Overview: There's an atmosphere of Victorian maturity in South Kensington. It's created predominantly by the architecture - the red brick mansion blocks, the museums along the length of Exhibition Road and, of course, Queen Victoria's recently refurbished monument to her beloved husband, the Albert Memorial opposite the Albert Hall.
Home to the officer class in the nineteenth century, today it is the residential district of choice for international bankers and wealthy people of all nationalities. Of course, it is also a favourite area for discerning, moneyed shoppers. For worshippers at retail shrines, Harvey Nichols and plenty of other fashionista pitstops such as Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Versace, Gucci are short cab ride away in nearby Knightsbridge.
The area is also home to a substantial French population for whom the excellent French School - The Lycee Françóis Charles de Gaulle - acts like a magnet. The nearby Bute Street exudes a truly Gallic flavour. And if your taste is for French movies, you can join the French Institute's Lumeiere cinema which serves up a regular diet of the best of French cinema.
South Kensington is also the location for many good restaurants. Terence Conran's Bibendum, situated in the striking Michelin building, is an excellent example. As is Daphne's, a shrine for lunching ladies.
The area also benefits from its proximity to Kensington Gardens - the western extension of Hyde Park - which has some entertaining attractions including a big, duck-filled boating lake and The Elfin Oak, now a Grade II listed building!
Property: The property in South Kensington is truly exclusive. Predominantly period conversions, those around exclusive garden squares such as Onslow Gardens and Onslow Square are among some of London's most expensive properties. Attractive mews houses provide characterful homes, whilst those in search of substantial houses will certainly find what they are looking for on the Boltons and in its immediate vicinity where some of the world's most exclusive property is located.
Underground: South Kensington (Circle and District Lines)
