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South Kensington is London’s museum quarter, an elegant district of white-stucco terraces where three of the country’s greatest museums stand within a few minutes of one another. Cultured, well-mannered and handsomely built, it is one of the most rewarding areas in the city for families and the curious.
Where is South Kensington and how to get there
South Kensington sits in west-central London, just south of Hyde Park. Its Underground station serves the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines, and a pedestrian tunnel runs from the station towards the museums, so you can reach them without stepping outside.
The great museums
The district is sometimes nicknamed Albertopolis for the cluster of institutions founded in Prince Albert’s name. The Natural History Museum, with its cathedral-like hall, the hands-on Science Museum and the vast Victoria and Albert Museum of art and design are all free to enter and among the finest of their kind anywhere. Nearby, the Royal Albert Hall hosts concerts and the summer Proms, with Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens on the doorstep.
Eating and drinking
South Kensington has a distinctly French flavour, with cafes, patisseries and bistros clustered around Bute Street serving the area’s long-established French community. Smart restaurants and hotel dining rooms round out the choice.
Good to know
Are the South Kensington museums free?
Yes. The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A all offer free general admission, with donations welcome and special exhibitions ticketed. This makes South Kensington one of the best-value days out in London, especially for families.
Where to go next
Continue to Knightsbridge, Chelsea or Kensington, or see all our London neighbourhood guides.
