Kensington High Street, London
The heart of Kensington village used to revolve around Church Street, but in the 19th century, as the area evolved into a residential suburb, the commercial hub shifted to Kensington High Street. Better known as High Street Ken, it currently stands as one of the primary shopping destinations in the western part of London.
A visit to the Kensington district wouldn't be complete without a leisurely stroll along this iconic street, defined architecturally by two prominent landmarks: George Gilbert Scott's neo-Gothic Saint Mary Abbots church, boasting a towering 278-foot spire that ranks it as London's tallest parish church, and the Art Deco masterpiece that was once Barkers department store, elegantly refurbished in the 1930s and now home to various chain stores, while still proudly displaying its large block lettering on its fa莽ade.
In addition to its retail and dining establishments, Kensington High Street is home to the Design Museum, which is worth a visit not only for its exhibitions but also for its striking interior design. The interior surpasses the exterior in terms of visual impact, featuring geometric lines, spacious open areas, and a remarkable saddle-shaped roof resembling a concrete wave cascading from above and gently touching the walls. Adjacent, you'll find the Leighton House Museum, meticulously preserved with its opulent decorations, serving as an extraordinary testament to the Victorian aesthetics embodied by Leighton himself.
A visit to the Kensington district wouldn't be complete without a leisurely stroll along this iconic street, defined architecturally by two prominent landmarks: George Gilbert Scott's neo-Gothic Saint Mary Abbots church, boasting a towering 278-foot spire that ranks it as London's tallest parish church, and the Art Deco masterpiece that was once Barkers department store, elegantly refurbished in the 1930s and now home to various chain stores, while still proudly displaying its large block lettering on its fa莽ade.
In addition to its retail and dining establishments, Kensington High Street is home to the Design Museum, which is worth a visit not only for its exhibitions but also for its striking interior design. The interior surpasses the exterior in terms of visual impact, featuring geometric lines, spacious open areas, and a remarkable saddle-shaped roof resembling a concrete wave cascading from above and gently touching the walls. Adjacent, you'll find the Leighton House Museum, meticulously preserved with its opulent decorations, serving as an extraordinary testament to the Victorian aesthetics embodied by Leighton himself.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
Kensington High Street on Map
Sight Name: Kensington High Street
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Charles Dickens Tour
Imagine a world without Dickens. No Oliver Twist, no Ebenezer Scrooge, no brooding orphans wandering foggy streets with suspiciously eloquent vocabularies. Tough to picture, right? That鈥檚 because Charles Dickens didn鈥檛 just leave a mark on literature鈥攈e practically steamrolled through it in a horse-drawn carriage. Recognized as the undisputed heavyweight of Victorian storytelling, he... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Shakespeare's London Walking Tour
You might know him as 鈥渢he Bard,鈥� but to England, William Shakespeare is practically the patron saint of poetic plot twists. Born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon to John Shakespeare, a glove maker and town official, and Mary Arden from a prosperous farming family, young William started life with ink in his veins and Latin on his mind. Grammar school likely gave him his first taste of rhetoric.... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Beatles London Walking Tour
The Beatles, often hailed as one of the most influential bands in music history, began their journey in Liverpool in 1960, but it was in London that they truly became global icons. While Liverpool gave them their start, the British capital became their professional playground during the peak of Beatlemania. From recording sessions and business deals to public performances and personal milestones,... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Bridges of London
Around thirty bridges span the Thames river in London, each with its own story. Our self-guided walk takes you to see nine such historical structures located in the heart of the city, starting from the storied Westminster Bridge and ending at the iconic Tower Bridge.
The latter has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
The latter has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognizable bridges in the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.2 Km or 3.2 Miles
London's Historic Pubs Walk
If there鈥檚 any more iconic symbol for London than Big Ben or the London Eye, then it must be the traditional English pub. And London sure is full of them, dating from pre-Victorian times to just about five minutes ago.
With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour I
The Harry Potter phenomenon began with author J.K. Rowling, who famously dreamed up the series while delayed on a train from Manchester to London. With the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone in 1997, the literary world changed forever. Across seven books, readers followed Harry鈥檚 evolution from an orphaned schoolboy at Hogwarts to a brave young wizard confronting evil... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 18 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...