More About Kensington

One of the most affluent areas of London, Kensington is also one of the most entertaining, with three of the cities finest museums found close to one of the finest London shopping areas along Kensington High Street.

Kensington is generally regarded as one of the wealthiest places in the country, and statistics suggest that the royal borough in which it resides has the highest life expectancy of any area in the UK. The many Kensington hotels provide easy access to all of this and provide an excellent base for any London visitor.

Kensington - A Royal Borough

Kensington has been part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since 1965. Indeed, it has enjoyed this regal prefix since 1901, when it became the Royal Borough of Kensington, with Chelsea only incorporated later. This honour owes itself to the fact that Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace, a quirk of fate which led to her granting Kensington the illustrious title when she took to the throne.

Three Iconic Museums in Kensington

London is full of exciting museums,but three of the best-loved and most fun can be found in South Kensington, all of them along Cromwell Road near Hyde Park. The Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum offer a diverse range of interesting exhibitions that you could easily spend all day wandering around. You can find out more about them on our blog.

Famous former residents of Kensington

As well as its famous royal residents, the list of past tenants of Kensington includes world famous names such as former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, crime writer Dame Agatha Christie, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and film director Sir Alfred Hitchcock. Visitors should look out for London's famous blue plaques adorning the former homes of celebrities, which are found nestled between the Kensington hotels and museums.

Getting to Kensington

Kensington is well served by the London Underground network, with stations including High Street Kensington (Circle, District Lines), Gloucester Road and South Kensington (Circle, District and Piccadilly).

There are also buses available to places such as Hammersmith, Victoria and King's Cross, and even as far afield as Clapham Junction and Golders Green.

Hotels in Kensington

As you might expect from an area as famously rich as Kensington, there are plenty of 5* hotel options to be found, including The Milestone and The Baglioni. Kensington hotels also provide plenty of 4* hotels, which while still luxurious cover a much wider price range. Choices include Copthorne Tara, NH Kensington and the apartments at Citadines Apart Hotel South Kensington.

Kensington Pubs and Bars

Given its reputation, it is no surprise that Kensington is packed full of wonderful, welcoming pubs and bars that each offer an interesting evening out. The quirky Churchill Arms is one of London's many Fuller's inns, serving ales made by London's most famous brewer. The outside of the pub is decorated with stunning plants, which has seen it awarded the London in Bloom award twice, while in a further departure from your average pub, Thai meals are available for £7.50.

The Warwick Arms provides all the ales, wines and cocktails you could wish for, as well as offers such as Beat the Dice, where your round is free if you roll two sixes (every Wednesday night), and Fabulous Friday, where you can treat yourself to a bottle of champagne and bowl of strawberries for just £20. If cocktails are more your thing, exciting Argentinian classics are served up at Galante, where the menu differs markedly from the usual cocktail lists you might encounter.

Kensington Restaurants

You may think that an area like Kensington is only going to offer dining options that will require you to take out a loan in order to pay for them. While expensive eateries certainly exist here, there are plenty of reasonably priced establishments that can offer you a quality meal.

For example, Côte is a superb French restaurant offering three courses for £11.90. Dishes include French classics such as Moules Marinières, Beef Bourguignon and Crême Brûlée. If you like Indian food, Bombay Brasserie is the best place to go, while if Thai cuisine is your thing then head to Suksan, where the signature dish is a sumptuous roast duck in red curry sauce.

Kensington Parking

There are many NCP car parks in and around Kensington. The most central one is found on Young Street (postcode W8 5EH), just off Kensington High Street, and charges £4 and hour. Most NCP car parks are open 24 hours a day. Guests at Copthorne Tara or Citadines South Kensington can park on site overnight for just £25.

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