London's most exclusive... further adventures in Kensington

[Chelsea Spy]

Thanks for all the comments to my first pictures of Kensington.

It's hard to do justice to an area so rich in history, with so many beautiful buildings, so I thought I'd follow up with a few more pictures - mainly focusing on the area around the High Street.

The borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not only the most affluent in the UK (average salary per head of population - £100,000 - 20K more than the next most affluent borough, Westminster) it also has the highest percentage of West European and American residents of anywhere in the UK - indeed, walking around, you are as likely to hear French, Italian, Spanish and Russian being spoken as English. The area is cosmopolitan, sophisticated and rather snotty... It has the highest house prices - average price currently £1,400,000 (and that's ALL property, not just houses...) and despite having virtually no high-rises, the borough also has the highest population density of the UK.

When I get chance, I'll do a few threads for Chelsea as well...

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Even the richest parts of London have council flats:
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...and supermarkets:
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[Chelsea Spy]

Earl's Terrace - JK Rowling has a house here. Madonna rented one when she first set up home in London. Vast townhouses with private pools and secure parking - one currently on the market for £10 million...

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Hustle and bustle on the High Street...

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Yes... it's here... Whole Foods!!

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[Chelsea Spy]

Yummy Mummies...

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Here comes the Bride...

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Take a step off the High Street and a more village like ambience prevails...

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[Chelsea Spy]

Crossing Kensington Church Street towards Kensington Gardens - ultra exclusive mansions and high security prevails...

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[Chelsea Spy]

To reach the Park, one most cross the aptly named Kensington Palace Gardens.

This is probably the most exclusive street in the world. For a start, it's private. Second, it backs onto the park. Third, the houses are all enormous. Most of the palatial mansions are ambassadors residences - although several of the world's richest men also have homes on the street. Photography is forbidden... the Israeli embassy is on the street - surrounded by armed police and bomb barriers.

One risks arrest taking pictures in this area - hence mine are a little shaky as I was trying to be discrete...

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The street also backs onto Kensington Palace - former residence of Lady Di...

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There's the palace - beautiful and restrained...
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A quick shot of the gates leading to Kensington Palace gardens
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Then back to the High Street - grand apartment blocks and 5 star hotels face the park...
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Finally, the tube home...

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...hope you enjoyed!!
xxChelsea Spyxx

[Jonas]

London as it's ought to be in the minds of many :)
Btw, I was in that Tesco quite a few times. And there was some nasty smell going out of that council flat block whenever I used to pass it.

[ColDayMan]

Not Whole Foods!

[olga]

Thanks for a great and truly exclusive tour! Very interesting photos and captions. :tup:

[denveraztec]

Fun tour, looks like a very lush area.

[ChrisLA]

Nice work, and its funny you take a picture of Whole Foods. The day I arrived I was asking our limo driver if they had one, and he said no. Not even 5 mins after I asked him, we pass it on the way to our hotel, and of course I quickly pointed it out to him. (lol). Now my biggest surprised was how Starbucks just took over London since the last time I was there 8 years ago. I've never seen so many in one city, and I live in Los Angeles where they are everywhere and in some places two within the same block. I did break down, and hung out at one in Chealsea, and then stopped by a few others close by our hotel. I do have to say the experience in the one in Chealsea reminded me what had made them great in the beginning. The other Starbucks I stopped by, not so good. Costa on the other hand was good, and Nero sucked big time and I can't understand how they claim its London's best coffee.

BTW I had a great time in London, but I think Chealsea is my favorite neighborhood in that city. Great photos and I have to say its about time we get more to represent the european cities on this forum.

[jeremai]

Another excellent thread, CS. I really need to spend some more time in Kensington as I've obviously barely scratched the surface.

It's hard to believe some of those residential streets are in the middle of London.

I really missed Whole Foods in Baltimore so when Whole Foods opened in London we were really excited. However, Whole Foods Kensington is NOT Whole Foods Baltimore! It is so over the top with its sliding-door cheese room and the like. The newspaper reviews accused it of American extravagence. However, there's nothing American about it; it's Kensington extravagence!!

[Chelsea Spy]

Thanks for your comments guys!

Chris LA - why do you think Nero sucks? I'm curious. Of all the major coffee chains its definitely the best imho - good, short, really strong coffee i.e. the closest to the sort of coffee you get in Italy, which is the real deal.

