There are many things to do in Kensington, which can sometimes be overwhelming, however, we have decided to condense this into a few select activities which will be certain to ensure you have experienced a varied range of activities.
VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM
The world’s largest collection of decorative arts and design, the V&A is home to some of the finest examples of textiles, furniture, ceramics, paintings and sculpture — to name but a few of the works on display here — of the last millennia. Despite its Victorian history, it remains as relevant as ever to the modern art and design world, and its late night events — every last Friday of the month excluding May and December — are a highlight in London’s cultural calendar. Rather surprisingly, in a world where dining in a London museum is not at all unusual, it was the first museum to ever have a restaurant (how’s that for being on the cultural pulse), opened all the way back in 1856. It remains as stunningly beautiful as it was at its opening in the 19th century, and is worth a peek at even if you don’t plan to eat — it is notoriously, rather busy.
vam.ac.uk
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
An iconic museum and almost certainly one of the best loved in the world, it remains a centre of excellence in the study of the natural world. The museum houses over 80 million natural and earth science artefacts (although not all of these are on display!). Recently replacing Dippy (a bone cast of a diplodocus which has been displayed in the museum since 1907) is Hope, a 25.2 metre blue whale suspended from the ceiling.
Image Source: https://www.nhm.ac.uk
THE SERPENTINE GALLERIES
Nestled on the edge of Hyde Park are two contemporary art galleries, linked by a bridge over the idyllic Serpentine Lake. Here you can also find the annually constructed Serpentine Pavilion, this year designed by artist Theaster Gates (with the architectural support of Adjaye Associates) — a must see for architecture buffs.
Serpentinegalleries.org
CINE LUMIERE
Specialising in foreign, independent and French films, Cine Lumiere is part of the French Cultural Institute. A gorgeous building in itself, the cinema offers an eclectic but pleasing mix of classic films and modern releases. And for non-French speakers, the cinema regularly holds subtitled screenings. Voila
Institut-francais.org.uk
From the stunning Natural History Museum, which boasted 6.3 million visitors during 2024, to The Serpentine Galleries, which hosts an annual pavilion or perhaps you’re looking to delve into elegant French cinema and more, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy in Kensington.
