underground system via Crossrail 2. It is expected that the project will relieve pressure on both Surbiton and Berrylands stations.{{cite web |url=https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail2/october2015/user_uploads/crossrail2autumn2015consultation.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603090229/https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/crossrail2/october2015/user_uploads/crossrail2autumn2015consultation.pdf |archive-date=2016-06-03 |url-status=live |title=Crossrail 2 Consultation Analysis |publisher=Steer Davies Gleave / Transport for London |website=www.consultations.tfl.gov.uk |access-date=7 February 2018}}

Surbiton lacks major motorways, although the A3 road cuts through Berrylands ward at Tolworth Underpass. Parts of the A307 that run along the River Thames, Portsmouth Road, have become part of the London cycle routes network.

Architecture

{{empty section|date=April 2018}}

Education

{{main|Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames#Education}}

file:SurbitonHighSchool01.JPG.]]

Demographics

=Religion=

Until the early 19th century, Surbiton, like Norbiton, lay in the parish of All Saints, Kingston upon Thames. As a result, Surbiton's two town centre parish churches, Saint Mark's and Saint Andrew's, date back only to the Victorian era.{{cite book|last=McCormack|first=Anne|title=Kingston upon Thames: A Pictorial History|publisher=Phillimore|date=1989|isbn=9780850337167}}

File:St Matthew's Avenue - geograph.org.uk - 1458028.jpg

There are two further Anglican parish churches in south Surbiton, Christ Church and Saint Matthew's, both also Victorian.

Christ Church was built in 1862–63, by Charles Lock Luck and lengthened in 1866. The chancel aisles were added in 1864, and 1871. It has no tower, and is built of red brick with stone dressings with some black brick voussoirs. The east stained-glass window was done by Clayton and Bell, the central stained-glass window by Burne-Jones, while the other stained glass was done by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake.{{National Heritage List for England |num=1080070|desc=Christ Church|access-date=6 January 2017}}

Saint Matthew's was completed in 1875, having taken less than 2 years to build. The church and the original vicarage were paid for by one man, William Matthew Coulthurst, who was the senior partner of Coutts Bank. On the outside of the east end of the church, there is a stone plaque recording this and the fact that it was partly built in memory of Hannah Mabella Coulthurst, the dead sister of William Matthew Coulthurst. Built into the wall behind the plaque, there is a photograph of Hannah, a copy of 'The Times' newspaper of the day and a letter from William Coulthurst stipulating that the church should remain in the evangelical tradition. The church and vicarage cost £26,500. The old vicarage was pulled down in 1939 and a subsequent one was built on the same plot. In 2012, work started on a new vicarage on part of the plot and this was completed in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.tolworthtm.org/new-to-st-matthews/history/|title=St Matthew's Church - History|publisher=St Matthew's Church|access-date=6 January 2017}} The East stained-glass window by Henry Holiday was destroyed by a V-1 flying bomb on 23 June 1944. They were replaced in 1953 with windows by Hugh Easton, with his maker's mark of a weather vane signed H Easton with a cockerel on the top. The Clayton memorial triptych window was installed in 1921, designed by Louis Davis, 'the last of the Pre-Raphaelites', and made by Thomas Cowall (1870–1949) for James Powell and Sons. The Caporn memorial window was installed in 1970 and designed by W T Carter Shapland who had also designed the West window at St Mark's. Some of the original windows by Powell & Sons survive, known as Quarry windows because they are made up of pre-stamped diamond-shaped glass known as 'Quarries'.St Matthew's Church leaflet on the stained-glass windows

Other churches in Surbiton include Surbiton Hill Methodist Church on Ewell Road, opened in 1882,{{cite web|url=https://www.surbitonhillmethodist.co.uk/352489650249.htm|title=Surbiton Hill Methodist Church - History|publisher=St Matthew's Church|access-date=29 May 2020}} and the Roman Catholic church of Saint Raphael's, completed in 1848 and located to the north of Surbiton, in the Kingston upon Thames postal district.{{NHLE|num=1080045|desc=Church of St Raphael|access-date=29 May 2020}}

In recent years, Surbiton has become more diverse in terms of religion, the Surbiton area having a Sikh Gurdwara{{cite web|url=https://www.localprayers.com/GB/Kingston/451870888210821/Gurudwara-Guru-Har-Rai-Sahib|title=Gurudwara Guru Har Rai Sahib|access-date=29 May 2020}} and an Orthodox Jewish synagogue.{{cite web|url=https://ksds.org.uk/|title=Kingston, Surbiton & District Synagogue|access-date=29 May 2020}} According to the 2011 Census, Muslims form the largest minority religious community at about 5% of the population; the nearest mosque is located in Kingston upon Thames.

