This neighbourhood, sitting in the South Kensington and Brompton areas of London, is known for its elite institutions and elegant homes. Most of the area’s residents are incredibly wealthy individuals who live in beautiful Georgian terraced houses, many of which have their own large back gardens. Still, there are a wide range of people that frequent the neighbourhood. Wandering through the streets, you’ll see students rushing to class at Imperial College, as well as tourists coming and going from exhibits at the V&A or Natural History museums. Residents and visitors alike love catching concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, or popping into any of the lovely boutiques and bakeries nearby. With all that it has to offer, as well as its convenient South Kensington tube station, it’s no wonder the area is so desirable and tourist-heavy.

The Brompton area dates back to the 13th century when it was just a farmstead. By the 17th century, the marsh in the area had been cleared and turned into gardens, leading to the establishment of Brompton Park nursery. During the early 1800s, the area attracted a diverse range of residents to its small streets and squares. With its reputation for clean air, many private hospitals opened in the area as well. Later on, in 1868, the Metropolitan Railway arrived in the area, leading to further residential and commercial development. Following the arrival of the railways as well as the opening of multiple museums, an underground pedestrian walkway was constructed for easy access to all of the institutions. Today, this is one of the busiest pedestrian subways in London.

The current V&A was once home to the South Kensington Museum. Designed by engineers, the original building’s galleries had an industrial look to them, earning them the nickname “the Brompton Boilers.”

Due to the area’s high concentration of world class museums, the streets can, at times, feel overrun by tourists. However, for those that live or work in the area, they find it easy to escape the crowds. Many of the homes are tucked away on quiet side streets with shared gardens, and there are plenty of green spaces to sit and relax.

TfL sold the rights to the land they owned around the South Kensington tube station to developer Native Land. TfL and Native Land are now working together to build housing and commercial units on the site. TfL also originally intended to make the station and pedestrian walkway step- free so that it’s accessible to wheelchair users. Considering that this is one of the busiest tube stations in London, improving its accessibility was considered a crucial matter. In 2021, Kensington and Chelsea council decided to block the plans but a year later the developer filed an appeal against the council’s refusal. The scheme also intends to deliver 50 new homes, along with a range of shops, restaurants and workspace, as well as almost 3,000sqm of new office space. While the scheme did face a great deal of opposition from locals, it also attracted more than 700 letters of support from local organisations and the wider community, including the Natural History Museum, the V&A, the Science Museum and Imperial College.