16 Things to do in South Kensington

As part of Prince Albert’s vision for a cultural hub in Kensington, Imperial College has a rich and interesting history of development dating back to the nineteenth century.

If you want to explore the campus, you can book onto one of their student led tours for free via the website, or keep an eye out for their open days.

Imperial College London even offers accommodation to their visitors during the summer holidays in either student halls or, if you want to add a touch of class to your visit, 170 Queen’s Gate, a grade II listed Victorian town house, finished in 1889 by one of the most influential architects of the time, Norman Shaw.

You can walk in the footsteps of Charles Dickens (who lived at no.11), by heading down Selwood Terrace to the Anglesea Arms.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve been transported back to 1920s England, or an episode of Peaky Blinders in this quintessentially British pub.

There’s also a lovely terrace outside for those hot London days.

This grade II listed Anglican church, where T.S. Eliot was once churchwarden, regularly hosts concerts within its beautiful building for a minimal entry fee – check out their website to see what’s on when you visit and experience a concert with acoustics like no other!

The Institut Francais is the French Cultural Institute, representing all things French in the U.K.

Say bonjour to courses in French, watch French cinema, read French literature, listen to French speakers, get the kids involved in French Children’s activities, festivals and so much more.

If you fancy reading a piece of French literature in a quiet space, you can visit La Mediatheque. Or, if you have children with you, the Bibliotheque Quentin Blake is a library dedicated to French children’s literature. Both have free wi-fi and reading rooms.

The Ciné Lumiére is one of London’s most fabulous cinemas, located within a grade II listed building and will certainly impress anyone who takes in a film there. It’s the perfect place for a romantic Parisian experience, in London!

Like pastries? You’ll love Maitre Choux.

Regularly posting their beautiful cakes on Instagram, these are the most photogenic cream eclairs you will ever taste – just pop by the window to see what’s on offer – they’re ridiculously beautiful, photo-worthy cakes.

One for lovers of music, The Royal College of Music is another spectacular building.

Established in 1882 it is the top-rated college for performers in the U.K. Notable alumni include Benjamin Britten, Gustav Holst, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Anthony Hopkins.

You too can walk in their footsteps as the College holds various free events throughout the year, and the RCM museum is home to over 25,000 different musical items from history, including the earliest known guitar!

A must-see for lovers of architecture, this neo-classical church looks more like it should be in Budapest, not London.

Beautifully baroque inside and out, this nineteenth century church is often missed as the doors are closed, but you can pop inside to marvel at the beautiful interior and décor when mass isn’t on, free of charge (donations are of course welcome).

Mosaics, domes and ornate detailing make this church a wonderful stop when visiting South Kensington.

Just around the corner from South Kensington tube station is a lovely little café with a hidden gem out the back; a secret garden eating area in the heart of South Kensington.

It’s so cosy, quaint and also covered – they even provide blankets so you can warm yourself up – you really wouldn’t know it was there!