Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street, or High Street Ken as it commonly known, is the main shopping street in the wealthy west London district of Kensington which is within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It begins in the north-west by the lush Kensington Gardens, not far from Kensington Palace, and runs south-east until the Royal Borough ends, meeting up with Hammersmith.
From the late 19th century into the mid 20th century, High Street Ken was home to three icon department stores; Barkers, Derry & Toms and Pontings. They have since been transformed into Art Deco palaces or, in the case of Barkers, staying open as a much smaller department store until January 2006, with plans to refurbish the building to house Britain's first organic superstore. A little treat atop the old Derry & Toms is Europe's largest Roof Gardens, at No.99, which you can enter via a door on Derry Street. Now owned by mega millionaire Richard Branson and his Virgin conglomerate, the Roof Gardens is where you can soak in incredible views across the rooftops of London, chill out amongst the exotic wildlife, dine in Babylon restaurant or pay a visit to the exclusive nightclub, if you're a member that is.
Shopping is High Street Ken's main attraction where a plethora of options await you and your wallet. Once home to the icon fashion store Biba during the 1960's and '70's, High Street Ken has continued to provide pretty much everything you need. On either side of High Street Kensington underground station there are a mix of your typical franchise High Street stores such as Marks & Spencer, Top Shop, Mango, French Connection, Zara and Next. Thrown in amongst these are higher end labels including Miss Sixty, Diesel and Italian designer wear label Sisley. You will also find Habitat furniture and home-wares store, the Easy Internet Cafe and Holland & Barrett natural health products. There are more exclusive designer stores housed in Barkers Arcade, which is also home to the famous House of Fraser department store and nearby Kensington Church Street offers a different variety of shopping with Kensington Market also in the area to be rummaged through.
To fill your stomach there is the ever famous, fast and tasty Wagamama Noodle Bar, Ask pizza and pasta restaurant or you could try the Churchill Arms which is a great pub on nearby Kensington Church Street that serves a delicious Thai menu.
Where High Street Ken meets Church Street, sits the beautiful 1872 Victorian Gothic church of St Mary Abbots, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, boasting the tallest spire in London. Nearby Holland Park is nice for strolling around or for the kids to mess around on the adventure playground and of course South Kensington and its famous 'museum-land' is a must where you can visit several museums including the Victoria & Albert, Natural History and Science Museums.
Like anywhere in London parking is expensive, so you really are better to take public transport, with High Street Kensington underground station on the District and Circle lines being the best option. Alternatively there is a multi-storey car parking station on Young Street, at the northern end of High Street Kensington.