Lodha Times April

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EXCLUSIVE: LODHA’S LATEST PROJECT

Holland Park Gate A WARM WELCOME; IN CONVERSATION WITH GABRIEL YORK & ANDREW HAY

treasures, as well as some of London’s most vibrant social

and Lincoln Square, Lodha UK is proud to introduce

at Knight Frank, discuss what makes Holland Park Gate

Following the success seen at No.1 Grosvenor Square

Holland Park Gate; a collection of unique private residences offering a balanced lifestyle within a peaceful

and creative establishments. Bustling Kensington High

Street combines the convenience of a busy shopping street with the charm of discovering independent boutiques

in hidden corners; Kensington Church Walk is historic London at its most charming.

Gabriel York, co-CEO at Lodha UK and Lord

Andrew Hay, former Head of UK and Global Residential one of London’s most exciting new developments.

For Gabriel, the journey started in 2018, when the

yet vibrant ecosystem.

Lodha team first visited the site, formerly home to the

entrance to the 54 acre Holland Park and boasts one of

right opposite the entrance to Holland Park,” he explains.

Holland Park Gate is situated opposite the main

the most sought-after locations in London. Kensington is home to many of the capital’s cultural and historic

Kensington Odeon. “It was just such a special location, “We recognised immediately that we could create a very high quality of life here.”

Andrew Hay & Gabriel York

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LODHA TIMES After acquiring the site, Lodha also saw an opportunity to improve what the project could offer the surrounding community. “We wanted to ensure that local residents and businesses felt that the development would benefit them directly,” explains Gabriel. “The new cinema was crucially important to residents, but also to local businesses such as restaurants”. Another important change was to ensure that the Art Deco arch would remain accessible to the community through the addition of a restaurant and deli below. The changes to the scheme received widespread support from the local community and were unanimously supported by the planning committee.

Andrew believes that “Holland Park Gate is one of the most exciting London schemes in decades,” adding that, “Lodha have spectacularly beaten market expectations, not just in design and product delivery, but in the unmatched levels of service provided by Saint Amand.” With experts hand-picked from some of the world’s leading hotels and

members’ clubs, Saint Amand concierge teams are already well-established at both No.1 Grosvenor Square and Lincoln Square. As well as offering a full suite of lifestyle services - including last-minute restaurant reservations and travel planning - Saint Amand’s most significant contribution to the life of Lodha customers is often seen in the smallest details; changing a bicycle tyre, collecting laundry or dog-walking.

“We want our customers to be the happiest in London,” continues Gabriel as he discusses the private health clubs found in all Lodha developments. “Our amenities should be life-enhancing and really enable our residents to prioritise their emotional, physical and mental wellbeing.”

Residents at Holland Park Gate can look forward to a dedicated Health Club & Spa designed by Lissoni & Partners. As well as offering a master-class in contemporary Italian design, the space will be managed

by Saint Amand, who will connect residents with leading wellness practitioners, including personal trainers, nutritionists and mindfulness coaches.

Gabriel summarises, “Through our on-going and close relationships with our customers, we have been able to form a deep understanding of the changing ways Londoners wish to live as they re-evaluate their priorities after the pandemic. Holland Park Gate has been designed to respond to these shifting priorities and to appeal to people who are seeking a more balanced, healthy and sustainable way of living. The location, design, amenities and services will help residents to strike the perfect balance in their lives, whether it’s between city and nature, family and work, tranquillity and vibrancy, or privacy and community.”

As Andrew concludes, “Lodha don’t just hand over the keys and walk away.”

LIVE, WORK & SOCIALISE IN THE HEART OF KENSINGTON

“The design ambition for Holland Park Gate is to provide a beautiful and considered sequence of spaces to live, work, shop and socialise,” says Emily Evans, Senior Manager and Architect at Lodha. “The designs strive to be striking yet calming, inviting and elegant, all-in equal measure,” she continues. “We are creating interiors with personality but that do not overpower, allowing residents to express their own identity.”

