South Kensington is the district of great museums, institutions, and colleges with grand names; of fairy tale palaces; of some embassy and consulate offices. On the east side of the eponymous gardens lies Kensington Palace, a splendid seventeenth-century residence, where in 1819 Queen Victoria was born and where you can experience the thrill of visiting a royal residence without straying too far from the heart of London.
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace was also the last residence of Princesses Diana and Margaret. On the ground floor, the private apartments shared by Elizabeth II‘s sister and her husband, the Earl of Snowdon, photographer and great technology enthusiast, can be visited. You can also admire a collection of sumptuous ceremonial outfits, including 14 belonging to Lady Diana. And you can even peek into the palace tailor’s workshop. A beautiful staircase decorated by the court painter of King George I leads to the official apartments, adorned with frescoes and precious artworks. Here there is the private Council Chamber, the King’s Gallery, and the Queen’s Gallery paneled in oak. From the palace windows, you can admire the harmony of the surrounding gardens, their pattern of flowerbeds, lawns, and meticulously maintained avenues. A stroll through such greenery cannot fail to include a stop at the Peter Pan statue, accompanied by a squadron of squirrels; a visit to the Serpentine Gallery; to the Albert Memorial, an extravagant monument erected by Queen Victoria in honor of her husband after his death; and to the Diana Memorial Playground, a modern and fully equipped play area for those traveling with children.
Starting from 2013, Kensington Palace will become the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, better known as William and Kate, the young royal couple beloved around the world. For them, the palace underwent extensive renovation work lasting about two years and costing 12 million pounds. Last March 26, Queen Elizabeth cut the inaugural ribbon, and everyone agrees that the presence of the new residents will significantly increase the number of visitors.
South of Kensington Gardens
South of Kensington Gardens, there is a galaxy of museums and institutions that embody centuries of English culture and history. From the Royal Albert Hall, a pharaonic concert hall with more than 5000 seats, inaugurated in 1870, unmistakable not only for its round shape but also for its red brick facade and a frieze that tells the story of civilizations and the arts. To the Royal College of Music, a gothic-style building housing the conservatory. To the Natural History Museum, with a long neo-Romanesque facade decorated with terracotta animals. To the Science Museum, with 40 galleries spread over 7 floors that narrate the main scientific discoveries of the last 300 years. Up to the immense Victoria and Albert Museum, dedicated to all civilizations, eras, and arts.