=Nationality=

Approximately 74% of Surbiton's residents at the 2011 Census were born in the United Kingdom (73% in Alexandra, 71% in St. Mark's, 75% in Surbiton Hill, 76% in Berrylands). The largest ethnic group, with two-thirds of the population, is "White British", with "White Other" the second largest group at just under 10%.

Sport

Surbiton Lawn Tennis Club hosted international tennis from 1900 (Surrey Grass Court Championships - SGCC) until 1981 at the tennis Club in Berrylands. From 1998 to 2008 international tennis returned to Surbiton with an event hosted by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club (SRFC). The Surbiton Trophy was part of the ATP Challenger Series and in 2009 the event was moved to Nottingham as part of a reorganisation by the LTA. The event came back to SRFC in 2015 and continues to be played at Berrylands.

Surbiton F.C. was a short-lived football club that was among the founders of The Football Association in 1863. Surbiton is the current home of both male and female football teams, Darkside FC, Surbiton Wanderers and Surbiton Town Ladies FC.

Surbiton Hockey Club, established in 1874, is regarded as one of the best hockey clubs in the country. Its men's and ladies' 1st XIs currently both play in their respective national premier leagues, while its youth section regularly produces players of international quality.

Surbiton is also the home to Surbiton Croquet Club, which is amongst the strongest croquet clubs in the country and, with seven lawns, one of the largest.

The Cooper Car Company was based in a garage on Hollyfield Road from 1946 to 1968, celebrating wins in the Formula One Constructors Championships in 1959 and 1960 and developing the iconic Mini Cooper in 1961.

Popular culture and notable residents

=Resident artists and writers=

File:The clock tower Surbiton.jpg

The Pre-Raphaelite painters John Everett Millais (1829–1896) and William Holman Hunt (1827–1910) came to Surbiton in 1851, 26 years before Richard Jefferies (1848–1887). Millais used the Hogsmill River, in Six Acre Meadow, Tolworth, as the background for his painting Ophelia.{{Cite web |last=KoZola |date=2014-04-21 |title=Site of John Everett Millais' Ophelia as it is now on Hogsmill River Old Malden |url=https://www.kingstononline.co.uk/ophelia-john-everett-millais-painted-hogsmill-river-1851/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=Kingston Online guide to Kingston upon Thames |language=en-GB}} Holman Hunt used the fields just south of this spot as the background to The Hireling Shepherd.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestergalleries.org/the-collections/search-the-collection/display.php?EMUSESSID=1828ea76fa2d8c31480c6725ca3ed106&irn=195 |title=Collections |publisher=Manchester Art Gallery |website=Manchestergalleries.org |access-date=14 July 2017}}

In the mid-1870s the novelist Thomas Hardy (1840–1928) lived in a house called 'St. David's Villa' in Hook Road, Surbiton for a year after his marriage to Emma Gifford.{{Cite web|url=https://maproom.net/story-thomas-hardy-surbiton/|title=The surprising story of Thomas Hardy in Surbiton|date=2016-10-30|website=Maproom|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-06-18}} H.G.Wells, in his comic novel The Wheels of Chance, describes the cycle collision of 'Mr Hoopdriver' and a 'Young Lady in Grey'; the young lady approaching 'along an affluent from the villas of Surbiton'. The writer Enid Blyton was governess to a Surbiton family for four years from 1920, at a house called 'Southernhay', also on the Hook Road.{{citation|title=Chronology|url=http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/chronology.php|access-date=10 February 2012|author=The Enid Blyton Society}} C. H. Middleton (1886–1945), who broadcast on gardening during the Second World War, lived in Surbiton, where he died suddenly outside his home.Daniel Smith (2011) The Spade as Mighty as the Sword The artist who brought Rupert the Bear to life for a whole generation, Alfred Bestall, sketched out his cartoons from his home in Cranes Park, Surbiton Hill.