Milan and New York based Lissoni & Partners have been appointed as the interior designers for the residential amenities, including the entrance lobby and Health Club & Spa. The studio is renowned for their refined and contemporary aesthetic, as seen at London’s Café Royal Hotel. “Many know Piero Lissoni for his own contemporary furniture design, but he is also the creative director to an impressive list of influential brands such as Boffi and B&B Italia,” Emily continues.

Holland Park Gate Pool

Holland Park Gate Samples

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The façade and the history of the cinema building have influenced the interiors. “The wave of the façades makes reference to the decadent curtains of the original cinema and throughout the interiors and landscaping there are subtle nods to the art deco era,” says Emily. An example of this is the handcrafted terrazzo flooring with bronze inlays found in the residential reception. The material was popular during the Art Deco movement - and resonates strongly with Holland Park Gate, a modern twist on classic design.

“For the all-important entrance lobby, the brief we gave Lissoni was to evoke a café-style feel; welcoming and vibrant, providing an extension of the home but with a wow factor,” says Emily. Saint Amand will oversee a food and beverage offering from local brands, to help cultivate a sense of community and provide a setting to relax or work outside the home.

The swimming pool, gym and spa have also been designed

by Lissoni, using a clever palette of contrasting materials to play with light and create a space that feels atmospheric, using stone tiles in various sizes and depths to give the spa walls a 3-D effect. The foliage in the internal courtyard and local parks is also reflected in the greenery planted behind fluted glass walls in the spa reception, adding a further sense of serenity and balance to the space. After all, nature and the environment is never far from Lodha’s approach to design and Holland Park Gate will exemplify just that.

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WORK / LIFE BALANCE

Over the last two years, the role and future of the office has been hotly debated, and we have seen new models evolve to accommodate new found flexibility. But it was before the pandemic that the concept of a flexible workspace was first considered for Holland Park Gate.

Guided by the concept of “balance”, we are developing an office concept within the project that will enable residents to work closer to home without having to work from home.

The flexible working space will provide a mix of private personal-use and team-size offices, centred around a communal working environment and communal facilities.

Residents will be able to purchase or rent private office space.

DYNAMIC & SOPHISTICATED DINING

Lodha will bring a dash of flavour to Kensington High Street when it opens a new restaurant, food and beverage outlet at Holland Park Gate, welcoming residents, members of the community and beyond.

The restaurant forms part of Lodha’s drive to redevelop Holland Park Gate into a community space and mini-ecosystem that will benefit both residents and the local area. Along with the restaurant there will be a coffee shop, bar and retail spaces offering high quality fresh produce such as cheese, vegetables, fruit, meat and fish from some of the best food suppliers in the country.

The vision for the space is both dynamic yet sophisticated, and will offer a buzzing social setting to catch up with friends, or celebrate with loved ones. It also offers the perfect marriage to the cinema – visitors will be able to have a drink or dinner before moving next door for an evening film.

THE VISION FOR THE SPACE IS BOTH DYNAMIC YET SOPHISTICATED, AND WILL OFFER A BUZZING SOCIAL SETTING TO CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS

The Marketing Suite

LAUNCHING HOLLAND PARK GATE

Opening at the end of March, the Holland Park Gate marketing suite has been met with great excitement from London agents, introducers and buyers alike. Managed by Saint Amand, the space has been designed to showcase the world-class design, five-star service and balanced way of life available to the future residents of this unique Kensington address.

A month long series of visits to the marketing suite commenced at the end of March, formulated to immerse agents and introducers in the Holland Park Gate way of life. The development is defined by a sense of balance between vibrant High Street Kensington and the tranquil landscaped gardens around which it sits. Residents of Holland Park Gate will have access to the best of London living - top restaurants, boutiques and historic parks whilst being able to retreat to the calm oasis that is Lodha’s latest project.

