Living in Kensington, London
The reputation of Kensington being one of the most affluent areas in London has attracted numerous tourists and residents. However, there are certain things one should be aware of before deciding to stay or live in Kensington.
Being the most affluent hub in London, Kensington serves as home to world-class museums, elegant real estate properties, beautiful tree-lined streets, charming plaza squares and lush gardens. It also hosts numerous exclusive real estate properties. This affluent district is inhabited by well-to-do families and prominent professionals. Most of the residents of Kensington are working in the commercial districts of London. Despite its dense population, the district boasts of a vibrant community with its rich ethnic diversity. Kensington serves as home to Middle Easterners, Italians, South Africans, Americans, Australians and Spaniards, in addition to Brits. In fact, the biggest French community outside France can be found in Kensington. The district also hosts the Lycee Francais Charles de Gulle that features French lessons for students 3 to 18 years old. You will also find a number of French cinemas, stores and restaurants.
Real estate properties in Kensington are exclusive, elegant and expensive. The housing environment in the district is often described as eclectic upper-middle class urbanism. Kensington is home to spacious flats and apartments, pillar-lined townhouses and gorgeous single family homes. A one-bedroom flat costs around 600,000 British pounds while a five-bedroom flat can be worth around 3 to 5 million British pounds. If you can’t afford to buy your own property, some properties in Kensington are also available for rentals or leases. Renting a single bedroom flat may cost around 500 British pounds per week while weekly rental of bigger flats cost around 800 to 2,500 British pounds. Indeed, buying or renting a real estate property can be too costly for young professionals. You need to have big savings if you intend to settle in Kensington for good.
Transportation is not a problem in Kensington. You can take any of the district’s subway lines. You can also visit the neighbouring towns, cities and districts through a number of bus services. Bus and railway stations are clean, well-lit, spacious and safe to ensure the convenience of residents and tourists while waiting for their ride.
Life in Kensington is more than just working the whole day and staying inside your house. The district hosts numerous world-class museums and centres. You can find a number of these spots along Exhibition Road. During weekends, you can visit the Natural History Museum and marvel at the museum’s collection of 70 million life and earth science displays. You can also check out the oldest steam locomotive in the Science Museum. Kensington also hosts the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design – the Victoria and Albert Museum. You can also check out art and musical exhibitions in the Royal Albert Hall.
Shopping will also be a great experience in Kensington. You can check out its premier shopping destination, the Kensington High Street, lined up with a number of clothing and retail shops. The affluent district’s haute couture is also famous. You can also check out any of the international restaurants in the area that will surely satisfy your cravings.
