South Kensington Hotels
We've got 73 hotels available near South Kensington on the 17 May 2012 for 1 nightThe cheapest hotel reservation starts at £145.00, Garden View Hotel
The closest hotel to South Kensington is Rembrandt Hotel for £249.00
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More About South Kensington
Famed for its three fabulous museums, South Kensington is perhaps one of the best places to stay in London, with easy access to places such as Hyde Park, Knightsbridge and Earls Court. If you can secure a room in one of our South Kensington hotels, you will find yourself in the perfect spot for exploring London.
The Natural History Museum
Opened in 1881, the Natural History Museum's inital purpose was to deal with the overflow of artefacts that was proving too much for the British Musuem over in Bloomsbury. Previously, the British Museum had housed the entire collection of renowned physicist Dr Hans Sloane, who gave it to the government in 1753.
However, such was the extent to which British explorers were returning laden with new and exciting trinkets, it became clear as the 1880s began that the museum was overfull. The move was complete by 1883, but bizarrely the contents were not officially granted museum status until 1963.
Today, there is no doubt at all that the museum is worth a visit, with some 70million animals, 9million fossils, 6million plants and half a million rocks. Entry is free, and as free days out in London go, it does not get much better than this.
Science Museum
The Science Museum is the perfect partner for the Natural History Museum. Situated just next door, it is an homage to the scientific progress made by man since the 1700s.
The Science Museum opened in 1857, but it did not begin to truly establish itself until five years later, when the famous Stephenson's Rocket train was placed on display. However, it was still not purely a science museum at this time, with many artier pieces incoroporated into the collection.
This began to change when a full time director was appointed in 1893, and by 1909 the establishment housed a purely scientific collection. Today, it is split into Science, Medicine, ICT and Engineering Technology sections, and the beauty of it is that constant scientific advancements mean that exhibits are always changing, meaning no repeat visit will be exactly the same. Like the Natural History Museum, entrance is free.
The Victoria and Albert Museum
Affectionately known as the V&A, this building used to house the artier exhibits from the Science Museum. Until 1899, the two were actually combined under the name The South Kensington Museum, but the split has been kind to both and now the V&A hosts a mix of artistic pieces that create almost a gallery atmosphere.
The collection was deemed so important that it was actually put away into storage to prevent any damage from bombings during World War II, although a handful of pieces were hastily replaced as the museum reopened in an effort to improve local morale.
The removal of most of the exhibits meant that, with the war over, a proper restructure could take place to turn the museum into the easily accessible experience it is today. Oh, and guess what? Entrance is free. If you're visiting London with the family, South Kensington is definitely the place to go.
Royal Approval
Kensington Palace is famed as the birthplace of Queen Victoria, who was born in 1819. The palace sits at the heart of the attractive Kensington Gardens, which contains an homage to another famous royal resident, Princess Diana, in the form of the Diana Memorial Fountain.
Queen Victoria made Kensington a Royal Borough in 1901, having maintained a great affection for the area throughout her life. Indeed, at the edge of the park stands a memorial to her husband, Prince Albert, whose death in 1861 shook her so badly that she wore black for the rest of her life.
The Royal Albert Hall is also one of London's most prestigious venues, and was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871. It is most famous for hosting classical music performances, but has also hosted the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, more mainstream musicians such as Led Zepellin, Eric Clapton and Shirley Bassey, and the comedian Billy Connolly.
Getting to South Kensington
The London Underground is the most efficient way to get to South Kensington. South Kensington and Gloucester Road are the two stations you need, and both are found conveniently on the Circle and District Lines, giving you easy access to transport hubs such as Victoria, Kings Cross St Pancras and Paddington.
The bus is also an option, with number 74 the best bet for accessing the museums. It calls at Regent's Park, Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge, so there is plenty of scope for further exploring.
Hotels in South Kensington
Visitors to South Kensington are blessed with a wide variety of hotels, from luxury town houses and boutiques to cheap summer accommodation. If you are looking for luxury, you should choose something like The Kensington Hotel, The Rembrandt or 54 Boutique Hotel, while Eden Plaza and Harrington Court are a little cheaper but still provide high quality accommodation.
If you are visiting in the summer months, there are a selection of university halls rooms that become available once the students have left at the end of the semester. Accommodation at Imperial College Beit Hall, Eastside Hall or Southside Halls is basic, but if you are just looking for a simple base to use while you explore London, it is ideal.
Pubs and Bars in South Kensington
The whole Kensington area is known for being rather upmarket, and this is reflected in its pubs and bars. For classy cocktails, Galante near Sloane Square is perfect, with a real South American atmosphere perfectly complementing the daring concoctions on the menu.
Anglesea Arms and The Hansom Cab compete for best pub, with the former an upmarket delight enjoying a relaxed ambience, and the latter a vibrant real ale haven complete with a delightful food menu that is garnering an ever-growing reputation.
Restaurants in South Kensington
Eating out in South Kensington is a real treat, albeit occasionally a pricey one. However, they say you get what you pay for, and what you get in South Kensington is a feast of fantastic food options, among them the famous Gaucho steakhouse, serving the finest Argentinian beef.
All of your favourite kinds of cuisine can be found in South Kensington, so why not try Italian at Daphne's, French at Racine or Indian at The Bombay Brasserie?
Parking in South Kensington
There are many NCP car parking options in South Kensington, and it is worth paying the extra money to ensure the safety of your vehicle as you head off and enjoy London. There are spaces available at Young Street (W8 5EH), Royal Garden Hotel (W8 4PT), Pavilion Road (SW1X 0HH), Cadogan Place (SW1X 9SA) and Park Towers (SW1X 7RN), all of which are open 24 hours a day and cost between £35 and £48 per night. Broadwood Terrace (W8 6PL) is cheaper at £24 a night, but it is closed at weekends.
