Unlike other Prime London areas, Kensington and Chelsea is very much a ‘destination’ area; a prime London area where people want to set up a family home. In fact many families have lived in Kensington and Chelsea for generations and it is not uncommon for people to move home several times within the area. The area is also popular with overseas buyers, particularly those who are going to base themselves in London for some time for whom the area is particularly attractive because of its excellent properties and amenities, including some excellent schools.
Kensington and Chelsea is the smallest borough in London but also one of the most densely populated in the UK. It hosts several major museums and universities and world famous shops such as such as Harrods, Peter Jones and Harvey Nichols. Kensington and Chelsea also has what what the locals call ‘snob value’ – it is an areas where is good to be seen and where you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with celebrities both in some of the most prestigious streets and in the area’s famous cafes, restaurants and boutiques. For many years, ‘The Boultons’ was the ‘go-to ‘ destination, with huge houses and large private gardens.
Because people live in Kensington and Chelsea for many years, most properties are renovated regularly and buyers can expect to pay a premium when high quality recent renovations have been done. The average price of a property was £1,590,000 in 2013, an increase of 9% on the average 2012 price.
A peculiar advantage of living in Kensington and Chelsea is that the residents’ parking permit allows parking anywhere in the borough, unlike other prime central London boroughs where residents are limited to the area adjacent to their property. This is very attractive for families because it makes life much easier for travelling to schools, shopping, eating out and going to other local amenities.
Attractions and Famous Landmarks
Brompton Oratory
The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, better known as Brompton Oratory, is home to the Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri in London, a community of priests living under the rule of life established by its founder in the sixteenth century. The Oratory also serves as a parish church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster.
www.bromptonoratory.co.uk or follow on twitter @LondonOrat
Harrods
For more than 160 years, Harrods has been a luxury shopping destination for exclusive collections and excellent service. With seven floors and 330 departments dedicated to the finest products in food, fashion, homeware and technology, Harrods has something for everyone.
www.harrods.com or follow on twitter @Harrods
Jumeirah Carlton Tower
A beacon of British style and sophistication, Jumeirah Carlton Tower is a renowned five star hotel in London, located in the heart of the city’s central area.
Located on Sloane Street, the hub of Knightsbridge, this luxury hotel is one of the best hotels in London and boasts 216 guest rooms including 58 suites. These include the exclusive Royal Suite, offering superb views of the London skyline and spacious Executive Suites, ideal for business travellers.
www.jumeirah.com or follow on twitter @Jumeirah
Kensington Arcade
Kensington Arcade offers access to an excellent selection of shops and amenities. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite on your way to the Tube, gearing up for a leisurely day enjoying retail therapy or immersing yourself in the area’s many cultural attractions, Kensington Arcade is the perfect starting point.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace in London is a working Royal residence. Of great historical importance, Kensington Palace was the favourite residence of successive sovereigns until 1760. It was also the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. Today Kensington Palace accommodates the offices and private apartments of a number of members of the Royal Family, including The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Although managed by Historic Royal Palaces, the Palace is furnished with items from the Royal Collection.
www.hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace or follow them on twitter @KensigtonRoyal
Leighton House Museum
Leighton House Museum is the former home of the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The only purpose-built studio-house open to the public in the United Kingdom, it is one of the most remarkable buildings of the nineteenth century, containing a fascinatingcollection of paintings and sculpture by Leighton and his contemporaries.
www.rbkc.gov.uk or follow on twitter @RBKCLeightonH
Olympia
Olympia London has enjoyed a colourful history since opening its doors to the public on 26th December 1886. Olympia is more than an exhibition, conference and live-event space. It’s an inspiration. Heritage and high-tech come together to inspire engagement and enjoyment.
www.olympia.london or follow on twitter @olympia_london
The Royal Albert Hall
The world’s leading figures in music, dance, sport and politics have appeared on our stage since we opened in 1871, and now over 1.7 million people enjoy live experiences here every year.
www.royalalberthall.com or follow on twitter @RoyalAlbertHall
The Royal Hospital Chelsea
Open to visitors on a daily basis and every year we have the pleasure of opening our doors to thousands of people interested in learning about the history of the site. You too can discover the history behind this unique national institution by booking a guided walking tour of the Royal Hospital led by a resident Chelsea Pensioner. You will marvel at Sir Christopher Wren’s stunning buildings, hear the captivating stories of our inhabitants – both past and present – and learn about what life is like for today’s veterans at the Royal Hospital.
www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk or follow on twitter @RHChelsea
The Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery aims to provide an innovative forum for contemporary art, presenting work by largely unseen young artists or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK.
www.saatchigallery.com or follow on twitter @saatchi_gallery
The Science Museum
The Science Museum was founded in 1857 as part of the South Kensington Museum, and gained independence in 1909. Today the Museum is world renowned for its historic collections, awe-inspiring galleries and inspirational exhibitions
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk or follow on twitter @sciencemuseum
The Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in London is a treasure in every way. The Museum is a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use our unique collections and unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million specimens spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually.
www.nhm.ac.uk or follow on twitter @NHM_London
Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A has unrivaled collections of contemporary and historic art and design. It houses some of the world’s greatest resources for architecture, fashion, photography, theatre and performance, sculpture, contemporary design, ceramics, Asian art and design, furniture, textiles, jewellery, metalwork and many more.
www.vam.ac.uk or follow on twitter @V_and_A