The neighbourhood, anchored around South Kensington, is a picturesque area of London. Aside from the leafy green streets lined with white Georgian terraced houses, there are also multiple garden squares tucked throughout. While most residents in the area are wealthy homeowners who work in finance, non-locals can find plenty of reasons to frequent the neighbourhood as well. Home to a high concentration of major and boutique hotels, the area is a favourite amongst tourists. As well as tourists though, the area sees Londoners from all backgrounds stopping through as well. With its close proximity to multiple consulates, its streets are lined with cuisine from all over - especially French patisseries such as local favourite Aux Marveilleux de Fred. After grabbing some sweets, it’s hard not to stop for a pint at one of the many homey pubs like The Hereford Arms. With all that it has to offer, as well as the convenient Gloucester Road tube station, it’s no wonder that locals and tourists love this area.

The Gloucester Road section of Kensington originally served as a pleasure garden in the 17th century. By the 18th century, nurseries and other gardens had begun to pop up in the area. The road gets its name from the Duchess of Gloucester, who built herself a house on the garden’s site which was later referred to as Gloucester Lodge. However, it wasn’t until the middle of the 1800s, that the bulk of the area’s development picked up. Many hotels and mansions began to line the streets, which also surrounded small parks laid out by the city. As the railroad arrived in the late- 19th century, the neighbourhood densified even further. This continued until the Second World War, when large portions were damaged during the Blitz. Today, the neighbourhood has maintained its image as a wealthy area with many hotels and shops that cater to tourists.

Famous Scottish author, J M Barrie (1860-1937), lived in the neighbourhood. It’s believed that while he was living on Gloucester Road, he conceived of the 1902 Peter Panstory.

Due to the high concentration of hotels and tourists in the area, the crime rate, specifically with regards to theft, is much higher than that of the rest of London. However, many tourists who have stayed in the area have reported that they continue to return each visit, and feel entirely safe.

Although the area is not undergoing any major council-led regeneration, there are still changes coming up in the neighbourhood. One upcoming development that’s getting the residents’ attention is the potential refurbishment of the Kensington Forum Hotel. In 2022, Singapore’s Fragrance Group purchased the 906-room hotel from British real estate fund manager Queensgate Investments, who originally planned to demolish the building and replace it with a mixed hotel and residential building. Later that year, plans to redevelop the hotel were finally made public. The refurbishment anticipates to deliver a world-class hotel, a serviced apartment scheme and, importantly, 62 genuinely affordable homes. The development will also provide substantial public benefits for the local community through the creation of over 800 employment opportunities and contribute over £1 million to training initiatives to ensure jobs are created for those most in need. In addition, substantial contributions of almost £3 million will be provided for public realm improvements to the area around Gloucester Road station including the expansion of the only publicly accessible green area within 1km of the site.