Look, I’m not saying you should plan a day trip to County Hall. But if you’re ever in Kingston and you need a quiet, free place to think, or you want to see how your council tax money is being spent (hint: on these maps, apparently), just walk in. The security guard will probably nod at you. The lifts will test your patience. And the café will save you.
You might even find that squirrel. Yes, there’s a squirrel that lives in the hedge outside the main entrance. I call him Sir Reginald of Penrhyn. He’s a local legend. He’s been there longer than any councillor.
So the next time you’re staring at that address—County Hall, Penrhyn Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2DW—don’t think of it as just a place to pay fines or register a car. Think of it as the awkward, hardworking, map-loving, lift-hating, coffee-scented heart of a county. And if you see Sir Reginald, tell him I said hello. He’ll probably just stare at you, but trust me—he knows.
