Find out about New Malden, Surrey, UK
Jenny Webster
New Malden is a town in south-west London, lying partly within the Royal Borough of Kingston and partly within the London Borough of Merton.
It is well-placed for commuters into and out of London, as it is close to the A3 and has a regular train service into Waterloo (typically four trains an hour).
The town's High Street contains some chain stores, but also several independent and smaller shops. Tudor Williams, the local department store, has been open since 1913. It is also within easy reach of Kingston town centre, which has a larger shopping area.
Sports and leisure are well catered for. The Malden Centre provides sports facilities, including a swimming pool, and there are several local parks. The town is also within easy reach of Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common, Bushy Park, Hampton Court and the River Thames.
New Malden is home to a large expatriate Korean community; indeed, it is sometimes known as "Little Korea". The area includes the largest community of Koreans in Europe. There are many Korean shops and restaurants in the area, and several related cultural events occur during the year; there was much local excitement during the summer of 2002 when South Korea reached the semi-finals of the (football) World Cup.
Why "New Malden"? "Old Malden" also exists, two miles south of what is now New Malden. The older town was originally known simply as "Malden" until the newer town grew up around the (then new) railway station in the middle of the nineteenth century. Old Malden features in the Domesday as "Meldone", and the name itself is derived from Anglo-Saxon.
The area boasts many good schools, and crime in the area is average or below average, according to the Metropolitan Police's figures. Traffic in the area generally flows well, although problems on the A3 or at the Shannon Corner roundabout can cause significant local congestion.
Every year the town hosts Malden Fortnight, which includes a parade, other cultural events, and stalls on the High Street showcasing local craftspeople and groups.
New Malden is a convenient and pleasant place to live and work; find out more today!
|
