London Neighbourhoods
Kensington
Kensington is an upscale area with stately Victorian buildings and embassies. Tourists come to see dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum, hands-on displays at the Science Museum and period furnishings at Kensington Palace. The grand Royal Albert Hall hosts concerts from classical to pop. When it comes to shopping, Kensington's High Street has every high street brand you can think of with the landmark Barkers building reminding us of the street's history in retail supremacy. With popular parks, museums and shops in easy reach and a crowd of competing hotels nearby, Kensington is brilliant for tourists wanting to be that little way out of the centre.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea forms part of the most densely populated local government district in the United Kingdom. This high density has come about through the subdivision of large mid-rise Georgian and Victorian terraced houses (generally of four to six floors) into flats.
In the north east is situated the large public Royal Park of Kensington Gardens (contiguous with its eastern neighbour, Hyde Park). The other main green area in Kensington is Holland Park, on the north side of the eastern end of Kensington High Street. Many residential roads have small communal garden squares, for the exclusive use of the residents.
As a place, Kensington emotes regal elegance. Old-world buildings seamlessly blend with the glass windows of artisanal cheese shops, pastry bakeries, and international consulates, lending the neighbourhood an air of polished refinement and perfect finishing. Its opulence doesn't detract from the neighborhood's inviting nature - Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace, and the area's myriad museums are frequented by locals and visitors alike.
South Ken, as South Kensington is often referred to, is a great place to while away a whole day. As well as three of London's biggest and best museums, there're plenty of other things to do that are sure to entertain and amuse everyone in your group. South Kensington has a Tube station which is served by the Piccadilly line, the Circle line and the District line. There are also some bus routes that go through the area.
Online Walks
Kensington Gardens
There's plenty of green space in Kensington - the area is home to two of London's magnificent Royal Parks - Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. Kensington Gardens was originally part of neighbouring Hyde Park but is now a completely separate public park with a character all its own. At the park's western end stands the royal home of Kensington Palace while at the eastern end The Serpentine separates Kensington Park from Hyde Park.
The park we now know as Kensington Gardens began as part of Hyde Park, laid out by Henry VIII as a deer chase, or hunting ground. That changed in 1689 when King William III and Queen Mary bought Nottingham House at the western edge of Hyde Park. The royal couple called in Sir Christopher Wren to transform the existing house into a royal residence renamed Kensington Palace.
Kensington Palace
When you're in Kensington Gardens, make sure you visit Kensington Palace, the current London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It is also where both Queen Victoria and Diana, Princess of Wales lived. On a tour of the palace, you can explore the State Apartments, see Queen Victoria's bedroom, look around temporary exhibitions, stroll around the landscaped gardens and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in the Orangery.
Kensington Palace began as a simple 2 storey rectangular house built in 1605 for Sir George Coppin. At that time the Kensington location was an area of farmland, far from the bustle of London. However, over time, the city has spread to encompass the area. The last monarch to reside at Kensington Palace was George II. When George's queen, Caroline, died in 1737 the monarch stopped all building work.
After George II, the palace ceased to be a royal palace used by the household of the reigning monarch, and instead became a residence for members of the extended royal family.
The Albert Memorial
Queen Victoria's memorial to her beloved consort sits at the Coalbrookdale Gates to Kensington Gardens. The statue of Prince Albert, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, looks upon the South Kensington cultural centre, the lasting legacy of Albert's grand project, the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Kensington's Royal Parks host the Serpentine lake, the Serpentine Gallery, and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground
The Serpentine Gallery is located in Hyde Park and shows free modern and contemporary art exhibitions. In the summer, the gallery commissions famous architects to design temporary event pavilions for its lawn.
South Kensington
South Kensington is home to a cluster of free museums, making it the perfect destination for families and adults alike. At the Victoria and Albert Museum, you can see art and design from the past 3000 years, including ceramics, furniture, fashion, jewellery, photographs, sculpture, textiles and paintings.
The family-friendly Science Museum caters for kids of all ages. The interactive Garden area is specially designed for under fives, while the hands-on Launchpad gallery is perfect for teenagers. On the last Wednesday of every month the museum stays open late for an evening of adult-only entertainment, so you can embrace your inner child.
Just next door you'll find London's Natural History Museum, where you can come face-to-face with a giant T-rex, and experience an earthquake in the Power Within zone. In winter, the Natural History Museum also hosts an ice-rink.
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington's famous Royal Albert Hall plays host to The BBC Proms concerts each year. As well as classical concerts, you can also see rock and pop gigs, ballet, opera and even tennis here. Next door to the Royal Albert Hall is the Royal College of Art, a postgraduate art and design college, which holds regular exhibitions. Look out for up-and-coming artists and designers at the annual graduate shows.
Location: Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London
Kensington Address Book
3 Kensington Gate, Kensington:
Sir Benjamin Baker
(1840-1907), Civil Engineer and Designer lived here
1881-1894. Baker is best remembered for designing
the Forth Bridge and engineering many of London's earliest underground
railways. He undertook these world-famous projects while living here. Other major later works
included the Aswan Dam across the Nile and its subsequent raising
(1902, 1904) and the Avonmouth Docks, near Bristol (from 1902).
Composer Benjamin Britten O.M. (1913-1976) lived here 1931-1933.
Comedian Tony Hancock (1924-1968) lived here 1952-1958 at the height of his
popularity before moving to Sydney, Australia. Tony Hancock was one of
Britain's first comedy superstars, achieving widespread fame with
his radio show, Hancock's Half Hour. Hancock's style of comedy has
been hugely influential. He popularised the observational,
character-based comedy which has since been the basis of so much
British comedy.
acclaimed theatre and
movie director Sir Alfred Hitchcock (1899-1980) lived here 1926-1939.
British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, K.G. (1874-1965) lived and died here.
Other notable residents of Kensington include:
• Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, OM (1836–1912), painter, at 44 Grove End Road
• Gilbert Bayes (1872–1953), sculptor, at 4 Greville Place
• Jeremy Bamber (born 1961), convicted mass murderer
• Ivan Berlyn (1867–1934), film and stage actor
• Antonia Bird (1951–2013), film director
• Howard Blake (born 1938), composer, conductor and pianist
• Frank Boys (1918–2003), first-class cricketer
• Les Champelovier (1933–2023), amateur footballer
• Daniel Day-Lewis (born 1957), retired Academy Award-winning actor
• Dido (born 1971), singer and songwriter
• Carmen Ejogo (born 1973), actress
• Evangeline Florence (1867–1928), soprano
• Justine Frischmann (born 1969), musician
• Percival Gale (1865–1940), cricketer
• William Leach (1883–1969), first-class cricketer
• Montague MacLean (1870–1951), cricketer
• Freddie Mercury (1946–1991), frontman of the British rock band Queen
• Jimmy Page (born 1944), guitarist of the British rock band Led Zeppelin
• Una-Mary Parker (1930–2019), journalist and novelist
• Reginald Popham (1892–1975), cricketer and footballer
• Christopher Stanger-Leathes (1881–1966), rugby union international
• Jason Vale (born 1969), lifestyle coach
• Frank Ward (1888–1952), first-class cricketer
• Frank Westerton (1866–1923), stage and silent-film actor
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