Kington area guide

Kington is an historic Market Town on the English/Welsh border and was originally referred to as ‘Chingtune’ in the Doomsday Book of 1086. The River Arrow is situated on the south side of the town.

A view of Kington from the Golf Club - Photohgraphs supplied by local photographer Hazel Gwatkin

St. Mary’s Church is set in an elevated position within the town with views across the Arrow Valley and the slopes of Bradnor Hill. Inside the church there is the alabaster tomb of Sir Thomas Vaughan from nearby Hergest Court who was slain in the Battle of Banbury in 1469 with his wife, Ellen.

The clock tower in the centre of town commemorates Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. Just around the corner is Kington’s Museum which was opened in 1986, allowing people to learn about the heritage of Kington and the surrounding area. It also has a tea room and shop.

The Clock Tower - Photohgraphs supplied by local photographer Hazel Gwatkin

Kington is the smallest of the five Market Towns in Herefordshire with a population of aprrox. 3,200.

Kington is the centre for walking. It has the advantage of the Offas Dyke path through the North of the town and Mortimer’s trail, which runs 30 miles through Kington to Ludlow. It is also part of the Herefordshire Trail which runs for 154 miles and links the town of: Leominster, Bromyard, Ledbury, Ross-on-wye and Kington.

Kington is also famous for its 18-hole golf course, which is said to be the highest in England and Wales at 390m above level. Local attractions also include the Small Breeds Farm, Hergest Croft Gardens and The Judges Lodgings in Presteigne.

Kington Golf Club - Photohgraphs supplied by local photographer Hazel Gwatkin

Kington Show is the highlight of the year. The society has been running since 1881. The show hosts a variety of activities and stalls to suit all the family to make a great day out. They range from crafts to sheep shearing to Young Farmers competitions. The event brings in large numbers every year and continues to grow. Kington Festival also brings in the crowds with 2 weeks of events ranging from the Wheelbarrow race to Whist drives. You can see real community spirit when attending these events.

Kington is situated a central position between towns and villages in Wales and England. There is easy access to towns such as Presteigne, Knighton, Leominster and the City of Hereford being just 21 miles away.

The town offers a variety of shops, primary and secondary school, football club, hockey club, library, leisure centre and a health spa.

Local stars include: Ellie Goulding, pop star who attended Lady Hawkins High School. Mike Oldfield, who lived on Bradnor Hill, a musician and recorded albums such as Hergest Ridge and Ommadawn. Stephen Kemble an actor born here in 1758.