Experience the Past in the Present From a Kensington Hotel

If you're looking to spend some holiday time in London, choosing to stay in a Kensington hotel can provide you with a base that is second to none. So, what makes this lovely area of the city such a perfect location?

Discover the History

For a start, this part of London is steeped in history, and over the years it has adapted and changed with the times. That doesn’t mean though that the new has just replaced the old. On every street corner you can catch fascinating glimpses of what life must have been like for the residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in years gone by. It’s almost like being able to hop into a time machine and travel back to a more genteel age.

Magnificent buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace (the current home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the former home of Queen Victoria and Princess Diana), along with the verdant open spaces such as the world-famous Hyde Park make the area a joy to just wander around.

Discover the Modernity

Yet a Kensington hotel is not just an ideal base for lovers of history; the area has not been allowed to become a stuffy living museum or a monument to the past, but instead has managed to seamlessly combine its history with all that the modern and vibrant 21st century has to offer. So even if you’re not a history buff, you’ll find there are many other fascinating attractions and interesting cultural experiences on offer.

There’s no doubt the area has its fair share of museums, including the Victoria and Albert, the Science, Natural History and the Leighton House Museums. The latter is the former home of the painter Frederick Lord Leighton, with impressive orientalist interiors housing his stunning collection of Middle Eastern tiles. It also has a permanent collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, as well as a wide selection of his work.

Kensington Palace is also a firm favourite destination of many visitors to the area and, of course, you can never forget that this part of London also offers world-class shopping opportunities.

What's Happening?

Once you’ve had your fill of the old, why not take a look at the local authority website, which is a mine of information regarding other events going on in the area. Your accommodation will obviously also be able to provide you with help and information about what’s on and where - and staff may well be able to assist in tickets for the various events.

The Portobello Film Festival, for example, held in late summer until mid-September at a number of locations in the area, is just one of the many exhibitions and festivals that you’ll find on the doorstep of your Kensington hotel or at least very close by.

So, there’s no excuse for thinking that because this is an area is so steeped in history it is a boring, stuffy and old fashioned place. Nothing could be further from the truth, as you’ll soon discover see when you leave your Kensington hotel and set out to explore the area and sample its delights for yourself.

Matthew Zelinski works for the London Regency Hotel, a top Kensington hotel. This wonderful hotel embodies the true flavour of Kensington, 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.