Most famous for its stunning royal residence, Kensington Palace - home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge themselves - this western region of London is one of the most desirable areas in the capital.  With multi-million pound properties, Kensington is one of London’s wealthiest areas.

Located just three miles from the city of London, Kensington is an ideal location for visiting the city’s most popular attractions.  The area itself houses three of London’s biggest museums, which welcome flocks of visitors every year.  With free admission and many interactive elements, Kensington’s museums are a popular choice for families to visit.

The Natural History Museum is a spectacular crowd pleaser, with a giant dinosaur to greet visitors as they enter, and a temporary ice rink running throughout the winter.  Nearby, the Science Museum is a real treat with interactive gardens and exhibits designed with children in mind.  The Victoria and Albert Museum in neighbouring Knightsbridge, houses an exceptional collection of art and design, including fashion, architecture, prints and photography.

One of the area’s most popular attractions is Kensington Palace, situated in the stunning Kensington Gardens, next to Hyde Park.  With 242 acres of beautiful greenery, Kensington Gardens are also home to the Albert Memorial, famous Peter Pan statue and the Serpentine Gallery.  The palace, former home of Queen Victoria, is a stylish royal residence in which visitors can explore grand chambers and indulge in afternoon tea. 

Another iconic building, situated opposite the beautiful gardens, is the Royal Albert Hall.  The grade I listed building hosts the BBC Proms every year and offers a jam packed schedule of rock, pop, ballet, opera and classical concerts throughout the year.

In contrast to the tranquil gardens, Kensington’s high street offers a lively retail experience, with a mix of the most popular high street brands and independent boutiques.  Kensington’s Church Street offers old world charm with its collection of antique stores and book shops.

Housing a collection of over 70 million specimens, the Natural History Museum located in the heart of Kensington offers a fascinating journey through time and space.  The museum, based in a stunning German Romanesque building on Cromwell Road, opened to the public in 1881 and today receives over 5 million visitors a year.

The Natural History Museum is perhaps most famous for its fantastic dinosaur exhibit, complete with animatronic T REX, and the full length Diplodocus skeleton greeting visitors in the main hall.  However there are many more fascinating exhibits to be explored including ‘Creepy Crawlies’, ‘Earth’s Treasury’ and ‘From the Beginning’.

Throughout the museum visitors will find interactive exhibits and plenty to keep both children and adults engaged.  From the earthquake simulator in ‘The Power Within’, to the live busy bee hive in the ‘Bee Tree’, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

As well as a fascinating tourist attraction, the Natural History Museum is a hub for scientific research, and home to one of the world’s leading science libraries.  The new Darwin Centre sees the museum’s research scientists hard at work, who are also on display for the public to watch!

Europe’s most visited science and technology museum sees over 3 million visitors every year.  Now located on Exhibition Road, London’s Science Museum started life in 1857, as part of the South Kensington Museum – a space where part of the Victoria and Albert Museum now stands.

The Science Museum is spread over seven floors with interactive galleries displaying everything from medical history to patterns and developments in contemporary science.  The 3D and 4D simulators are a real treat, giving visitors the chance to experience what it’s like to fly with the Red Arrows.

Younger children are catered for with the Pattern Pod, an exhibition dedicated to the under 8s, and the Launch Pad, a great interactive gallery exploring basic scientific principles.  Contrastingly, the Dana Centre is an adult only area, offering free lectures and performances.

The Serpentine Gallery is located in the beautiful Kensington Gardens in Central London. Established in 1970, the gallery has in recent years expanded to include the new Serpentine Sackler Gallery.  The Serpentine Sackler Gallery was opened in 2013, housed in a grade II listed building that used to be a gunpowder store.  The new addition is just a five minute walk from the original gallery.

For over 40 years, the Serpentine Galley has showcased both upcoming talent and world renowned names in art, architecture and design.  The galleries feature thought provoking exhibitions in both modern and contemporary styles, with the original Serpentine having featured over 1,600 artists’ works.Every summer, the Serpentine Gallery commissions an architect to design their summer pavilion, which is created and used to hold a programme of public events.