I liked Starbucks when they first arrived, by now there are way too many in London - around 300 I think - plus the coffee is pretty disgusting - just vats of coffee flavoured milk really...

The best coffee shops, however, are the independent ones that you discover for yourself. I have a few personal favourites ;)

As for Whole Foods - I think you're right Jeremai - I think only in Kensington could have a food store quite so expensive! :haha:

[ChrisLA]

Thanks for your comments guys!

Chris LA - why do you think Nero sucks? I'm curious. Of all the major coffee chains its definitely the best imho - good, short, really strong coffee i.e. the closest to the sort of coffee you get in Italy, which is the real deal.

I liked Starbucks when they first arrived, by now there are way too many in London - around 300 I think - plus the coffee is pretty disgusting - just vats of coffee flavoured milk really...

The best coffee shops, however, are the independent ones that you discover for yourself. I have a few personal favourites ;)


I also like stong coffee, and espresso is my drink of choice for the most part. To me Nero just had this nasty bitter taste like the beans were not fresh. I didn't think it had that slightly sweet taste espresso suppose to have. It could have been just the store I went to (Notting Hill) directly in front of the underround (Notting Hill Gate). I wasn't willing to try it another after that experience, but I'm willing to give it another chance the next time I visit London.

I also liked Starbucks when they first arrived on the scene in LA. But they have changed, and the quality have gone down hill. Its rare I will even drink anything from Starbucks now, but only in emergency when I need a fix and nothing else is around. I perfer Peets Coffee, and another place Ground Works (Only in LA, and if you're ever in LA, you absolutly have to try it).


Anyway I ended up at Starbucks in Chealsea because the others in the area had no seats availble and we wanted to get out of the rain. It was pretty tasty, and they actually made my request for a wet cappuccino right. They also put it in a nice coffee cup where as the once here even it you're dinning in they put it in a paper cup, something I hate with a passion. :yuck:

Oh sorry for some of the typos, I think I correct them all. Its only been a day since I came back home, and I'm feeling the jet lag big time. I also have to work a 12 hour shift tonight too.

[madonna]

Excellent thread!!!. They just get better and better CS!!!. Keep up with the good work girl!!.

[Chelsea Spy]

They also put it in a nice coffee cup where as the once here even it you're dinning in they put it in a paper cup, something I hate with a passion. :yuck:

Oh sorry for some of the typos, I think I correct them all. Its only been a day since I came back home, and I'm feeling the jet lag big time. I also have to work a 12 hour shift tonight too.


Oh I'm with you on the paper cups - :yuck: :yuck: :yuck:
Someone told me that Starbucks in the US only serves coffee in paper cups... which seems like a total a travesty in every way to me... I hope it's not the case :(
Anyway, trust you enjoyed your visit.:tup:

I've been quite busy with my camera recently, so look out for threads as soon as I have time to upload on 1: Kings X & St Pancras 2: Camden Market and Camden Town 3) Old Street!

:cheers:

[ChrisLA]

Yes its true, Starbucks in the US stopped a few years ago serving in coffee mugs. One reason I think the UK or at least London still does is because they charge you extra staying in as opposed to take away. There still might be some in the US that does, but I haven't seen them lately.

I also look forward to seeing more of your threads, I really do enjoy them, London is a beautiful city. I will share the photos I took as well, but I won't bore you with all since I took over 1200 photos between the two cities I visited (Paris). I do hope you local enjoy them although a lot are in the tourist areas. I did make it over to Brixton as well, but didn't spend as much time as I would have liked. Its kind of that way when you have others tagging along. Now had I been by myself I would been all over London and to the edge of the city.

[Chelsea Spy]

kah ching! :rolleyes:

[xzmattzx]

Great pictures again. The architecture is stunning. I said it before in a thread of yours, I need to go visit London.

I like the commentary here and there.


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These rowhouses look like they belong in colonial Philadelphia.

[Chelsea Spy]

or perhaps the rowhouses in colonial Philly really belong in London? ;)

[Patachou]

excellent thread

[DLLB]

Wonderful thread. It's too bad a number of the pictures are missing.

I have been to London a number of times and am always struck by the number of security camera. I believe it is the highest in the world.