My picks of things to see and places to visit in Kensington

Kensington Palace

There are many iconic buildings in London and if you’re in Kensington and you’re looking for spots with a touch of history tied to them, then head out to the beautiful Kensington Palace. I never expected this to be one of my favourite things to see in Kensington since I just thought of it as like visiting any other house, and oh, how ignorant I was.

It’s actually a great place to get a feel for British history – This has been the official London residence to the duke and duchess of Cambridge and other members of the royal family for over 300 years and hold a bunch of iconic rooms and buildings that allow us to get a glimpse of how the royal family lived. This was also the birthplace of Queen Victoria and where Princess Diana lived, and with a reasonably priced guided tour we were able to learn so much about the two.

📍Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom

Kensington Gardens

Kensington Gardens was once the private gardens of Kensington Palace so its pretty cool that they decided to open to the public. The gardens are shared by the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Located within Kensington Gardens are some super interesting things designed by people explicitly for the royal family.

Such as: the talking peter pan statue, a sculpture commissioned by Sir George Frampton and the creator of peter pan himself as he felt inspired by Kensington Gardens while walking and decided to create the character. There’s also a talking feature for peter pan located in a plaque but we didn’t get to test that one out.

There’s also the Serpentine Gallery for amazing art exhibits and exhibitions, the Italian and Allotment Gardens, the Diana Memorial Playground, statue of young Queen Victoria, and the Albert Memorial, the final resting place and monument tp Queen Victoria’s beloved husband, Prince Albert, and a spot we’ll get to in a second.

📍Kensington Gardens, London W8 4PX, United Kingdom

Churchill Arms

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fuller’s (@fullers)

I’ve mentioned before on another article about how Kensington is home to some of the most amazing bars in the city, and Churchill Arms is definitely one of them. Just a stone’s throw from Kensington Gardens you’ll find a building that is just absolutely covered in flowers. Built in 1750, making it one of London’s oldest pubs. It is named after Winston Churchill’s grandparents, who were regulars.

Of course, they serve beer and cider since it’s a pub but what’s surprising to us what that they actually serve some amazing Thai food. You’d think that a pub named after the former prime minister of the United Kingdom would serve British food, but here we are. But in true, British fashion, the pub is still a good spot in South Kensington for a good old afternoon tea.

📍119 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN, United Kingdom

Harrods

Harrods is a shopper’s paradise, with over 330 departments offering everything from designer clothing to luxury homeware. The store is known for its high-end brands and exclusive products, making it a great place to find unique gifts or to treat yourself. Harrods has a rich history that is worth exploring. The store was founded in 1834 and has been one of London’s most iconic landmark ever since. The store has survived two world wars and has been owned by the state of Qatar since 2010.

There’s something for everyone here, and that includes children. Harrods has an absolutely huge toy store that parents and kids should definitely pay a visit because of their wide range of toys that you literally couldn’t get anywhere else. They also host a bunch of stuff like wine events or children workshops, so make sure to check out their site first!

📍87-135 Brompton Rd, London SW1X 7XL, United Kingdom

Royal Albert Hall

The venue has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including The Beatles, Adele, and Beyoncé. It is also home to the BBC Proms, a series of classical music concerts that take place every summer. Trust me, a concert here is one of the best things to do in London, the entire architecture just allows the music to flow freely. What’s cool is that they also have a bunch of food and drink options which are perfect after singing along to your favourite artists.

The Royal Albert Hall offers tours that take visitors behind the scenes of the venue. The tours include a visit to the Queen’s private box, the Royal Retiring Room, and the Royal Albert Hall Gallery. The tours are a great way to learn about the history of the venue and to see some of the areas that are not usually open to the public.

📍Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP, United Kingdom

Albert Memorial

The albert memorial in Kensington gardens is one of London’s most ornate memorials, with intricate carvings and beautiful mosaics. The centrepiece of the memorial is a 14-foot high statue of Prince Albert holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition, held in Hyde Park in 1851, which he inspired and helped to organise.

The memorial stands 175 feet (53 metres) high and is graced with scores of statues and sculpted figures that are, in scale, somewhat larger than life. There are a bunch of tributes for Prince Albert that span all throughout Kensington, London which are a testament to how much this man has done for his country. Since the memorial is located in Kensington gardens, which is a must-visit in my opinion, its a fairly convenient tourist spot.

📍Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UH, United Kingdom

Kyoto Garden

The Kyoto Garden is a beautiful Japanese garden right inside Holland park, that is designed to reflect the culture of Japan. The garden features traditional Japanese stone lanterns, winding cobbled pathways, and a famous waterfall that trickles into a pond with koi carp swimming around.

The garden is a great place to relax and unwind, and it offers a unique, Japanese-style landscape that’s perfect for quiet reflection and relaxation. Honestly, how often do you get the chance to see something beautiful in London all for free? so don’t miss out on this pitstop while you’re exploring the area!

📍Kensington Gardens, London W2 2UH, United Kingdom

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy some fresh air and green space. The park covers over 350 acres and is home to a wide range of trees, plants, and wildlife. There are clearly defined cycle lanes and paved tracks for skaters. It is also possible to explore the park on horseback with the Hyde Park Stables or hire a boat and row yourself across the Serpentine Lake. 

