Andrea’s guidebook
Local Pubs Bars & Restaurants
South Kensington has every option available for romantic, child friendly low-key or uber cool restaurants which are all within walking distance of the apartment.
Previous guests have recommended Paul for breakfast either to eat in or take away. If you don't mind sitting next to traffic, it is a fabulous sun spot with a few tables outside. They have a few tables inside also.
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Paul Gloucester Road
73 Gloucester RdPrevious guests have recommended Paul for breakfast either to eat in or take away. If you don't mind sitting next to traffic, it is a fabulous sun spot with a few tables outside. They have a few tables inside also.
Gastro pub / restaurant with outside seating with sun after approx. 12 noon. Great menu and service. NB: They don't open until 9am. Fabulous cocktails also available.
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Coco Momo Kensington
25 Gloucester RdGastro pub / restaurant with outside seating with sun after approx. 12 noon. Great menu and service. NB: They don't open until 9am. Fabulous cocktails also available.
just around the corner for those that swear by Starbucks coffee. As always, good wifi connection here.
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Starbucks Coffee
170 Randolph Avejust around the corner for those that swear by Starbucks coffee. As always, good wifi connection here.
There are 2 branches on Gloucester Road with outdoor seating. Turn right of left on Gloucester Road and you will find either one of them. Great coffee, food and cakes.
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Fait Maison
50 Gloucester RdThere are 2 branches on Gloucester Road with outdoor seating. Turn right of left on Gloucester Road and you will find either one of them. Great coffee, food and cakes.
This is actually a boutique Hotel which is home to a fabulous Bar which opens until 1am to non-residential guests most nights (except Sunday). Check out the photos on the walls which were taken during The Rolling Stone's Beggers Banquet launch after-party. They also have a Bistro on the ground floor and a formal restaurant in the basement. Mostly frequented by locals.
190 Queen's Gate
190 Queen's GateThis is actually a boutique Hotel which is home to a fabulous Bar which opens until 1am to non-residential guests most nights (except Sunday). Check out the photos on the walls which were taken during The Rolling Stone's Beggers Banquet launch after-party. They also have a Bistro on the ground floor and a formal restaurant in the basement. Mostly frequented by locals.
Sports events on TV almost every day. For big games the atmosphere is quite electric! Traditional English pub food (if you like that sort of thing).
Gloucester Arms
Sports events on TV almost every day. For big games the atmosphere is quite electric! Traditional English pub food (if you like that sort of thing).
Good quality traditional Indian restaurant which has been there for decades! A favourite with locals and great service.
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Memories of India Kensington
18 Gloucester RdGood quality traditional Indian restaurant which has been there for decades! A favourite with locals and great service.
Family run deli-restaurant offering mainly Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Try their roasted vegetable medleys, gluten free and organic fish, chicken and meat dishes.
Relaxed atmosphere during lunchtimes. Sit down service evenings with organic wines and your choice of grills and main dishes. Live music evenings three nights per week.
Jakobs
20 Gloucester RdFamily run deli-restaurant offering mainly Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes. Try their roasted vegetable medleys, gluten free and organic fish, chicken and meat dishes.
Relaxed atmosphere during lunchtimes. Sit down service evenings with organic wines and your choice of grills and main dishes. Live music evenings three nights per week.
Privately owned cafe frequented by famous locals, students and tourists. Open early morning until late they have a fabulous selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes including Greek salad (my favourite). They also hold regular chess / board game evenings which attract many locals but are not compulsory to join in with. Live bands on some nights.
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Caffe Forum
146 Gloucester RdPrivately owned cafe frequented by famous locals, students and tourists. Open early morning until late they have a fabulous selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes including Greek salad (my favourite). They also hold regular chess / board game evenings which attract many locals but are not compulsory to join in with. Live bands on some nights.
Check out a small selection of Italian restaurants and The Hollywood Arms Pub frequented by locals of Chelsea. 10-15 mins walk.
Hollywood Road
Hollywood RoadCheck out a small selection of Italian restaurants and The Hollywood Arms Pub frequented by locals of Chelsea. 10-15 mins walk.
Old Brompton Road
Old Brompton Road10 mins walk. Fabulous restaurants, coffee shops and bars and pubs.
Walking distance from the apartment (10 mins). Frequented by locals of Chelsea and Kensington. Better to observe someone else 'doing' the flaming Ferrari before attempting this long time 'ritual' drinking sport of this establishment ;)
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Nam Long Le Shaker
159 Old Brompton RdWalking distance from the apartment (10 mins). Frequented by locals of Chelsea and Kensington. Better to observe someone else 'doing' the flaming Ferrari before attempting this long time 'ritual' drinking sport of this establishment ;)
Tourist Attractions
There are many famous tourist attractions within walking distance of the apartment. I have also listed those that are accessible direct from on the tube from Gloucester Road Station.
