London area of Kensington guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Kensington neighbourhood

The streets of Kensington may not be paved with gold but, in terms of real estate, they might as well be. The most desirable area, where you’ll find many a multi-million pound residence, is between Kensington High Street, up and over to Notting Hill Gate. The Royal Borough (given ‘Royal’ status in 1901) has been home to the monarchy since 1689. Their well tended gardens at Kensington Palace are open to the public, as are those of Holland Park. When it comes to shopping, Kensington 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. There’s also a history of putting on fairs and exhibitions: the Olympia’s pretty glass covered main hall was originally called the National Agricultural Hall. Opening its doors on Boxing Day 1886, the Paris Hippodrome Circus started a tradition in entertainment on the grounds with around 400 performers, 300 horses and six elephants.

See our recommended nearby Kensington Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

Kensington Hotels

in or near Kensington
NH Kensington Hotel London
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
202-220 Cromwell Road, SW5
This clean, comfortable modern hotel made up of six Victorian houses is a short walk from Earls Court Tube station from where the Piccadilly line can ... More
 
 
 
Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
97 Cromwell Road, SW7
The location, two minutes' walk from Gloucester Road tube station, is the major draw of this modern, high-rise hotel. The Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, Natural ... More
 
 
 
The Bentley Hotel London
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
27 - 33 Harrington Gardens, SW7
As its name suggests, The Bentley hotel is a rather sleek model. Appropriately located in upmarket Kensington and Chelsea all of the 64 rooms in this ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Entertainment

in or near Kensington
PICK
The Coronet
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
103 Notting Hill Gate, Kensington, London W11
Originally built in 1898 as a theatre, Notting Hill's Coronet is now the place to go for a good, old-fashioned cinema experience. The dcor harks back ... More
 
 
 
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Gate Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
11 Pembridge Road, Kensington, London W11
With an average audience capacity of 70, the Gate has been presenting first class fringe theatre for over 30 years and continues to do so, making ... More
 
 
 
Holland Park Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
Holland Park, Kensington, London W8
Situated in the middle of Holland Park, every summer the temporary structure of the Holland Park Theatre is erected. The home of Holland Park Opera is ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Sights and Attractions

The best museums, galleries, attractions in or near Kensington
PICK
18 Stafford Terrace (Linley Sambourne House)
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
18 Stafford Terrace, Kensington, London W8
For a virtually untouched and immaculately preserved slice of Victorian living, visit this delightful building. One of the only genuine Victorian townhouses remaining and virtually unchanged ... More
 
 
 
PICK
18 Stafford Terrace
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
18 Stafford Terrace, Kensington, London W8
For a virtually untouched and immaculately preserved slice of Victorian living, visit Edward Linley Sambourne a delightful museum and one of the few genuine Victorian ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Holland Park
London > Attractions > Parks and Gardens
Holland Park Avenue / Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
Small, pretty park in west London. Pretty, petit Holland Park is the ideal location for those wanting to escape the clamour of the city but who don’t ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Shopping

The best shops and markets in or near London's Kensington
PICK
Non-Stop Party Shop
London > Shopping > Specialists
214 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
This is a one-stop non-stop shop for all your party needs. From decorations - streamers, banners, pinata and confetti - to luminous novelties and dressing-up ... More
 
 
 
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Children's Book Centre
London > Shopping > Books
237 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
This is a bookshop and a whole lot more, with everything on offer from padded books for tots, through wonderful picture books and on to first ... More
 
 
 
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Hotel Chocolat
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
163 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
The High Street Kensington branch of Hotel Chocolat has an in-store cafe where weary shoppers can re-charge their batteries with a mug of Liquid Chocolat - ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Restaurants

What are the best dining options in or near Kensington London?
PICK
Sticky Fingers
London > Restaurants > American restaurants
1a Phillimore Gardens, Kensington, London W8
Bill Wyman, bassist for The Rolling Stones, owns Sticky Fingers - a restaurant sharing the same name as the band's ninth studio album - just off ... More
 
 
 
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Byron High Street Kensington
London > Restaurants > American restaurants
222 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
The original Byron on High Street Kensington had a complete makeover in November 2019, 12 years after the burger chain first arrived in London. The re-design ... More
 
 
 
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Yashin
London > Restaurants > Japanese restaurants
1a Argyll Road, Kensington, London W8
The London sushi scene got a whole lot better with the opening of High Street Kensington's upmarket Yashin in autumn 2010. Brought to you by two ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Pubs

The best pubs in or near London Kensington.
PICK
The Scarsdale
London > Nightlife > Pubs
23A Edwards Square, Kensington, London W8
If pubs were judged by their location and setting, The Scardale Tavern in Kensington would top many lists for this really is quaint London at its ... More
 
 
 
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The Abingdon
London > Restaurants > Gastropub
54 Abingdon Road, Kensington, Kensington, London W8
... More
 
 
 
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Devonshire Arms W8
London > Nightlife > Pubs
37 Marloes Road, Kensington, London W8
Always a popular hangout with the South Kensington locals, The Devonshire Arms had a fresh lick of paint in 2014 and emerged with its proper pub ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Nightlife

Kensington clubs, bars, cabaret nights, casinos and interesting nightlife.
PICK
Piano
London > Nightlife > Bars
106 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
If you ask your friends about this place, not many will know. It's not wildly off the beaten track either, situated directly opposite High Street Ken ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Notting Hill Arts Club
London > Nightlife > Nightclubs
221 Notting Hill Gate, Kensington, London W11
Pricey but always fun, this subterranean dive in the heart of trendy West London enjoys a steady crowd and on big nights it gets absolutely packed ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Ping
London > Nightlife > Bars
180-184 Earl's Court Road, Kensington, London SW5
We can't help but feel that Boris Johnson would approve of Ping, a cavernous venue which serves cocktails, pizzas and ping pong (or whiff whaff if ... More
 
 
 

Kensington Leisure

Kensington gyms, sporting activities, health & beauty and fitness.
PICK
Holland Park
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
Ilchester Place, Kensington, London W8
Pretty, petit Holland Park is the ideal location for those wanting to escape the clamour of the city but who don't want to travel too far ... More
 
 
 
PICK
London Archers
London > Leisure > Activities
Perks Field, Kensington Palace, Kensington, London W8
An excellent members archery club that shoots in the grounds of Kensington Palace in summer and in Pimlico in winter. Archery is a totally satisfying sport, ... More
 
 
 
Club Kensington
London > Leisure > Fitness
201 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
... More
 
 
 

Kensington Education

in or near Kensington
PICK
The London School of Painting and Drawing
London > Education > Evening Classes
23 Kensington Square, Kensington, London W8
Evening and weekend classes in life drawing and painting, taught by tutors from the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal Society of British Sculptors. ... More
 
 
 
Kensington and Chelsea Student Support Section
London > Education > Universities and Colleges
Town Hall, Hornton Street, Kensington, London W8
Student support ... More
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kensington Meeting Venues

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course in or near Kensington.
PICK
Kensington Conference and Events Centre
London > Business > Venue Hire
Hornton Street, Kensington, London W8
Kensington Conference and Events Centre, Just a two minutes walk from High Street Kensington Underground Station, Kensington Chelsea and Events Centre is a highly adaptable, purpose-designed ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Kensington Roof Gardens
London > Business > Venue Hire
99 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8
An oasis high in the sky above Kensington High Street, the Roof Gardens comprises one and a half acres of themed gardens. These gardens surround an ... More
 
 
 
PICK
Kensington Palace
London > Business > Venue Hire
Kensington Gardens, Kensington, London W8
Conference facilities can accomodate for up to 1040 people.... More
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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