Quality Crown Hotel Kensington

History of Kensington

Kensington history page has been compiled for our viewers from various sources.

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was originally a village outside London's walls to the south and west of the City of London. As London grew, Kensington and Chelsea were absorbed and soon came to be the place to be seen and home to countless famous people over the centuries as well as the location of the most fashionable areas for shopping and social gathering - Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, High Street Kensington and King's Road. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea also borders on two large and well known parks - Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens - themselves amongst the social spots over centuries, right up to the present day.

In Victorian times, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea also became a centre for study, learning and culture, emphasised by such famous and elegant buildings as the Natural History Museum, with it's recently restored Gothic façade, London's Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the world famous Royal Albert Hall. Imperial College, part of the University of London, and the Royal College of Music were also established near by the museums.

When Queen Victoria's husband Prince Albert died at an early age, it was in Kensington that the young Queen chose to build the large and intricate monument to him. Amongst the most famous of residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in recent years was Princess Diana - at Kensington Palace, scene of the carpet of flowers left by admirers and shown on television screens around the world after her tragic accident. Right up to date, Kensington and Chelsea have retained their magical charm and the area buzzes with restaurants of every kind as well as being the centre of London's nightlife. All of these famous buildings, shopping streets, museums and palaces, restaurants and night clubs are within an easy walk, or a short underground or bus ride of the Quality Crown Hotel Kensington, London.

Also close by the Quality Crown Hotel Kensington London, are two of London's premier exhibition and conference centres - Earl's Court and Olympia. Earls Court is home to such major exhibitions as the Ideal Home Exhibition, the Boat Show and World Travel Market. The exhibition centres are within an easy walk of our Kensington Hotel.