Area Guide to Kensington and Chelsea

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Situated in the western part of Central London, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea is the most densely populated authority in the UK with 159,000 citizens in a less than 5 square mile area. It is the healthiest in terms of life expectancy, and the wealthiest place to live in the UK.

Property prices in Kensington and Chelsea are higher than anywhere else in the UK, with an average price for all types of property of over £500,000. Beautiful parks, nice shops and restaurants, cool bars, and stunning Georgian and Victorian town houses attract the wealthy and overseas investors. The only downside is the high traffic levels, though expect the congestion charge, which is set to be implemented in a couple of years time, to bring down those levels.

Areas in the south of the borough tend to be the most desired, with the best location being a matter of opinion. Kensington, with it's well maintained high street offers attractive white town houses on either side of the high street with some of the highest prices in the borough. Chelsea is also up there at the top when it comes to house and rental prices, with it's art galleries and pricey shops, it remains a favourite spot for the rich and famous. Notting Hill, once a bit of a dive and home to many poor immigrants, has seen an incredible revival partly due to the film of the same name. More famous people reside here than any other part of London. Not to forget South Kensington, Holland park and West Brompton, all offer attractive town houses and apartments at very high prices.

If you want to say you live in Kensington & Chelsea, but you can't afford the sky high prices, then there are a couple of options. Earls Court, though a little rough around the edges, does offer lower rental prices with generally more space for your money, though if you are looking to buy, apartments are the most realistic option. Don't be fooled by the name, North Kensington is far from as impressive as it's name sake, with some slum housing and tower blocks to be found for those on a limited budget. Some private properties can be found, though standards are generally lower than other parts of the borough.