Exotic Butterflies in a London Setting

Sometimes staying in a city-centre hotel can lead to a sense of being trapped in a concrete, steel and glass jungle. However, for those visitors to London, booking into accommodation in South Kensington can be very different – and here’s why.

Leaves in the city

Of course, nobody would pretend that Kensington is a typical London borough. It’s affluent and always has been – at least since it became a favoured place of residence for the monarchy and nobility during the latter 17th century. So, the size, scale and space of many of its buildings and streets give one ‘scope to breathe’ whilst walking around.

Yet it’s about more than the mechanics of decent town planning in the past. What’s remarkable about staying in accommodation in South Kensington is the sheer number of parks and open spaces. Ranging from the major Royal Parks and the Palace gardens to the open scrubland at Little Wormwood Scrubs and those typically ‘London’ squares with their small green areas and luscious trees - you’re never far from some quiet solitude and the chance to commune with nature.

The area delivers very well on the ‘green city’ experience, but that’s not the only big plus point for those who like their city centre stays to be a little more natural.

A world centre of exhibitions This borough is also incredibly lucky in having several of the world-famous London museums within its boundaries, and if that’s not enough it is also home to the vast Olympia exhibition centre. So at several times of the year you’ll be able to get away from it all at one of the many specialist exhibitions taking place at these venues.

For example, take a current live butterfly exhibition at the Natural History Museum. On its lawns over the summer, there will be a very large marquee containing thousands of free-flying rare butterflies. They’ll be protected by a heat and humidity controlled atmosphere identical to that found in the tropics. Now perhaps you’re not a natural fan of insects and small flying things, but this promises to be a very different experience you can enjoy when staying in accommodation in South Kensington.

Butterflies come in every size imaginable and in the most vivid colours of the rainbow - some of them are also huge! Expect to encounter a few that are a bit hazy about the difference between you and a tree and, as a result, they’ll choose to alight on your shoulder or elsewhere for a quick look-around. If you’d a tad squeamish, you might not be entirely comfortable with that, but even those that are sometimes find that the appeal and novelty outweighs their jitters.

If it’s something you’ve never done before, strolling through this magical butterfly world is an incredible experience – and one you're not likely to repeat in the near future. There is a small entrance fee but it's well worth it.

This is just one of many such exhibitions in and around accommodation in South Kensington that allows you to escape the confines of the surrounding city. That, coupled with the leafy nature of the borough itself, is why the area is so often at the top of many visitors’ preferences.

Matthew Zelinski works for the London Regency Hotel, one of the top hotels in Kensington. If you’re looking for accommodation in South Kensington, this wonderful hotel embodies the true flavour of the area, with its traditional regency-style façade and superb facilities. Whether you're looking for accommodation in London for business or leisure, the Regency offers an effortlessly elegant experience.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.