Riding a horse through the park was surprisingly relaxing as the park is just brimming with gardens, bandstands, sculptures, and attractions. I was also lucky to visit the park on May, meaning the Serpentine Lido was open and we were able to take a swim and cool off right in the heart of London! 

📍Underground Ltd, Hyde Park Corner Station, London SW1X 7LY, United Kingdom

Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery is committed to making contemporary art accessible to all. The gallery presents projects in physical and digital spaces that are engaging, enlightening, and educational for diverse audiences. The gallery also offers educational programmes that aim to reveal the possibilities of artistic expression to young minds, encourage fresh thought, and stimulate innovation,

They also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including talks, workshops, and courses. These events are a great way to learn more about contemporary art and to engage with the artistic community, to which we genuinely enjoyed. Speaking to young up-and-coming artists from Central London, sparked within us a sense of artistry that almost made us want to change careers.

📍Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY, United Kingdom

Things to do in Kensington: The Best Museums

Natural History Museum

The museum is home to many items of interest, in fact, this museum has over 80 million items, including specimens from the natural world, fossils, and minerals. The museum is divided into four different coloured zones, each of which focuses on specific topics or subjects. It is one of the largest museums in London, I mean, seriously, 80 million items, I’ve been here for so many times now, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t touched the surface of what this museum has to offer.

Enjoy free tours around this massive building and there is bound to be something that could strike your fancy, and if by some miracle you get bored by the things to do and see inside the museum, the outside itself, is stunning testament to Romanesque architecture that is worthy of a few pics. It’s also near Kensington high street which makes it super convenient and easy to locate.

📍Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom

Science Museum

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Science Museum (@sciencemuseum)

The Science Museum is home to a wide range of interactive exhibits that are both informative and hands-on. The museum covers everything from early technology to space travel, and there are exhibits that are suitable for visitors of all ages. The museum’s most popular exhibits include the Flight Gallery, which features a flight simulator and live experiments, and the Garden, which is a sensory play zone for children under the age of six which are all completely free by the way.

The building itself also have inspiration from Victorian London and though it has undergone several renovations, its original charm and character is still very much visible. A great tip I have for anyone coming into what I consider as one of the best museums in London, is to download the Treasure Hunters App to transform your visit into one giant interactive game!

📍Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom

Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A)

The V&A Museum, or the Victoria and Albert Museum was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It is designed to lure in anyone with a passion for design, contemporary art, and history. Aside from the numerous exhibitions they have, they also have a bunch of galleries for people to explore such as The Fashion Gallery, featuring the most iconic designs of the 20th century, The Jewellry Gallery, with pieces from ancient times worn by royalty and celebrities, and the 1700-1800 British Gallery, that showcase ceramics, textiles, and furniture designs of the time.

Here’s the best thing though, they also have a coffee shop! Something that truly amazed me. Walking around here you’re bound to get tired so what better way to recharge your batteries than stopping by the quirky V and A Cafe, located in the Morris room designed with stunning stained glass windows and designed ceiling.

📍Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, United Kingdom

The Design Museum

The Design Museum hosts a wide range of special events throughout the year, including talks, workshops, and courses. The events are a great way to learn more about design from leading experts in the industry. They are committed to inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and designers as they offer design education facilities and workshops supporting a vibrant programme connected with the wider ecology of design practice, networks, and communities.

They have temporary exhibitions throughout the year and a permanent collection so every visit is bound to be interesting. It is also super convenient for anyone who loves to learn about designs as the closest tube station is High Street Kensington on the Circle and District lines.

📍224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG, United Kingdom

Leighton House

Leighton House offers guided tours that take visitors behind the scenes of the house. The tours include a visit to the historic house and the chance to learn about the history of the house and the artistic community that once lived there.  The house is home to some of the most beautiful rooms in London, including the Arab Hall, which is a beautiful collection of Islamic tiles and a fountain in the middle.

While access to the historic house requires a ticket, there are free areas of Leighton House that you can visit. These include the Tavolozza Drawings Gallery, new displays, contemporary commissions, and the Garden Café and Shop.

📍12 Holland Park Rd, London W14 8LZ, United Kingdom

18 Stafford Terrace

Stafford Terrace was the home of the Punch illustrator Edward Linley Sambourne and his family in the late 19th century. The house is now Grade II* listed and is open to the public as a museum. The house offers a unique glimpse into the life of a Victorian family and is amazing to learn about the history of the era.

The house has been preserved to look as it did when the Sambourne family lived there, and it features many original furnishings and decorations. The house is a great place to see how the Victorians lived and to learn about the design and aesthetics of that time period. 

📍18 Stafford Terrace, London W8 7BH, UK

Looking for More Guides?

If you’re looking for more spots to visit to add to the South Kensington books, then we’ve got more guides for you to check out! Everything from the best cafes, best restaurants, and even the best bars and pubs in West London, so head on over to our site and we’ll help you navigate through this neighborhood!