=List of notable residents=

  • Marjorie Abbatt – toy-maker and businesswoman{{cite ODNB|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/49549|title=Abbatt, Marjorie}}
  • Thomas John Barnardo – Irish philanthropist and founder of Barnardo's charity.{{cite web|url=https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/international-autograph-auction-spain-s-l/catalogue-id-srint10004/lot-46b4684b-8e71-4b9c-91af-abe5012290ef |title=Letter from Thomas John Barnardo |publisher=The Saleroom |access-date=14 November 2020}}
  • Mike Batt – Singer, songwriter, musician, known for The Wombles
  • Douglas Walter Belcher {{postnom|uk|VC}} – recipient of the Victoria Cross for action in the 2nd Battle of Ypres during WWI.{{cite web |url=http://www.tiffinschool.co.uk/ota/tiffnews/March2008.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2008-10-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004162958/http://www.tiffinschool.co.uk/ota/tiffnews/March2008.pdf |archivedate=4 October 2011}} "Newsletter of the Old Tiffinians' Association No. 235", March 2008
  • George Best – a retired footballer and TV pundit before his death (having been born in Belfast and lived much of his life in Manchester){{Cite web|title=Memories of George Best|url=https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/890311.memories-of-george-best/|access-date=2020-11-16|website=Surrey Comet|language=en}}
  • Alfred Bestall – illustrator of the Rupert books{{cite web|url=http://openplaques.org/plaques/41 |title=Alfred Bestall blue plaque |publisher=Open Plaques |access-date=14 July 2017}}
  • Enid Blyton – English children's writer{{cite ODNB|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/31939|title=Blyton, Enid}}
  • Charlie Brooks – actress{{Cite web |title=Charlie Brooks chats to Muddy - Muddy Stilettos, Surrey {{!}} Muddy Stilettos |url=https://surrey.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/interview-with-charlie-brooks/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Charlie Brooks chats to Muddy - Muddy Stilettos, Surrey {{!}} Muddy Stilettos |language=en}}
  • William Bryant – co-founder of Bryant and May's matches, lived with his wife at their property 'Oakenshaw' in Surbiton{{cite web|url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/collections/mrs-bryants-pleasure/ |title=Mrs Bryant's Pleasure|author=V&A Museum|publisher=V&A Museum|access-date=24 July 2019 }}
  • Wilberforce Bryant – chairman of Bryant and May's matches, eldest son of co-founder William Bryant, lived at 'The Gables' (now Hillcroft College){{cite web|url=http://www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.php?ID=KIN021 |title=Hillcroft College|publisher=London Parks and Gardens Trust|date=1 April 2012 |access-date=24 July 2019 }}
  • Charles Burney – Archdeacon of Kingston-upon-Thames from 1879 to 1904{{Cite web|title=Paul Frecker - Fine Photographs|url=http://paulfrecker.com/index.cfm?page=LibraryDetails&itemid=7405|access-date=2020-11-16|website=paulfrecker.com}}
  • Arthur Brian Burton, founder and owner of Thames Ditton Foundry
  • Jane Campbell, Baroness Campbell of Surbiton – equality and human rights champion{{Cite web|date=2017-03-14|title=Disabled people are confronting the spectre of social death {{!}} Jane Campbell|url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/14/disability-rights-under-threat-in-uk|access-date=2020-11-16|website=The Guardian|language=en}}
  • Rosalbina Caradori-Allan – opera singer{{Citation |last=Forbes |first=Elizabeth|title=Caradori-Allan, Maria |date=2009-01-01 |work=The Grove Book of Opera Singers |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195337655.001.0001/acref-9780195337655-e-236 |access-date=2025-03-30 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acref/9780195337655.001.0001/acref-9780195337655-e-236 |isbn=978-0-19-533765-5}}
  • Frank Cellier – actor{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Julian Clary – comedian and novelist{{Cite web|url=http://www.kingstononline.co.uk/famous-residents-kingston-local-area/|title=Famous residents of Kingston, Surbiton and the local area|date=2014-10-07|website=Kingston Online guide to Kingston upon Thames|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-18}}
  • William Francis Dundonald Cochrane – brigadier-general in the Army, and great-grandson of Archibald Cochrane, 9th Earl of Dundonald
  • John Cooper – car maker{{cite web|url=https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/english-heritage-unveils-blue-plaque-at-former-cooper-car-company-works/ |title=The Cooper Car Company commemorated with an English Heritage blue plaque|publisher=English Heritage|date=16 August 2018 |access-date=24 July 2019 }}
  • Allan Cuthbertson – actor
  • Ed Davey MP – politician, leader of the Liberal Democrats{{Cite web|last=Walker|first=Tim|date=2020-05-10|title=Lib Dem acting leader Ed Davey on the art of opposition homeworking|url=https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/brexit-news/lib-dem-leader-ed-davey-working-from-home-77350|access-date=2020-11-16|website=The New European|language=en-UK}}
  • Phyllis Dixey – singer, dancer and impresario
  • Bernard George Ellis – winner of the George Cross{{Cite web|title=National Army Museum|url=https://ww1.nam.ac.uk/stories/lieutenant-bernard-ellis/|website=ww1.nam.ac.uk|access-date=2024-12-16}}
  • David Essex – musician, singer-songwriter and actor, lived on Ditton Road for 16 years until 2002.
  • John Foxx – musician and digital artist, former resident{{Cite web |last=Sinclair |first=Iain |date=2010-07-30 |title=John Foxx Interview {{!}} Iain Sinclair |url=https://www.iainsinclair.org.uk/2010/07/30/john-foxx-interview/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=iainsinclair.org.uk |language=en-US}}
