Home · London · Kensington

Discover Kensington’s 5 best spots for your trip in London

From the classic Kyoto Garden and the Design Museum, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.

Prices & booking information
Opening hours & visit duration
Best time to visit
Location & practical information
Local tips for every spot

Kyoto Garden

★ 4.7 · 13,977 reviews

Step into the Kyoto Garden, a tranquil slice of Japan hidden inside Holland Park. Stroll past stone lanterns and maples, watch koi glide beneath the waterfall, and spot peacocks roaming freely along the paths.

✨

Reasons to go

The garden was gifted by the city of Kyoto in 1991 to mark Japan-Britain friendship.
Free-roaming peacocks wander the paths within this formal Japanese-style garden.
A cascading waterfall, stone lanterns, and maples create a compact Japanese landscape inside Holland Park.

⏱️

Typical visit

25 min

🕰️

Best time

early morning, morning, lunchtime, afternoon, early evening or evening

🚶

Walking intensity

Moderate walking

🎨MuseumFree

the Design Museum

★ 4.4 · 14,181 reviews

Explore the Design Museum in Kensington, set beneath its striking hyperbolic paraboloid roof. Browse the free permanent collection of industrial design classics, then catch a buzzy ticketed exhibition on subjects like Wes Anderson's film work.

✨

Reasons to go

The building features a distinctive hyperbolic paraboloid roof of mid-century design.
It has hosted a major exhibition on Wes Anderson's film work, frequently cited by visitors as a highlight.
The permanent collection is free to enter, with only major temporary shows ticketed.

⏱️

Typical visit

1h15

🕰️

Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

🚶

Walking intensity

Moderate walking

🏛️LandmarkTicketFrom $25

Kensington Palace Sightseeing Entrance Tickets

★ 4.4 · 4,693 reviews

Step into Kensington Palace, still a working royal residence tucked inside its own gardens. Wander the King's and Queen's State Apartments, explore exhibitions on royal fashion and Queen Victoria's early life, then unwind in the surrounding grounds.

✨

Reasons to go

Queen Victoria was born and spent her childhood at Kensington Palace, and her rooms are part of the visit
The King's and Queen's State Apartments are open to explore alongside rotating exhibitions on royal fashion and history
It remains a working royal residence today while also being open to the public, with Kensington Gardens surrounding it

⏱️

Typical visit

🕰️

Best time

morning, lunchtime or afternoon

🚶

Walking intensity

Moderate walking

🎨Museum$$ · Mid-range

Leighton House

★ 4.6 · 1,912 reviews

Step into Leighton House, the Holland Park studio-home of Victorian painter Frederic Leighton. Wander through the gilded, tile-covered Arab Hall and explore an interior unlike anything else in London during a rich 50-minute visit.

✨

Reasons to go

The house was purpose-built as home and studio for Victorian painter Frederic, Lord Leighton.
Its Arab Hall is covered in gilded tiles and was directly inspired by Leighton's travels through the Middle East.

⏱️

Typical visit

50 min

🕰️

Best time

morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening

🚶

Walking intensity

Easy pace

🎨Museum$$ · Mid-range

Sambourne House

★ 4.6 · 404 reviews

Step into Sambourne House, the untouched Kensington home of Punch cartoonist Linley Sambourne. Wander through richly layered, dark, ornate rooms decorated in the Victorian 'House Beautiful' style for an immersive 75-minute glimpse into an artist's real life.

✨

Reasons to go

The house was home to Linley Sambourne, chief cartoonist for Punch magazine for four decades.
Interiors remain preserved in the richly layered 'House Beautiful' style favored by artistic Victorians.
Visits run as guided tours lasting about 75 minutes with limited capacity.

⏱️

Typical visit

1h15

🕰️

Best time

morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening

🚶

Walking intensity

Moderate walking