South of Kensington Gardens and surrounded by some of London’s most praised museums and galleries, the Royal Albert Hall is an arts venue that was originally conceived by Prince Albert.  His vision was to have a centre for arts and sciences, surrounded by places of learning.  

Ten years after his death, in 1871, Queen Victoria opened the Royal Albert Hall.  It has been in continuous use ever since, showcasing some of the world’s most renowned performances in classical music, jazz, opera, dance, comedy and even tennis!  The Hall plays host to over 360 events each year, most notably the classical Proms series, which runs through the summer and concludes in nearby Hyde Park with the Last Night of the Proms. 

The Grade I listed building reflects the designs of ancient amphitheatres and is a marvellous example of classical architecture and modern technology.  During the day, visitors can enjoy tours of the Hall finding out about the buildings fascinating history and catching a glimpse into how the Hall prepares for an evening performance.

Established in 1852, the Victoria and Albert Museum (or V&A for short) is one of the world’s greatest museums for art and design, with over 4 million items from across time and continents.  The V&A is located between Kensington and Knightsbridge, close to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.

As with many buildings in central London, the V&A is a beautiful mixture of Victorian and Edwardian architecture and design.  The stunning surroundings make for the perfect vessel in which to house some of the world’s most treasured examples of art and design.

Exhibitions include pieces originating from hundreds of cultures around the world, and dating back centuries.  Collections include European, Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Islamic items in a range of art forms from ceramics to paintings, furniture to costume.  The British Galleries are a particular favourite, retelling Britain’s fascinating history through art and design.

Located in the stunning Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace has long been home to the royals.  Designed by Christopher Wren in the 17th century, the palace was first home to King William III and Queen Mary II.  Since then, the property has remained a royal residence, famously known as the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria, and today the current residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  Diana Princess of Wales also had an apartment in the palace from1981 – 1997.

Despite still being a working royal residence, some parts of Kensington Palace are open to the public.  The Queen’s State Apartments are the intimate private rooms of Queen Mary II; Victoria Revealed is an exhibition exploring the life of Queen Victoria through her own words; the Kings’ Gallery is the largest state apartment at Kensington Palace where some of the finest paintings of the Royal Collection can be viewed.

The Palace Gardens are also a treat not to be missed, as is afternoon tea in The Orangery Café, a real quintessentially English experience within the royal palace.

A tranquil oasis in the heart of London, Kensington Gardens is separated from the equally stunning Hyde Park by the Serpentine Bridge to the East side of the Gardens.  An extension of the gardens in Kensington Palace, the area is popular with residents and visitors to the capital alike.  

Visitors to the gardens include local residents on their daily jog, commuters seeking a scenic route to work, or those taking a gentle stroll and soaking in the sights and smells of the flora and fauna that the gardens offer.  In summertime the gardens are scattered with picnickers and sunbathers taking advantage of the summer sun and beautiful surroundings.

Take a walk around the gardens and you will find a number of landmarks from the Peter Pan statue, a dedication to novelist J M Barrie who imagined the classic story whilst wandering the gardens; the Albert memorial, commemorating the death of Prince Albert in 1861; and the Diana Memorial playground, where children can let their imaginations take over.

The Serpentine Galleries are a must for art enthusiast, exhibiting contemporary and modern art from up and coming, and established artists. 

The working royal residence, Kensington Palace dominates the West side of the Gardens, and offers an intriguing glimpse into the history of this royal home.

Kensington Gardens has also featured countless times on the silver screen. With its luscious greenery and picturesque water features, the gardens have lent themselves well to modern romantic comedies including ‘Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason’ and ‘Wimbledon.’  ‘Finding Neverland’ also featured scenes filmed at the gardens.

An ideal spot to relax and take a break from the bustling Kensington High Street, visitors to the Piano Bar Kensington are treated to an eclectic mix of tunes played by pianist Bazz Norton on his 160 year old grand piano.The bar is fully stocked serving classic cocktails and fine wines, or visitors can make an evening of it and order from the delicious food menu whilst enjoying to the live music.