These immersive sessions start with breakfast and coffee in the marketing suite, where agents are given a full induction to the digital platform, site model, specification samples and all marketing collateral. Response to the

scheme has been overwhelmingly positive, with Lodha’s Sales Director, Tom Clabburn, noting that, “A scheme of this quality and calibre has not been seen in west London for several years. Both our appointed agents, Savills and Knight Frank, have already seen high levels of interest, and are leaving the marketing suite launch excited and enthused.”

Over the 25 days of the launch, Lodha anticipates more than 300 visitors to the marketing suite. As Tom concludes, “It is a busy time here for us at Lodha, but we’ve enjoyed every minute of the launch, and are excited to welcome more visitors to Holland Park Gate.”

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SAINT AMAND; EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE

As homeowners have begun moving into No.1 Grosvenor Square and Lincoln Square, Lodha’s unique Saint Amand Concierge service steps in to make the relocation process as seamless as possible.

“It’s been such an exciting and rewarding time creating the Saint Amand service team and seeing the positive reaction from our residents,” says Simon Hirst, General Manager at No.1 Grosvenor Square. “A residential concierge or service team is normally run by an external company or perhaps a hotel group, but we have created an in-house service brand, Saint Amand, which has been given free rein to design a unique service culture for each property. When Holland Park Gate opens a new Saint Amand team will be welcoming residents to the 71 apartments.”

The Saint Amand team bring many years of luxury hotel and residence experience and the skills to allow residents to feel secure, relaxed and individually cared for. Saint Amand offers the human touch, which is particularly valued in post-pandemic times.

Saint Amand’s offering starts right

10 MINUTES WITH PIERO LISSONI

As interior designers to the collective residents’ areas of Holland Park Gate, the Italian studio Lissoni & Partners describe their ethos as “passionate, disciplined with a pinch of creativity and a stylistic code linked to simplicity and overall consistency” – very much in keeping with Lodha’s style and approach to the development.

“We started working on the project in 2019 with a brief to maintain a connection between the history of

Saint Amand

at the beginning of the buying process, at the off-plan viewing for Holland Park Gate. “When our sales team come in with prospective principals or residents, I, or a senior colleague on the team, meet them to explain the Saint Amand concept and ensure that they see that these are the people that will be taking care of them and their families,” Simon says.

“When the process starts to gather momentum, a really important aspect of what Lodha has created becomes apparent - the Saint Amand Private Office.

Through this we can introduce residents to recommended professional services such as law firms, specialist security services, education providers, interior decorators or any

other medical or professional firms they might require,” he continues. Once completion has happened, a Lodha handover team will also co-ordinate with the owners, builders and interior designers when the owners are not in the country.

And on moving in day, it’s a true celebration. “New, first arrival residents will be met at the airport and brought in with our compliments, there is a ceremonial presentation of the keys from the Saint Amand team and having got to know the residents, Saint Amand will organise a personalised event to mark the occasion such as a trip to the theatre or a special dinner.”

Kensington and London and the much-loved cinema. We were also required to feature references to the architectural style of the building and the era when it was built as well as the greenery and botanical culture of Holland Park,” says Piero Lissoni, Founder of the creative practice.

This was fundamental to the development of Lissoni’s contemporary interpretation. “We considered the stylistic features of the building in a contemporary key but introduced elements typical of traditional British interiors and craftsmanship, such as wooden panelling,” continues Lissoni. As for the lighting, the cinematic history has also been an inspiration designed to reflect how shade and tone is used in film.

Lissoni & Partners were also briefed to create a memorable arrival experience in the hallway for residents, making them feel at home as soon as they arrived. “The white of the lobby slowly gives way to the grey of the basaltina stone, while the surfaces along the passageways have been carefully designed to evoke a tactile effect, with ribbed wood or fabrics, again linking back to British design and bringing a richness and warmth to Holland Park Gate,” Lissoni concludes.

Lissoni & Partners

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Piero Lissoni

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THE LODHA COMMUNITY

Philippa Bromley-Martin, Director of the newly formed Lodha Community, introduces readers of the Lodha Times to this exclusive community.

