South Kensington

Photo of The Natural History Museum in South Kensington, with a French flag in the foreground Photo of The Natural History Museum in South Kensington, with a French flag in the foreground
Photo by me, perhaps I should say photo de moi.

South Kensington is most famous for Exhibition Road, a strangely striped affair running up to Hyde Park. It lives up to its name, being the home of London’s most famous free museums.

The area is also something of a French exclave - home to the Institut Francais, French Consulate and the very elaborately named Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle de Londres - a French school.

It is fitting therefore that (at the time of writing) one of the first shops you see outside the station sells giant croissants weighing 1.5kg .

Things to do

Photo of the Royal Geographical Society pavillion, a modern glass building on Exhibition Road
Photo by me, the pavillion for exhibitions

Royal Geographical Society

The Royal Geographical society is mostly closed to the public but hosts open exhibitions in a pavillion at the top of Exhibition Road and also has a programme of public lectures.

The exhibition space is pretty small, just a single room, but is a nice break from the melee of South Kensington. I wasn’t impressed by the morally questionable, Saudi Arabia affiliated exhibition I saw but maybe you’ll be luckier.

Free

www.rgs.org
Photo of The V&A Museum building, a red brick structure.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Victoria and Albert Museum

The V&A is a quieter experience than the other Kensington museums, and I think my favourite.

It has exhibits relating to art, fashion and design housed in some breathtakingly spacious halls.

You can even see Michelangelo’s David, though alas he is a replica donated by Queen Victoria.

Free - Some paid exhibitions

vam.ac.uk
Photo of a space suit on display
Photo by Amy-Leigh Barnard on Unsplash

Science Museum

The Science Museum feels like several museums in one. I didn’t budget enough time for it, you definitely can spend over two hours there.

The most popular exhibits are the steam engines, rockets and aeroplanes on the ground floor but don’t forget to venture upstairs to the Wellcome Galleries and Clockmakers’ Museum. They’re also fantastic and slightly less hectic at peak times.

Free - booking required

sciencemuseum.org.uk
Photo of some pottery displayed next to a window.
Photo by me, this was London Craft Week.

Cromwell Place

The Cromwell Place art galleries are the least open-to-the-public feeling places I’ve ever been. They were swarming with serious security guards - I’m talking sunglasses, suits and earpieces.

While it was a very strange experience, I enjoyed the artwork and the café looked amazing.

Free

cromwellplace.com
Photo of the Natural History Museum, a cathedral-like gothic structure.
Photo by Grant Ritchie on Unsplash

Natural History Museum

The most famous of Kensington’s museums and so also the busiest - I’d recommend trying to avoid the crowds by visiting later in the day.

I was surprised that I enjoyed their geological collections just as much as I did the famous dinosaurs. They have some very pretty rocks!

Free - Some paid exhibitions

nhm.ac.uk
Photo of a keyed musical instrument, a piano or harpsichord maybe
Photo by me, after the concert.

Royal College of Music Museum

The RCM Museum consists of two rooms of musical exhibits in the Royal College of Music, itself a grand building with a nice café.

A highlight is the Friday performances given by students of the college - I was unaware of these until I wandered into the middle of one. 😬

Free

www.rcm.ac.uk

Getting there

Photo of two Underground trains standing at South Kensington station. Photo of two Underground trains standing at South Kensington station.
Photo by me, looking down at the District platforms.

London Underground

South Kensington Underground Station is the place to go for access to the museums, it is served by the District and Piccadilly lines. Station facilities are limited, there’s no step free access.

If it is a warm day I’d try go go for for the District Line, the trains are larger and air conditioned.

If you fancy a walk and are coming in from the west you could go to Notting Hill Gate or High Street Kensington and walk through Hyde Park.