Free entry to all for permanent exhibits. If your kids love this place you might want to plan for more than one visit as it is vast. If you are not travelling with the kids and need to take home presents - check out the shop on the ground floor. During school holidays there will be queues so check out the website for advice on arrival times. with small kids it is a 10 min walk away.
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Muzeum Historii Naturalnej
Cromwell RoadFree entry to all for permanent exhibits. If your kids love this place you might want to plan for more than one visit as it is vast. If you are not travelling with the kids and need to take home presents - check out the shop on the ground floor. During school holidays there will be queues so check out the website for advice on arrival times. with small kids it is a 10 min walk away.
Free entry to main exhibits which are over many floors. Lovely court yard with coffee shops and lots of seating areas. Nice restaurants. Check out the website for opening times and bookings.
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Muzeum Wiktorii i Alberta
Cromwell RoadFree entry to main exhibits which are over many floors. Lovely court yard with coffee shops and lots of seating areas. Nice restaurants. Check out the website for opening times and bookings.
15 mins walk to main entrance. Next block from Natural History Museum.
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Muzeum Nauki
Exhibition Road15 mins walk to main entrance. Next block from Natural History Museum.
If you have tickets for RAH why not book for pre theatre dinner at the Bistro at 190 Queensgate which is on the way from the apartment and next block from RAH or go to the bar at 190 for drinks. RAH also has pre theatre drinks / dinner options but check their website and book in advance. If you have a box at RAH, you can order food and drinks to the box but menu is limited from my recent experience (autumn 2018).
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Royal Albert Hall
Imperial College RoadIf you have tickets for RAH why not book for pre theatre dinner at the Bistro at 190 Queensgate which is on the way from the apartment and next block from RAH or go to the bar at 190 for drinks. RAH also has pre theatre drinks / dinner options but check their website and book in advance. If you have a box at RAH, you can order food and drinks to the box but menu is limited from my recent experience (autumn 2018).
walk north up Gloucester Road, cross the main road and enter the park. Continue walking straight and you will see sign posts to the Palace which is on the left. Tickets are expensive but worth it as the tour is amazing. Check out he Orangery for afternoon tea / lunch.
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Pałac Kensington
Kensington Gardenswalk north up Gloucester Road, cross the main road and enter the park. Continue walking straight and you will see sign posts to the Palace which is on the left. Tickets are expensive but worth it as the tour is amazing. Check out he Orangery for afternoon tea / lunch.
Home to The Royal Academy of Art, Fortnum & Mason and The Burlington shopping Arcade. St James Palace is just a short walk south down St James's Street. Jermyn Street, famous for elegant gentlemens tailors and clothing retailers since 1664 is parallel and just south of Piccadilly.
Piccadilly
Home to The Royal Academy of Art, Fortnum & Mason and The Burlington shopping Arcade. St James Palace is just a short walk south down St James's Street. Jermyn Street, famous for elegant gentlemens tailors and clothing retailers since 1664 is parallel and just south of Piccadilly.
A must visit. Take the tube direct from Gloucester Road. Piccadilly Line to Russell Square Station and from there it is a 6 min walk.
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Muzeum Brytyjskie
Great Russell StreetA must visit. Take the tube direct from Gloucester Road. Piccadilly Line to Russell Square Station and from there it is a 6 min walk.
A must visit. Direct on tube from Gloucester Road Station. Book lunch / afternoon tea / dinner in their rooftop restaurant. It has a fabulous view of Londons rooftops including Nelson's column.
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National Portrait Gallery
Saint Martin's PlaceA must visit. Direct on tube from Gloucester Road Station. Book lunch / afternoon tea / dinner in their rooftop restaurant. It has a fabulous view of Londons rooftops including Nelson's column.
At the time it was built St Pauls cathedral was the tallest building on Londons skyline. Pivotal in the City of Londons history, children and adults alike will absorb many milestones in Londons history. Check ticket prices in advance and look for family / rely bird discounts online. The walk to the top of the spire is well worth it for the breathtaking views. Explore the local side streets also.
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Katedra św. Pawła w Londynie
At the time it was built St Pauls cathedral was the tallest building on Londons skyline. Pivotal in the City of Londons history, children and adults alike will absorb many milestones in Londons history. Check ticket prices in advance and look for family / rely bird discounts online. The walk to the top of the spire is well worth it for the breathtaking views. Explore the local side streets also.
Book a tour in advance online... it is well worth it! Direct from Gloucester Road tube station on Piccadilly line to Westminster tube station.
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Houses of Parliament Shop
12 Bridge StBook a tour in advance online... it is well worth it! Direct from Gloucester Road tube station on Piccadilly line to Westminster tube station.
