About this office
Our respected team of sales and lettings agents in Kensington offer exceptional local knowledge and a first-rate service. Covering Kensington High Street, Hillgate Village, Campden Estate, Abingdon Village, Phillimore Estate, Holland Park, Brook Green, West Kensington and Kensington Olympia, we can assist with the sale and rental of all types of property, with specialists in the Prime market, as well as short term and corporate tenancies.
Why move to Kensington?
Kensington is a desirable cosmopolitan district in the heart of West London with all the amenities of the capital right on the doorstep. There is truly something for everyone here, with an array of boutiques and shops, high-end restaurants, world class museums and lavish properties. Kensington also borders many of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, including Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Earl’s Court and Notting Hill.
A little bit of history
There has been a settlement here since Saxon times and Kensington is referenced in the Domesday Book of 1086. The area has been home to royalty since the 17th century and Queen Victoria was born in Kensington Palace in 1819. It was at Victoria’s request that Kensington became an official ‘Royal Borough’ on her death in 1901. The rich and famous flock to the area, with prominent residents including Richard Branson, Rowan Atkinson and James Dyson.
Architecture and property
Kensington is one of the most expensive areas in London and property here comes at a premium. It is best known for its elegant Georgian townhouses, many with distinctive white stucco frontages, but striking red brick Victorian mansion blocks, charming mews houses and luxury new build apartments also form a key part of the architectural landscape.
Shopping and amenities
Kensington High Street is home to many firm favourites such as H&M, Waterstones and Decathlon, while Kensington Church Street has an array of independent boutiques and specialty stores, selling everything from clothing and homeware at Cologne & Cotton to fresh local produce at Chegworth Farm Shop.
Exhibition Road in South Kensington is home to such internationally renowned institutions as the Natural History and Science Museums, Imperial College London and the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is the world’s largest art and design museum. The area is also home to the Olympia exhibition centre which is serviced by Kensington (Olympia) overground station.
Going out
Kensington has a vibrant blend of restaurants, bars and cafes that cater for all tastes and budgets, from tastes of Asia at Yashin Sushi or sister restaurant Yashin Ocean House to traditional Italian fare at Da Mario to Latin American small plates and cocktails at Zuaya. Kensington is a short tube journey from all the theatrical delights of London’s famous West End.
Green space
Despite its central location, Kensington has a wealth of green space to enchant residents and visitors alike. The stunning historic Kensington Palace and Serpentine art gallery both sit within the glorious 265-acre Royal Park of Kensington Gardens which, along with neighbouring Hyde Park, offers a vast expanse of sweeping lawns and tree-lined avenues. To the west of Kensington are the pretty gardens and ponds of Holland Park.
Schools
As you would expect from such an elite area, the schooling options are top notch with many rated outstanding by Ofsted, including Fox Primary, St Barnabas and St Philip’s CofE, Holland Park comprehensive and Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. Local independent institutions include Hawkesdown House, a prep school for primary age children, and Ashbourne Independent Sixth Form College, offering GCSE and A-Level courses.
Transport
Kensington is well-served by fantastic transport links to the rest of the capital with numerous bus routes, tube stations and, of course, traditional black cabs on hand. High Street Kensington underground station is on the Circle and District Lines with regular services to Edgware Road, Wimbledon and Westminster. Heathrow Airport can also be reached by tube in under an hour, perfect for frequent fliers.
