Kensington Square, London, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Kensington Square is a garden square in Kensington, London, laid out in the late 17th century and still lined with elegant townhouses of several eras. It is one of the quietest and most characterful corners of the neighbourhood, a short walk from Kensington High Street, and it was home to a string of writers, artists and musicians.

The story behind it

The square was developed from the 1680s, when Kensington was still a village outside London. Its builders were looking for well-off tenants, and the square soon drew families who wanted country air within reach of the court at nearby Kensington Palace. That makes it one of the older planned squares in the capital.

Over the following centuries the square attracted thinkers and creative people. The philosopher John Stuart Mill lived here, as did the composer Hubert Parry and the painter Edward Burne-Jones, and the actress Mrs Patrick Campbell is also linked to it. Many houses were rebuilt or altered in the Victorian era, so the terraces make a patchwork of brick styles rather than one uniform row.

What to look for

• Look at the brickwork and rooflines of the older houses, where earlier buildings stand beside later rebuilds and the change of style is easy to spot.
• Scan the house fronts for commemorative plaques, which mark some of the famous residents who lived around the square.
• Notice the central garden behind its railings and trees, which gives the square a leafy, enclosed feel even though the High Street is only minutes away.
• Pay attention to the quiet. Step in from the traffic of the main road and the change in atmosphere is immediate.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 15 to 20 minutes for the square itself, longer if you stop to read plaques and look at the architecture.
• Visit in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is soft on the brick and the streets are calmer.
• The houses are private homes and the central garden is generally for residents, so enjoy the square from the pavement and keep noise down.
• Combine it with Kensington High Street, St Mary Abbots church, Kensington Gardens and Kensington Palace, all within an easy walk.

See it on a quest

Kensington, London Detective Mystery: Infiltrate a Secret Society. brings you to Kensington Square on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, which turns a quiet square into something to look at closely. It suits anyone who likes a detective theme, and one ticket covers the whole group. Start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.