Kensington is the ideal central London location with lots to explore, see and do: Royal Palaces, three world famous museums, green open spaces and parks, a famous concert hall, Imperial College, plenty of shopping opportunities, restaurants and cafes, and excellent transport links to theatre land in the West End and the city’s business districts.
Located west of Hyde Park and bordered by Notting Hill and Knightsbridge, Kensington High Street is the commercial heart, and South Kensington, often described as ‘London’s cultural heartland’, is one of the most affluent areas in London. There are also lots of interesting architecture and hidden pockets of interest in the area, so it’s well worth strolling through the streets that run off the main roads.
Museums, Galleries & Music
Within a 5-10 minute walk from any of our Kensington properties (see links below) you’ll find London’s three most popular museums. Entry is free (although special exhibitions require tickets) and late night openings make it possible to avoid the crowds.
The Natural History Museum exhibits elements of natural history, such as plants, ecosystems, animals, paleontology and much, much more. Famous for the huge dinosaur skeleton that dominates the main hall, many of the collections have great historical as well as scientific value, with several specimens collected by Charles Darwin. It would be easy to pass a day browsing the exhibits there are lots of specific children’s activities such as games, quizzes and downloads.
Victoria & Albert Museum (or, The V&A as it is commonly known) – the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design with over 4.5 million objects in its permanent collection. Named after Queen Victoria & Prince Albert and dating back to 1836, the museum houses artworks spanning over 5,000 years from different cultures across the globe.
Science Museum – founded in 1857 by Bennet Woodcroft from the collections of the Royal Society of Arts and items from the Great Exhibition. Today, the museum contains a collection of machinery, cars, space exploration items, and a recreation of the Crick & Watson’s model of DNA.