Kensington: Empire, Exhibitions & Culture

Kensington is one of the most affluent & prestigious areas of London, famous for its royal heritage, beautiful urban parks & gardens, and its world-class cultural quarter of arts, museum & educational venues. 

This linear leisure walk from the bustle of Kensington High Street through London's embassy quarter to Kensington Palace & Gardens and on via a loop of Hyde Park to the cultural quarter of South Kensington explores this district, and along the way seeks to explain how it developed. 

For a map of the route, see the location section.

Among the sights we'll see are:

St Mary Abbot's Church: Rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1872, it has the highest church spire in London at 278 feet.

Kensington Palace Gardens: A private road under the control of the Crown Estate, it comprises many fine mansions built in the mid-19th century that now house foreign embassies.

Kensington Palace: Originally built in 1605, but completely reconstructed in the late-17th century for William & Mary, this is still a private residence for the Royal Family, although some of the state rooms are open to the public. The white marble statue of Queen Victoria outside was sculpted by her daughter Princess Louise in 1893. Next to the palace is the Sunken Garden with its statue of Diana, Princess of Wales unveiled by her sons in 2021.

Kensington Gardens: Covering 274 acres, this area was once the private gardens of Kensington Palace before opening to the public in 1841. Among the places we'll visit will be the Physical Energy & Peter Pan statues, the Italian Gardens, and The Arch sculpture by Henry Moore.

Hyde Park: Originally a private hunting ground for Henry VIII, it was open to the public in 1637 and separated from Kensington Gardens in 1728. It covers 351 acres, so with Kensington Gardens forms a 'green lung' for London of almost one square mile. Within it, the Serpentine Lake was formed in 1730 by damming the Westbourne River. The Crystal Palace, housing the Great Exhibition of 1851, was sited between the Serpentine & South Carriage Drive.

Albert Memorial: This memorial to Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, was commissioned by the grieving queen after his death in 1861. Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, it was completed by 1875. The spire is 176 feet high, and the monument is surrounded by sculptures representing the arts & sciences, and the four major continents.

Royal Albert Hall: Facing the Albert Memorial, the Royal Albert Hall was opened in 1871 by Queen Victoria and was built with the help of profits from the 1851 Great Exhibition. It has a seating capacity of nearly 5,300 and hosts nearly 400 events a year, including the BBC Proms concerts.

Queen's Tower: This 287-foot tall tower stands in the middle of the campus of Imperial College, London, and was formerly the central tower of the Imperial Institute, a 700-foot long building that existed from 1893 to 1957. It was saved from demolition following a campaign by the future Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman.

Brompton Oratory: Also known as the London Oratory, this is one of the finest Catholic churches in London, constructed between 1869 & 1884 in the Italian Renaissance style.

The Thin House: Completed in 1887 on land in Thurloe Square left over from the construction of South Kensington station, this bizarre building is 6 feet wide at its narrowest point. Originally artists' studios, the block was later converted to flats.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome on this walk, but please be aware that they are required to be on a lead in certain areas of the Royal Parks and when in proximity to wildlife (such as the ducks next to the various lakes). They will also need to be on a lead adjacent to traffic. They cannot be taken into Brompton Oratory.

Is this your first ODL event?

Attending your first event with OutdoorLads might feel daunting. What will happen, who will be there, and what can you expect? We know that new members in particular like to know in advance more about what an OutdoorLads event will be like. 

If this is your first ODL event, you should check out the information designed specifically for you on the My First Event page on the ODL website. If you have any other questions you can send a message to the leader.

Photos: Kensington Palace (main) / Albert Memorial / High Street Kensington station (meeting point) / St Mary Abbot's Kensington / Sunken Garden, Kensington Palace / The Arch, Kensington Gardens / Achilles Statue, Hyde Park / The Serpentine, Hyde Park / Europe Sculpture, Albert Memorial / Royal Albert Hall / Queen's Tower, Imperial College / Brompton Oratory / Interior, Brompton Oratory / The Thin House, Thurloe Square.

All photos taken by leader 12th June 2026 and permission given to OutdoorLads for use.