  • Susan George – actress{{Cite web|title=Ciaran Brown meets actress Susan George|url=http://www.ciaranbrown.com/george.html|website=www.ciaranbrown.com|access-date=2020-05-01}}
  • Eileen Gray – cyclist{{cite web|url=http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/9672933.Cycling_pioneer_in_line_for_award/r/?ref=surbiton.com |title=Kingston women's cycling pioneer in line for award|author=Nazia Dewji|publisher=Surrey Comet|date=26 April 2012 |access-date=27 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223092516/http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/9672933.Cycling_pioneer_in_line_for_award/r/?ref=surbiton.com |archive-date=23 December 2014 }}
  • Thomas Hardy – author (while completing and for the publishing of Far from the Madding Crowd)
  • Roy Hodgson – football manager
  • Saskia Howard-ClarkeBig Brother contestant and glamour model
  • Leslie Illsley – artist and one of the founders of Troika Pottery
  • James Johnston – rugby union player, lived in Surbiton until 2013 while playing for Harlequins{{cite web|title=James Johnston (@JayVJohnston) {{!}} Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/JayVJohnston|website=twitter.com|access-date=14 July 2017|language=en}}
  • Lukin Johnston – English-Canadian journalist who interviewed Adolf Hitler and subsequently disappeared
  • John Keen – racing cyclist{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Norman Lee – British screenwriter and film director
  • Rob Lee – former councillor{{Cite web |date=2012-07-29 |title=Apology over G4s arrest threat |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/9842644.apology-over-g4s-arrest-threat/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Your Local Guardian |language=en}}
  • Lara Lewington – television presenter, attended Surbiton High School{{cite web|access-date=2019-07-24|title=Surbiton High Pupils receive award at the National Awards Ceremony for WOHAA | publisher=Surbiton High School|url=https://www.surbitonhigh.com/news/2014-05-08/Surbiton-High-Pupils-receive-award-at-the-National-Awards-Ceremony-for-WOHAA|date=8 May 2014}}
  • Chris McCausland – comedian, Would I Lie To You?, Live at the Apollo
  • John McCririckhorse racing pundit, Celebrity Big Brother (2005), and Ultimate Big Brother (2010)
  • Debbie McGee – widow of late magician Paul Daniels, born in Kingston, lived in Tolworth, went to Our Lady Immaculate and Tolworth Girls' Schools
  • Art Malik – actor
  • Dudley Mason GC – master of the SS Ohio{{cite web|url=http://www.vconline.org.uk/dudley-w-mason-gc/4589321630|title=Dudley William Mason GC|author=The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria and George Cross|publisher=VC Online|access-date=24 July 2019 }}
  • C. H. Middleton ("Mr Middleton") – gardener, writer and BBC broadcaster
  • William Newton – Olympic sports shooter, killed in World War I, grew up in Surbiton where his parents settled.{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/155443/newton,-william-savage/ |title=William Savage Newton |work=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |access-date=18 June 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.masonicgreatwarproject.org.uk/legend.php?id=2249 |title=William Savage Newton |work=Masonic Great War Project |access-date=18 June 2020}}
  • Elizabeth Norton – historian and author{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Betty Nuthall – amongst other major titles, winner of the 1930 Women's US Singles Tennis Championship, ranked number 4 in the world
  • Katherine Parkinson – actress, IT Crowd{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Andy Parsons – comedian, Mock The Week{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Alf Pearson (of musical double act Bob and Alf Pearson) lived in Surbiton until 2007{{Cite web|title=Notable Abodes - Alf Pearson (Musician)|url=http://www.notableabodes.com/people-search-results/person-details/135257/alf-pearson-musician|access-date=2021-03-14|website=www.notableabodes.com}}
  • Emma, Lady Radford – English antiquarian and public servant, incl. chairman of the Kingston-upon-Thames Women's Land Army. Resided at Chiswick House, Ditton Hill, Surbiton.
  • Jon Richardson – comedian, 8 out of 10 Cats, Stand Up for the Week
  • L. J. K. Setright – motoring journalist and author{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Dr. Helen Sharman – first Briton in space, first woman to visit Mir space station{{cite news |url=https://thegoodlifesurbiton.co.uk/previous-issues/ |title=Go to Mars, says Helen|date=July 2024 |issue=76 |page=3 |accessdate=22 March 2025 |work=The Good Life, Surbiton's Community Newspaper}}
  • David Spinx – actor{{Cite web|title=Young artists will raise the roof of the Rose tonight|url=https://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/9804031.young-artists-will-raise-the-roof-of-the-rose-tonight/|access-date=2020-11-16|website=Surrey Comet|language=en}}
  • Twinkle (Lynn Ripley) – singer
  • Naunton Wayne – actor{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
  • Jimmy White – Snooker Player
  • Joe Wicks – Coach and personal trainer{{Cite news|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|date=2016-06-18|title=Meet the Body Coach, the man with the million-dollar muscles|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jun/18/joe-wicks-meet-body-coach-million-dollar-muscles|access-date=2020-05-01|issn=0261-3077}}
  • Dorothy Wrinch – first woman to receive an Oxford DSc., 1938 Nobel Prize nominee, grew up in Surbiton

