Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Kensington Roof Gardens featuring a park
Kensington Palace featuring heritage architecture and a castle as well as an individual female
Kensington Palace showing a castle and a garden
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Kensington Palace featuring a castle, a garden and a pond

From royal parks and themed gardens to free museums, luxury shopping streets and professional soccer, this central borough is packed with popular attractions.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is among the most luxurious of the 32 districts of Greater London. Visit superb galleries and museums, which occupy majestic landmarks in the district’s affluent neighbourhoods. Shop for high-end fashion and enjoy London’s renowned park life when you visit the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Start with a stroll down Kensington High Street, a busy avenue lined with brandname stores and upmarket boutiques. Browse interesting art exhibitions at the Thackeray Gallery and The Mosaic Rooms. Kensington Gardens is one of the Royal Parks and boasts lush lawns, Kensington Palace and the Serpentine Gallery. Pathways connect the garden to Hyde Park, a popular spot for boating, picnics and live music.

In South Kensington you’ll find some of London’s finest free museums. Learn about dinosaurs, the animal kingdom and natural phenomena at the Natural History Museum. Play with interactive exhibits at the Science Museum and admire displays of art and design at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Royal Albert Hall is one of England’s most prestigious concert halls.

Chelsea exudes style and elegance and its King’s Road buzzes with design stores, fashion outlets and galleries. Appreciate contemporary art at the Saatchi Gallery and retrace military history at the National Army Museum. Attend the Chelsea Flower Show at Ranelagh Gardens and peruse botanical displays at Chelsea Physic Garden.

Join the fans of Chelsea Football Club for an English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge stadium. Adjacent to here is Brompton Cemetery, one of London’s Victorian-era Magnificent Seven cemeteries.

The grassy lawns, woodland and sports facilities of Holland Park present opportunities for relaxation and recreation. See a slice of Japan at the Kyoto Garden and enjoy open-air theatre at Opera Holland Park. The Design Museum celebrates modern design and Leighton House Museum has 70-plus oil paintings by Lord Leighton.

Overground trains and the Circle, District and Piccadilly underground lines travel through the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Get a feel for the district’s splendour by walking between attractions via its graceful streets.


Popular places to visit

Activities


Our pick of the best Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Hotel Deals

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington

4 out of 5
Scarsdale Place, Kensington, London, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$204 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
NZ$204
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
7.6/10 Good! (3,311 reviews)
"Surprisingly good value for the money"

Reviewed on 17 Aug. 2025

Copthorne Tara Hotel London Kensington
The Rembrandt

The Rembrandt

4 out of 5
11 Thurloe Place, Kensington, London, England
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$412 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
NZ$412
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, 24-hour room service, and a health club. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,046 reviews)
"This is a great location... opposite the V&A and down the street from Knightsbridge and The Palace."

Reviewed on 18 Aug. 2025

The Rembrandt
Royal Garden Hotel

Royal Garden Hotel

5 out of 5
2-24 Kensington High Street, London, England
The price is NZ$540 per night from 14 Sept to 15 Sept
NZ$540
14 Sept - 15 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,799 reviews)
"The staff were friendly and very helpful."

Reviewed on 16 Aug. 2025

Royal Garden Hotel
Brit Hotels Earls Court

Brit Hotels Earls Court

2 out of 5
43-45 Longridge Road, London, England
The price is NZ$175 per night from 14 Sept to 15 Sept
NZ$175
14 Sept - 15 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Kensington High Street and Hyde Park are located ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (184 reviews)
"The room I got was super cute , staff was good . Just make sure to bring your toothbrush and stuff , they don’t provide it"

Reviewed on 14 Aug. 2025

Brit Hotels Earls Court
Point A Kensington Olympia

Point A Kensington Olympia

3.5 out of 5
42-48 West Cromwell Road, London, England
Fully refundable
The price is NZ$137 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
NZ$137
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star eco-certified hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,551 reviews)
"We only stayed for 2 nights but it was absolutely lovely! The staff were very friendly and helpful. There was a high street down the road which was very convenient when we wanted a snack and went out for dinner. Bed was extremely comfortable and air conditioning helped with the unexpected heatwave. ..."

Reviewed on 15 Aug. 2025

Point A Kensington Olympia
The Exhibitionist Hotel

The Exhibitionist Hotel

5 out of 5
8-10 Queensberry Place, South Kensington, London, England
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in London. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,006 reviews)
"Stayed here twice now, lovely area, easy reach to royal Albert Hall, lots of places to eat, easy walking to tube."

Reviewed on 17 Aug. 2025

The Exhibitionist Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Chelsea featuring heritage architecture

Chelsea

4.5/5(25 area reviews)

Museums, theatres and shopping are just a few things travellers like about Chelsea. Sights like Royal Hospital Chelsea and Saatchi Gallery are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater London area at Sloane Square Underground Station.

Chelsea
London Natural History Museum featuring heritage elements, interior views and heritage architecture

South Kensington

Known for its fascinating museums and charming cafes, there's plenty to explore in South Kensington. Check out top attractions like Kensington High Street and Natural History Museum, and jump on the metro at South Kensington Underground Station or Gloucester Road Underground Station to see more of the city.

South Kensington
Kensington Gardens showing a garden

Kensington

4.5/5(365 area reviews)

Kensington High Street and Kensington Church Street are a few top attractions in Kensington. Hop around the city on the metro at High Street Kensington Station or Notting Hill Gate Underground Station and check out the area's fascinating museums, beautiful gardens and charming cafes.

Kensington
Admiralty Arch which includes heritage architecture

City of Westminster

4.5/5(470 area reviews)

Big Ben and Trafalgar Square are a few top attractions in City of Westminster. Hop around the city on the metro at St. James's Park Underground Station or Victoria Underground Station and check out the area's fascinating museums, popular shops and acclaimed art galleries.

City of Westminster
Victoria showing a city and heritage architecture

Westminster

While you're in Westminster, take in top sights like Big Ben and jump on the metro at St. James's Park Underground Station to see more of the city.

Westminster
Paddington featuring a city and a square or plaza

Paddington

Paddington Central and The Grosvenor Victoria Casino London are top sights in Paddington, and you should be sure to explore the popular shops. Hop aboard the metro at Paddington Underground Station or Edgware Road (Bakerloo) Underground Station to see more sights in the area.

Paddington

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Travel Guide

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