Book tickets in advance or buy on arrival. Check closing times in advance and allow enough time to see the Crown Jewels. Do sign up for the tour of the grounds. All tour guides are ex-armed forces personnel and very knowledgable. Take circle / district line direct to Tower Hill.
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Tower of London
Book tickets in advance or buy on arrival. Check closing times in advance and allow enough time to see the Crown Jewels. Do sign up for the tour of the grounds. All tour guides are ex-armed forces personnel and very knowledgable. Take circle / district line direct to Tower Hill.
Food scene
Fabulous local quality restaurants with good ambience, wine list, and good reputation. Many have stood the test of time and been there for decades.
Located on a residential street in Chelsea, Brinkleys is a privately owned Restaurant, Bar, Bistro with outdoor seating frequented by both the famous and local socialites. My favourite menu in London for both food and wine. Next door is Brinkley's own wine shop.
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Brinkley's
47 Hollywood RdLocated on a residential street in Chelsea, Brinkleys is a privately owned Restaurant, Bar, Bistro with outdoor seating frequented by both the famous and local socialites. My favourite menu in London for both food and wine. Next door is Brinkley's own wine shop.
Fabulous Spanish tapas restaurant with Al Fresco dining.
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Casa Brindisa South Kensington
7-9 Exhibition RdFabulous Spanish tapas restaurant with Al Fresco dining.
Neighborhoods
The southern end of Exhibition Road was pedestrianised a few years ago creating a 'square' lined with a myriad of al fresco restaurants, bars and cafes offering cuisines from around the world under the backdrop of the imposing roof tops and turrets of the V&A museum and Victorian terraced houses.
Exhibition Road
Exhibition RoadThe southern end of Exhibition Road was pedestrianised a few years ago creating a 'square' lined with a myriad of al fresco restaurants, bars and cafes offering cuisines from around the world under the backdrop of the imposing roof tops and turrets of the V&A museum and Victorian terraced houses.
Victorian terraced road with long established restaurants, bars and cafes. 10 mins walk from the apartment.
Old Brompton Road
Old Brompton RoadVictorian terraced road with long established restaurants, bars and cafes. 10 mins walk from the apartment.
A magical air graces this small enclave which dates back to the 12th century when the Temple Church was consecrated for the Knights Templar. Today the area is home to chambers of senior barristers and judges who attend the Royal Courts of Justice just north of the area. A nice lesser-known area steeped in history to stroll through en-route to perhaps Covent Garden or Waterloo Bridge for my favourite view of London's skyline which includes St Paul's Cathedral to the East and th Houses of Parliament to the West.
Temple
A magical air graces this small enclave which dates back to the 12th century when the Temple Church was consecrated for the Knights Templar. Today the area is home to chambers of senior barristers and judges who attend the Royal Courts of Justice just north of the area. A nice lesser-known area steeped in history to stroll through en-route to perhaps Covent Garden or Waterloo Bridge for my favourite view of London's skyline which includes St Paul's Cathedral to the East and th Houses of Parliament to the West.
Restaurants and bars, with al fresco dining... watch the world go by.... Take a stroll north up Sloane Street for designer shopping and more bars and restaurants! Direct on circle / district line to Sloane Square tube station.
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Sloane Square
Sloane SquareRestaurants and bars, with al fresco dining... watch the world go by.... Take a stroll north up Sloane Street for designer shopping and more bars and restaurants! Direct on circle / district line to Sloane Square tube station.
Set in the heart of Belgravia, home to some of the most expensive real estate in Europe, Motcomb Street has some fabulous fine dining restaurants and bars. Direct on the Piccadilly line to Hyde Park Corner / Knightsbridge( be sure to take Sloane Street exit). Although the area commands smart attire so arrival in a taxi would be preferable especially for ladies in stiletto heels.
Motcomb Street
Motcomb StreetSet in the heart of Belgravia, home to some of the most expensive real estate in Europe, Motcomb Street has some fabulous fine dining restaurants and bars. Direct on the Piccadilly line to Hyde Park Corner / Knightsbridge( be sure to take Sloane Street exit). Although the area commands smart attire so arrival in a taxi would be preferable especially for ladies in stiletto heels.
Fine dining restaurants and bars set in the heart of Belgravia. Victoria tube station is direct on Circle / district line - but dress smart and arrival in a taxi is preferable.
Elizabeth Street
Elizabeth StreetFine dining restaurants and bars set in the heart of Belgravia. Victoria tube station is direct on Circle / district line - but dress smart and arrival in a taxi is preferable.
Sightseeing
Direct from Gloucester Road Station:
PICCADILLY LINE to Green Park. From there it is an 8 min walk through Green Park.
CIRCLE / DISTRICT LINE to St James's Park Station. From there it is a 9 min walk.
Pałac Buckingham
It is the home of the Queen!