This West London neighbourhood sits sandwiched between West Kensington and Baron’s Court. While it’s not quite as posh as the other parts of Kensington, the area is still fairly desirable. Packed with large flats, and beautiful Victorian homes, the neighbourhood attracts mostly upper-middle class families and young professionals. With two tube stations, it’s an easy ride into the City for those who commute. However, that’s not to say that residents are eager to venture away on the weekend. Whether it’s catching a tennis match at Queen’s Club, or picnicking in Normand Park, there’s plenty going on in the area. Locals especially love meeting for brunch at Café Continente, followed by some football watching at the Famous 3 Kings pub. With all that it has to offer, it’s no surprise that more and more Londoners are moving to the area.

West Kensington was not always the desirable neighbourhood that it is today. Back in the Middle Ages, the land was largely used as fields for archery practice. It wasn’t until the 17th century, that the land was sold off for the development of houses. By 1745, a village had developed in the area. In the 19th century, two builders - William Gibbs and John Flew - constructed over 1,000 homes in the area. Unfortunately, many of the homes were left vacant due to a struggling economy. Later on, in the beginning of the 20th century, the area’s desirability sky rocketed. Following WWII, the neighbourhood continued to grow into the desirable West London neighbourhood that it is today.

World renowned political leader, Mahatma Gandhi, lived in the neighbourhood while he was studying to be a lawyer. He apparently had to pay only 30 shillings a week for his board and lodging!

Unfortunately the neighbourhood borders the multi-lane Talgarth Road. The road is a major thoroughfare and as a result can make the area rather busy and noisy. Still, for residents who drive, they love being in such close proximity to this convenient route.

The Earls Court area was originally intended for major regeneration works, based on a masterplan that was submitted in 2010, but the initiative garnered major protest and suffered from controversy that made it especially unpopular amongst locals, particularly as it intended to demolish two housing estates. As a result of the regeneration scheme, the exhibition centre that characterised the neighbourhood’s urban landscape was also demolished in 2018. But plans have changed dramatically since then, as the council estates were sold back to Hammersmith & Fulham Council, and the whole plot was purchased by Delancey, a large real estate investment and development company. Since then, Delancey, Transport for London (who owns a significant amount of land in the area) and H&F Council have worked together to reenvision the regeneration and redevelopment of the site.

The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) was established as a result, and the site’s redevelopment now includes the construction of 4,500 new homes, in a complex of low and high rise buildings, which would also generate 15,000 new jobs. The project is expected to begin in 2025 and would take 15 years, considering the size of the land and its designation as an opportunity area by the Mayor of London.

In the meantime, the ECDC has allegedly enhanced its relationship with the wider community and undertaken a number of spatial activiation, activity enhancement and refurbishment programmes that include the opening in 2022 of a Community Hub in the former replacement homes ensuite along Aisgill Avenue, a temporary exhibition of the art installation ‘Stars of Earl’s Court’, created in partnership with the Kensington + Chelsea Festival, and the refurbishment of six derelict Victorian Townhouses on Empress Place into 8,500 sq ft of workspace for creatives and innovators who work and/or live locally in Kensington and Chelsea, and Hammersmith and Fulham. The area is already a fairly desirable place to live, but these improvements will help make the neighbourhood more community-oriented and pedestrian friendly.