Taking up not only the majority of the residential area in Kensington, this truly affluent neighbourhood also incorporates the bottom-left corner of Hyde Park. The leafy green oasis, bursting high street and well-connected High Street Kensington tube station are all on the doorstep of the area’s beautiful homes. However, tucked away from the larger roads, their well-to-do residents can still enjoy the quieter life away from the hustle and bustle of the popular tourist areas. It’s difficult to imagine a more quintessentially West London neighbourhood.

Kensington, along with Chelsea, used to be two distinct rural villages close to, rather than part of, the metropolis of the inner city. The area was predominantly made up of orchards, market gardens and farms. However, as royals and aristocrats started buying up and building lavish manors in the area in the 16th century, the rural poor were slowly pushed out. In fact, so many people were forced out of the neighbourhood that secret slums developed just off Kensington High Street that were notorious for their poor conditions.

Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the father and founder of the modern Scouting movement, lived in 9 Hyde Park Gate. His book, “Scouting for Boys” has sold 150 million copies since 1908 – which makes it the fourth best-selling book of all time after the Bible, the Koran and Mao’s Little Red Book.

The biggest obstacle this area faces is the extortionate price tag attached to available property. The majority of homes in the neighbourhood are said to be between £5-10 million. Furthermore, considering how much they’ve shed out for their premium homes, some residents are understandably concerned about developments which could disrupt the atmosphere of the area.

21 Young Street, a luxury new-build residential development, is a rare example of contemporary construction in the area. Prices for its residential units hover around £1,000,000. It goes without saying then That this development is unlikely to do much to change the demographic of the area but may affect its more historic atmosphere. Nevertheless, as the older buildings of the neighbourhood are protected by conservation plans, significant changes are not expected any time in the near future. But while the architectural character of the area may remain unchanged, its dynamism may be expecting an exciting new increase in the near future. In 2022, Kensington High Street was selected by the borough council as a business improvement district (BID), which would secure £5 million worth of investment over the next five years to support the high street’s economic recovery following the pandemic.