London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Tourist Information

Location:

The Royal London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is an exclusive central borough on the west side of London. It is situated on the banks of the River Thames, sandwiched between the London Borough of The City of Westminster and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

Facts and Figures:

Kensington and Chelsea covers an area of just over 12 km. making it the second smallest London borough. It has almost 159,000 residents and is the UK's most populous local authority with 13,000 residents per square mile. It has 78.6% White and 21.4% Black and Mixed Ethnicity.

Kensington and Chelsea is actually a Royal borough. The Metropolitan Borough of Kensington was granted the status of Royal borough in 1901 and when it merged with the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea in 1965, the area became known as the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

The residents of Kensington and Chelsea have the UK's highest life expectancy at 83.1 years for men and 87.2 years for women.

The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of London's most affluent boroughs and it has some of the most expensive properties in the world. Not surprisingly it encompasses London's most exclusive shopping, including the world famous Harrod's department store. It has many embassies around the Belgravia and Knightsbridge areas.

This borough has had many famous residents in its long history. Some of the most notable are physicist Isaac Newton, artist J.M.W. Turner and even Diana, Princess of Wales, Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria when they resided at Kensington Palace.

Description:

Kensington and Chelsea borough has a very cosmopolitan air. Some of its most famous shopping areas include the King's Road, Kensington High Street and Knightsbridge. Keep your eyes open and you are likely to see the many celebrities who frequent the area.

The bustling streets are balanced with areas of quiet green parks including the expansive Hyde Park.

Notting Hill is one of the most characterful areas of the city with its small book shops and cafe. Each year in August it hosts the world's largest street party, the Notting Hill Carnival.

Borough Attractions:

The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has a number of amazing museums to visit. The Victoria and Albert Museum in its splendid building, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are all worth spending time enjoying, and general admission is free.

Glimpse through the gates at Kensington palace, the home of many members of the royal family. Walk through the gardens which adjoin Hyde Park with its boating lake and sports amenities.

The Portobello Market takes over Portobello Road at weekends and sells cuisine from all over the globe to suit the ethnic population. Antiques, clothing and other goods are turned over at a brisk trade.

Other attractions in Kensington and Chelsea include the Brompton Oratory, Earl's Court, Kensington Palace, Harrods, the Saatchi Gallery and chic Sloane Street.

Getting There:

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has 12 tube stations and 5 underground lines: Central, Circle, District, Piccadilly and the Hammersmith & City line. It also has many frequent London bus services. However it has no national railway stations within its boundary.