Despite being the smallest borough in London, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is home to some of the city’s finest museums and famously hosts the Notting Hill Carnival. It encompasses upscale residences that include Kensington Palace, as well as the legendary Harrods department store.

Things to do

You could spend an entire day (or more) at the Victoria and Albert Museum, which houses one of the world’s most impressive collections of decorative arts and design. See Queen Victoria's sapphire and diamond coronet in the Jewellery Gallery and marvel at the exquisite Ardabil Carpet, then admire Indian artwork dating back to 500 BC in the Jawaharlal Nehru Gallery.

Dominating Kensington Gardens is the royal residence of Kensington Palace, which was the birthplace of Queen Victoria and is currently home to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Visitors are welcome to tour the opulent State Rooms, including the lavishly decorated Kings State Apartments. See where Mary II once lived in the Queen’s State Apartments, then stroll through the beautifully landscaped Palace Gardens.

Spend an afternoon strolling through Holland Park, which is home to the Japanese-inspired Kyoto garden, an adventure playground and a wildlife-filled woodland. At its southern end is the Design Museum where you can learn about the innovations taking place in fashion, architecture and graphic design. Another green space not to miss is the Chelsea Physic Garden, which was established in 1673 to grow medicinal plants.

Getting around

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is around 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of London and 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport. The borough is connected along five lines of the London Underground, as well as by the Kensington and West Brompton railway stations. Several bus routes travel through Kensington and Chelsea, connecting most of its attractions.