The Natural History Museum
Opened in 1881, the Natural History Museum's inital purpose was to deal with the overflow of artefacts that was proving too much for the British Musuem over in Bloomsbury. Previously, the British Museum had housed the entire collection of renowned physicist Dr Hans Sloane, who gave it to the government in 1753.
However, such was the extent to which British explorers were returning laden with new and exciting trinkets, it became clear as the 1880s began that the museum was overfull. The move was complete by 1883, but bizarrely the contents were not officially granted museum status until 1963.
Today, there is no doubt at all that the museum is worth a visit, with some 70million animals, 9million fossils, 6million plants and half a million rocks. Entry is free, and as free days out in London go, it does not get much better than this.
Science Museum
The Science Museum is the perfect partner for the Natural History Museum. Situated just next door, it is an homage to the scientific progress made by man since the 1700s.
The Science Museum opened in 1857, but it did not begin to truly establish itself until five years later, when the famous Stephenson's Rocket train was placed on display. However, it was still not purely a science museum at this time, with many artier pieces incoroporated into the collection.
This began to change when a full time director was appointed in 1893, and by 1909 the establishment housed a purely scientific collection. Today, it is split into Science, Medicine, ICT and Engineering Technology sections, and the beauty of it is that constant scientific advancements mean that exhibits are always changing, meaning no repeat visit will be exactly the same. Like the Natural History Museum, entrance is free.
The Victoria and Albert Museum
Affectionately known as the V&A, this building used to house the artier exhibits from the Science Museum. Until 1899, the two were actually combined under the name The South Kensington Museum, but the split has been kind to both and now the V&A hosts a mix of artistic pieces that create almost a gallery atmosphere.
The collection was deemed so important that it was actually put away into storage to prevent any damage from bombings during World War II, although a handful of pieces were hastily replaced as the museum reopened in an effort to improve local morale.
The removal of most of the exhibits meant that, with the war over, a proper restructure could take place to turn the museum into the easily accessible experience it is today. Oh, and guess what? Entrance is free. If you're visiting London with the family, South Kensington is definitely the place to go.
Royal Approval
Kensington Palace is famed as the birthplace of Queen Victoria, who was born in 1819. The palace sits at the heart of the attractive Kensington Gardens, which contains an homage to another famous royal resident, Princess Diana, in the form of the Diana Memorial Fountain.
Queen Victoria made Kensington a Royal Borough in 1901, having maintained a great affection for the area throughout her life. Indeed, at the edge of the park stands a memorial to her husband, Prince Albert, whose death in 1861 shook her so badly that she wore black for the rest of her life.
The Royal Albert Hall is also one of London's most prestigious venues, and was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871. It is most famous for hosting classical music performances, but has also hosted the 1968 Eurovision Song Contest, more mainstream musicians such as Led Zepellin, Eric Clapton and Shirley Bassey, and the comedian Billy Connolly.
Getting to South Kensington
The London Underground is the most efficient way to get to South Kensington. South Kensington and Gloucester Road are the two stations you need, and both are found conveniently on the Circle and District Lines, giving you easy access to transport hubs such as Victoria, Kings Cross St Pancras and Paddington.
The bus is also an option, with number 74 the best bet for accessing the museums. It calls at Regent's Park, Park Lane, Hyde Park Corner and Knightsbridge, so there is plenty of scope for further exploring.
Hotels in South Kensington
Visitors to South Kensington are blessed with a wide variety of hotels, from luxury town houses and boutiques to cheap summer accommodation. If you are looking for luxury, you should choose something like The Kensington Hotel, The Rembrandt or 54 Boutique Hotel, while Eden Plaza and Harrington Court are a little cheaper but still provide high quality accommodation.
If you are visiting in the summer months, there are a selection of university halls rooms that become available once the students have left at the end of the semester. Accommodation at Imperial College Beit Hall, Eastside Hall or Southside Halls is basic, but if you are just looking for a simple base to use while you explore London, it is ideal.
Pubs and Bars in South Kensington
The whole Kensington area is known for being rather upmarket, and this is reflected in its pubs and bars. For classy cocktails, Galante near Sloane Square is perfect, with a real South American atmosphere perfectly complementing the daring concoctions on the menu.
Anglesea Arms and The Hansom Cab compete for best pub, with the former an upmarket delight enjoying a relaxed ambience, and the latter a vibrant real ale haven complete with a delightful food menu that is garnering an ever-growing reputation.
Restaurants in South Kensington
Eating out in South Kensington is a real treat, albeit occasionally a pricey one. However, they say you get what you pay for, and what you get in South Kensington is a feast of fantastic food options, among them the famous Gaucho steakhouse, serving the finest Argentinian beef.
All of your favourite kinds of cuisine can be found in South Kensington, so why not try Italian at Daphne's, French at Racine or Indian at The Bombay Brasserie?
Parking in South Kensington
There are many NCP car parking options in South Kensington, and it is worth paying the extra money to ensure the safety of your vehicle as you head off and enjoy London. There are spaces available at Young Street (W8 5EH), Royal Garden Hotel (W8 4PT), Pavilion Road (SW1X 0HH), Cadogan Place (SW1X 9SA) and Park Towers (SW1X 7RN), all of which are open 24 hours a day and cost between £35 and £48 per night. Broadwood Terrace (W8 6PL) is cheaper at £24 a night, but it is closed at weekends.
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