So, what is 42 Union Street today? Well, it’s a commercial property, which is a fancy way of saying “it doesn’t know what it wants to be when it grows up.” Over the years, it’s probably been a tailor’s shop, a greengrocer’s, and—if my psychic powers are working—a place that sold top hats to people who didn’t own horses. Currently, it’s home to a few businesses, including a hairdresser. That means many a terrible haircut has been born within those walls. No judgment, just observation.
But here’s the kicker: the building itself is a Grade II listed structure. That’s the British government’s way of saying, “Please don’t knock this down; it’s historically awkward and we like it.” Being listed means you can’t even change the door handle without a committee of people with tweed elbow patches debating it for three months. It’s like your grandma’s china cabinet, but with damp patches and a haunted vibe.
Surprising Facts That Will Impress (or Bore) Your Friends
Here’s a surprising fact: the building sits on a street that was originally called “Market Place.” Boring, right? But then they renamed it Union Street, probably because someone got really excited about the Act of Union 1707. That’s right—a street name born from legislative enthusiasm. Very sexy.
Retail premises to let in K Crown Arcade, Union Street, Kingston Upon
Another gem: the building is just a few hundred feet from the River Thames. That means, for centuries, it’s seen flooding, swans attacking toddlers, and drunken rowers singing sea shanties at 2 AM. It’s practically a mascot for “weathered British resilience.”
