We are happy to use the Tube to explore London, but since Kensington will be our home neighborhood, what might we do walking out our door?
Already reserved for Sunday roast at the Builders Arms pub, just down the block from our rental flat. I am planning on the local pub every day, but we shall see what the wife has to say about that :)
Thanks!
The Builders Arms is a nice pub. I haven't been in there for awhile but you will find more locals than tourists.
The big site in the area is Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.
If you are looking for groceries, there is a Whole Foods just north of the Builders Arms and one block west on Kensington High Street.
London Walks offers a walking tour of Kensington.
There are the three big museums - National History, Science and V&A.
You might also like to walk though Holland Park and take in Leighton House - home to the leader of the pre-Raphaelites, with a collection of paintings.
Kensington is utterly fab. There is tons to do and see.
You’ve already gotten some good advice here… I will just add that you can whet your whistle with other ideas from the always dependable Joolz Guides: https://youtu.be/-1_YVv3YlpM?si=CYf5tCdJKgFVQ42D
To add to what has already been mentioned:
-Linley Sambourne House- home of Victoria/Edwardian era illustrator, preserved as he left it- really amazing place if you like historic homes
-the Design Museum- definitely see what temporary exhibitions they have on while you're staying, the permanent collection is good, too
-Churchill Arms is a pretty well known pub nearby, it has Thai Food and is famous for all the flower pots hanging outside
-Royal Albert Hall if you're interested in live music
-Hereford Arms- one of my favourite pubs in the area
-there are loads of places to eat around South Kensington tube station- one of my favourites is Shoty (Georgian food)
-walk down Bute Street- pedestrianised street with lots of great places to eat
There's definitely more, but those are the first things that come to mind! Good luck with your planning.
Notting Hill and Portobello Road are within walking distance if you don’t mind walking. A little further away in the opposite direction is Battersea Park with the Peace Pagoda, as well as the historic Albert Bridge. Both Notting Hill and the Albert bridge have appeared in multiple movies. If you’re a Banksy fan, his elephants mural is at 10 Edith Terrace, Edith Grove.
Inside Paddington Station is the Paddington Bear statue while the The Wild Table of Love sculpture is just outside the station on Praed St.
For those Blue Plaque aficionados, there are a number in the area.
“ More than 1,000 plaques across the capital, on buildings humble and grand, honour the notable women and men who have lived or worked in them.”
May be more West Kensington/Olympia, but we had a very good meal at The Cumberland Arms pub last month. I think we were the only “non locals” there—cozy, classic atmosphere.
Thank you all so much for the fantastic advice.
We have done quite a bit of guidebook reading, but I always like to approach this forum with an open question - tends to produce some pearls.
Kind of a broader question: if we are visiting London, and we have four nights, and we are staying in Kensington, is it silly to spend a good chunk of our time in Kensington? My family tends to prefer more neighborhood settings in big cities. We don't want to miss laying eyeballs on the big touristic sites in the city center (Parliament, Buckingham Palace, British Museum, etc etc). But I do like the idea of just kind of bumping around a tony neighborhood for at least a couple hours every day, maybe one day don't leave Kensington at all. It seems like it would be a chill way to spend time in London. But on the other hand, there must be a lot of cool stuff we would miss.
Hmmm. What say ye?
Also Volva, thanks for removing the LOL at my question from your post. I totally get what you were trying to communicate there, but it did feel a little bit cutting. It was a thoughtful gesture to take that out unprompted - I appreciate you choosing to err on the side of kind :). You seem cool and I appreciate your advice, thanks.
Kensington is a nice area. I spend time there and in fact walk past the Builders Arms to get back to my digs after shopping at Whole Foods.
But London has so much to offer. Why not spend the time with a mix of sights and other interesting neighborhoods. There are so many.
London Walks offers quite a few if you are interested in a guided walk.
BTW, just north of the Builders Arms and south of Kensington High Street, on Thackerey St, there's a nice little French Cafe for light meals, snacks and coffee. There's also an authentic non-chain corner shop across from the cafe if you need any last minute items.
Although it's not run by Arkwright.
Thanks, Hank. :-)
I just wish I’d left it out to begin with. Sigh. I need to work on my trigger finger.
Kensington is a large place, or a small place, depending on how you choose to see it.
Not at all saying that you're thinking this way, Hank, but many Americans sometimes shorten British names.
There is Kensington, sort of around Kensington Church Street and Kensington High Street, and gently making its way up to Notting Hill, but that is an entire world away from parts of West Kensington and North Kensington, where the Grenfell Tower disastrous fire was which killed so many lower income families.
Then South Kensington where the museums, Natural History and V&A, are.
All very close to each other but distinctly different atmospheres.
@Frank II, Is the cafe “Open All Hours?”
@Frank II, Is the cafe “Open All Hours?”
I'm not sure about the cafe but I'm sure the corner store is "Still Open All Hours."
