Walton on Thames
Walton-on-Thames is a market town on the south bank of the Thames in the Elmbridge borough of Surrey, England. The town itself consists mostly of affluent suburban streets, with a historic town centre of Celtic origin. It is one of the largest towns in the Elmbridge borough, alongside Weybridge. According to the 2011 Census, the town has a total population of 22,834. It is around 15 miles from Central London, and is served by a wide range of transport links.
- The name Walton is Anglo Saxon and comes from the phonetic combination of Wealas and Tun meaning Welsh town named after the Celtic settlement which predated the Roman and Anglo Saxon period.
- Walton on Thames railway station provides four trains an hour to Waterloo Station which is only 25 minutes away.
- Six versions of the Walton bridge have spanned the Thames, each westward towards Shepperton. Before the first bridge was constructed in 1748 there was a ferry crossing that dates back to the early 17th century.
- The River Thames offers extensive opportunities for water-based sports, including rowing, canoeing, kayaking, skiffing, punting and sailing. Walton Rowing Club,, Thames Valley Skiff Club,and St George's College, are on the river towpath between the town centre and the Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Centre.
- Celebrities born in Walton include Julie Andrews and Nick Lowe, and Monty Python have filmed sketches in the local area.
More information on Walton on Thames can be found on Wikipedia.
