Explore the local area: South Kensington & Chelsea

Please find below a list of the main tourist and business attractions in Kensington and Chelsea.

The V&A holds one of the world's largest and most diverse collections of the decorative arts. The 146 galleries contain unrivalled collections dating from 3000BC to the present day. Furniture, fashion, textiles, paintings, silver, glass, ceramics, sculpture, jewellery, books, prints and photographs illustrate the artistic life of many different cultures from around the world. The museum's magnificent Victorian and Edwardian buildings also contain the National Art Library and some of Britain's best national collections including sculpture, glass, and watercolours.

Opening times: Daily 10am-5.45pm and 10am to 10pm on Wednesdays and last Friday of the month. Closed 24-26 December. Admission: Free.
Web: www.vam.ac.uk

See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years. More than 40 galleries filled with the world's finest collections in the history of science, technology and medicine. From original working steam engines to the actual Apollo 10 Command Module. A unique mixture of permanent displays and over 2000 hands-on exhibits. The Welcome Wing is devoted entirely to contemporary science, medicine and technology and has fabulous kids sections.

Opening times: Daily 10am-6pm. Closed 24-26 Dec. Admission: Free
Web: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

There are hundreds of exciting, interactive exhibits on display. Highlights include 'Dinosaurs', the ultimate dinosaur exhibition; 'Creepy-Crawlies', guaranteed to have you scratching in minutes; 'Human Biology', the must-see exhibition about ourselves; 'Ecology' and 'Mammals', with its unforgettable blue whale. And don't miss 'The Power within', 'Restless surface', 'From the beginning', 'Earth's treasury' and 'Earth Today and Tomorrow' which throw light on our ever-changing planet and explores the extraordinary natural forces that shape it.

Opening times: Mon-Sat & Bank Holidays, 10am-5.50pm; Sun, 11am-5.50pm. Last admission 5.30. Closed 24-26 Dec. Admission: Free
Web: www.nhm.ac.uk

You can see furniture and ceiling paintings from the Stuart-Hanoverian periods, rooms from the Victorian era and works of art from the Royal Collection. Highlights include the recently restored Kings Apartment with a magnificent collection of Old Masters, Tintoretto and Van Dyck amongst them. The Palace is also the home of 'Dressing for Royalty', a unique display of royal, ceremonial and court dress including a selection of dresses worn and owned by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Kensington palace was the London home of Diana, Princess of Wales and is still home to several other members of the Royal Family.

Opening times: Open daily March to Oct 10am-5pm; Oct to March 10am to 4pm Admission: Adults £10.00, Senior Citizens & Students £7.50, Children £6.50, Under 5ys: free
Web: www.hrp.org.uk

Prince Albert, Consort of Queen Victoria, had the idea in 1853 of building a great hall as part of a cultural centre to be based in Kensington. The Royal Albert Hall is one of London's premier concert venues and seats 5000. It is an architecturally acclaimed structure.

Web: www.royalalberthall.com

15mn walk from the hotel and a great place to have a jog in the morning!

Web: www.rgs.org

Shopping

South Kensington & Chelsea gather the most reputable names and brands of the Fashion and Design World. Here are the main shopping areas, not to be missed!

• Knightsbridge and the world famous Harrods (www.harrods.co.uk)
• Sloane Street and the very trendy Harvey Nichols (www.harveynichols.com)
• King's Road and its multitude of shops (www.streetsensation.co.uk)
• High Street Kensington and its concentration of High Street Brands (www.streetsensation.co.uk)

Note: Every year, the famous London Fashion Week is held in the Gardens of The Natural History Museum, minutes away from the Hotel.

Antiques and Fine Art

Christies Auction House is on Old Brompton Road, 5mn walk from the hotel - www.christies.com

King's Road, Fulham Road, Lots Road, Portobello Road and Nothing Hill are the home to a large number of Antiques Shops and markets (ie: Antiquarius on King's Road).
Portobello Road shops are open daily whilst the market is every Saturday (see www.portobelloroad.co.uk)

A large number of Art Galleries are also based in Kensington & Chelsea. Visit:

http://www.art-shopper.com/counties/London/London_Index.htm

Design: Interiors, Furniture & Textile Designers

The internationally renowned exhibitions of Decorex, The London Design Week and design shows such as Top Drawer and Ideal Home Show are held locally.

Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, home to more than 80 interior design showrooms (www.designcentrechelseaharbour.co.uk) is 10mn away from the Hotel

Amongst the numerous interior design shops available on Fulham and King's Road are: Anna French, Colefax and Fowler, Crowson, Designers Guild, Kelly Hoppen, Osborne & Little, Liberty Furnishings, Lorca, Monkwell, Mulberry Home, Pierre Frey, Poliform; etc.

Exhibition Centres:

2 of the most renowned exhibition centres in the UK are only minutes away from the hotel:
- Earls Court Exhibition Center is a 15mn walk from the hotel;
- Olympia Exhibition Center is only a short Drive away.
- The Royal Hospital in Chelsea hosts the World Famous Chelsea Flower Show, every year.

Other Main Venues in South Kensington

The Royal Marsden Hospital (15mn walk) - www.royalmarsden.org/
The Brompton Hospital (15mn walk) - www.rbh.nthames.nhs.uk
Imperial College (15mn walk) - www.ic.ac.uk/

Where to Eat in South Kensington and Chelsea

Our guests are spoilt by the choice and variety of restaurants available in the area. Please do not hesitate to ask our reception team for recommendations.

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