Kensington has a below average violent crime rate and a high property crime rate for London.
Kensington is a traffic heavy part of London that never seems to get a rest. However, that doesn’t bring the cost of living here down at all. It has a ton of amenities, beautiful parks, stunning homes, and tons of shopping, all of which make this a desirable place to live.
As far as living quarters, the area is absolutely packed with apartments, residential squares, converted mansions, and single-family houses. Part of the population of Kensington is migratory, with lots of renters coming and going, and the other half is made up of families that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. All of that makes Kensington a challenging place to find a good deal on housing.
You will never run out of things to do and you will rarely have to leave the neighborhood if you don't want to since plenty of amenities are just out your front door. There are over 100 restaurants and cafes here. Babylon, a local award winning restaurant, attracts people from all over London. It's part of the Kensington Roof Gardens complex, a hidden oasis 100 feet above the street that includes the restaurant, a club, and four types of gardens. For nightlife there are pubs, cocktail bars, lounges, and clubs. A number of art galleries and museums are within walking distance.
Local venues host all kinds of concerts, theatrical events, and sporting events. Two parks, Kensington Gardens and the sprawling 350-acre (141 hectares) Hyde Park, offer up green space for picnics, festivals, after work runs, and walking the dog.
Kensington is small enough that you can walk or cycle almost everywhere. For anywhere else you can count on the great public transportation available here.
Kensington is bordered on the north by Notting Hill and Baywater, on the east by Kensington Gardens, Knightsbridge, and Brompton, on the south by Chelsea, and on the west by Earls Court and Holland Park.
Commute:
The City: 5.1 miles / 25-60 minutes by car / 30 minutes by transit / 35 minutes by bike
Canary Wharf: 8.3 miles / 30-75 minutes by car / 40-50 minutes by transit
Southwark: 5.6 miles / 25-55 minutes by car / 30 minutes by transit
Westminster: 3 miles / 10-25 minutes by car / 15-25 minutes by transit / 20 minutes by bike
Shoreditch: 5.7 miles / 25-60 minutes by car / 50 minutes by transit
Photo Credits: Thanks to @Andrey Belenko , @Lezan , P@avlina Jane , @www.GlynLowe.com , @DncnH , @Herry Lawford , @Olga Khomitsevich , @veneraduk, @sunaanac, @oman_and_beyond, @hangrynyc, @ashzobby, @gabytakespics, @the.life.of.brian, @ryanconnorsx for your great photos of this neighborhood!