Geography

The terrain of Surbiton is relatively flat, except for a small hill near its centre. It is part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, and borders the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey. Surbiton consists of several smaller areas, including much of Seething Wells.

= Nearby areas =

Surbiton is a post town in the KT postcode area, consisting of the KT5 and KT6 postcode districts. KT5 includes Berrylands, Tolworth and part of Surbiton; and KT6 includes Tolworth, Long Ditton and part of Surbiton.

{{Geographic location

|title = Destinations from Surbiton

|Northwest = Hampton, East Molesey

|North = Kingston Upon Thames, Petersham

|Northeast = Kingston Upon Thames

|West = Thames Ditton

|Centre = Surbiton

|East = Berrylands, Old Malden

|Southwest = Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood

|South = Chessington

|Southeast = Tolworth

}}

Gallery

Image:SurbitonClockTower.JPG|The clock tower at Surbiton was built to celebrate the 1902 coronation of King Edward VII.

Image:SurbitonPlace.JPG|Claremont Road in Surbiton.

Image:Surbiton.JPG|Shops in Victoria Road, Surbiton.

Image:Surbiton War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 1077838.jpg|Surbiton War Memorial

Image:SomewhereinSurbiton.JPG|The roundabout outside Surbiton railway station

Image:Surbitonbus.JPG|The bus shelter outside Surbiton railway station.

Image:Surbiton Branch Office AD 1898, c.1994 - Flickr - sludgegulper.jpg|Surbiton Branch Post Office, subsequently redeveloped by CNM Estates.

Image:Surbiton fire station - geograph.org.uk - 472247.jpg|Surbiton Fire Station

References

{{Reflist}}