Despite Kennington’s close proximity to central London, locals find little reason to venture out of the neighbourhood on the weekends. A typical Saturday morning might be spent picking up some food while enjoying the performances of local musicians at the idyllic Oval Farmer’s Market. Afterwards, local residents can choose from multiple art galleries and independent pubs, like the White Bear Theatre Pub that’s been serving the neighbourhood since 1780. For those warmer London months, the expansive Kennington Park offers everything from tennis courts to bee conservation gardens. Those looking to visit the neighbourhood can experience this local oasis too, since it’s easily reachable by either of its two tube stations – Kennington or Oval. Between all of this and the neighbourhood’s varied housing options – from Victorian terraced houses to more modern tower blocks – it’s no wonder that Kennington is considered a hidden gem among Londoners.

Back in 1337, Kennington served as the site of Edward the Black Prince’s manor and royal palace. Having begun to build upon the properties, the neighbourhood became popular when the construction of Westminster Bridge was completed in 1750 which in turn provided easy access to the area. Following this influx of new residents, the neighbourhood’s beloved park, Kennington Park, was founded, initially serving as a venue for fairs and executions. By 1852, however, the park was converted into a purely recreational venue and on the site of its former gallows, St. Mark’s church was built. Later on, when following WWII Lambeth Council built social housing in the area, the neighbourhood began to become appreciated for the diverse architectural landscape that it’s known for today - a mix of not just Victorian terraced houses, but also large council tower blocks.

World renowned painter, Vincent Van Gogh, once lived in the neighbourhood at 395 Kennington Road. While living there, he used to attend services at St. Mark’s church.

As a child, famed performer, Charlie Chaplin, lived in the neighbourhood at the now repurposed Lambeth Workhouse. Dealing with extreme poverty, him and his family took part in manual labour in exchange for room and board. The building is now the site of the Cinema Museum.

In 1977, Bob Marley played football in Kennington Park while on a visit to London to record his album Exodus.

The neighbourhood’s crime rate is slightly higher than Lambeth Council’s average. The majority of these crimes that took place in Kennington over the past couple of years were classified as theft. Crime rate aside though, the area takes pride in its highly educated population. On a recent visit to local Kennington Park Academy, an Ofsted inspector mentioned that “the leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school [and] pupils’ achievement has risen in reading, writing, and mathematics because of more effective teaching and successful deployment of teaching assistants.”

Kennington’s prime location and calm local vibes are no longer secrets to London’s major developers. While the area was previously considered an untapped market, aside from the old affluent Georgian homes at Cleaver Square, investors are now developing luxury homes like those on the site of the Temperance Works warehouse. However, since overseas buyers are not yet aware of Kennington’s value, the area is still considered semi-affordable among first-time home buyers.