Having been with Lodha for over five years, I now have the pleasure of looking after our exclusive community of owners and residents, ensuring that their lives are only enhanced by living in our developments. I am delighted to have lead the successful sales of both No.1 Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, and Lincoln Square, in Covent Garden. In this time, we have welcomed more than 250 families into their new homes. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to better understand the Lodha product, the exceptional service, and to meet and build lasting relationships with many of them from the very beginning of their Lodha journey.

In recent conversations, one Lincoln Square resident told me, “I feel like I live in a beautiful hotel”. Another told me how he found the Saint Amand concierge to be “amazing, kind and very helpful”. At No.1 Grosvenor Square, a new owner told us that they have visited “all the best hotels throughout the world, and nothing comes close to this.”

Several residents have told me how they are made to feel “safe and genuinely cared for”. It is wonderful to hear so many of our residents feel this way and we are always seeking ways to improve with their insightful feedback. What better way to learn how to maintain and improve, year on year, than through our residents? I firmly believe that ‘people make places’ and that Lodha are going above and beyond any other developer to ensure that their residents are looked after well beyond the completion date.

Our aim is for existing and future customers alike to seek to live in a Lodha development not just because of

the beautiful property - this is a given - but because of the lifestyle on offer; a luxurious safe haven benefitting from around-theclock service with exclusive access to the Lodha network.

My role is to ensure that all of our residents live life to their fullest in their dream homes and for you to guide us in our evolution. I look forward to meeting with you shortly.

SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD ME HOW THEY ARE MADE TO FEEL “SAFE AND GENUINELY CARED FOR”. IT IS WONDERFUL TO HEAR SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS FEEL THIS WAY.

Philippa Bromley-Martin

OUR VISION ALIGNS WITH THAT OF LODHA; A HIGHLY CREATIVE YET TIMELESS PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, EAT, DRINK, RELAX – AND PLAY”

Holland Park Gate

A HIGHLY CREATIVE YET TIMELESS PLACE

“Our brief from Lodha was to reinforce the cultural hub initiated by the redevelopment of the Design Museum opposite with a sustainable mix of uses for Holland Park Gate. This included residential, cinema, workspace, dining and retail as well as a magnificent urban oasis in the courtyard garden,” explains Michael Squire, Senior Partner at Squire & Partners, appointed architects at Holland Park Gate. “Our vision aligns with that of Lodha; a highly creative yet timeless place to live, work, eat, drink, relax – and play.”

Previously an art-deco cinema, Holland Park Gate retains the iconic proscenium façade of the original theatre, whilst the crescent to the rear of the main building reflects the curve of the stalls in the grand seating area.

Velvet theatre curtains are referenced through flowing, organic masonry details, whilst the rest of the site will take inspiration from the grand architectural language of the building and its Kensington surroundings.

As a final touch, Squire & Partners looked at the many plants which are represented in the building’s original decoration and sourced them to be grown in the central garden - yet another thoughtful and stylish detail adding to the appeal of life at Holland Park Gate.

Michael Squire

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BALANCED & SUSTAINABLE LIVING

Building a sustainable development and community is as important as design and attention-to-detail for Lodha, as well as a huge consideration for customers when choosing their home. From electric car charging, private bicycle storage for each resident - encouraging cycling to living roofs and outdoor space for residents, Lodha’s designers and architects have been working closely with sustainability experts to create a building that respects the local environment and the planet, while building a healthy and fulfilling community for Holland Park Gate and its residents.

The building will feature energy efficient lighting throughout, and a Combined Heat and Power system (CHP) will be installed, a highly efficient process that captures and utilises the heat that is otherwise wasted as a by-product of electricity generation. A Rainwater Harvesting System will be used to water the plants and flush lavatories, reducing water consumption. As for the external features, the thermal performance of the façade strives to reduce the heating and cooling required in the building.

For each of its London projects, Lodha has sought sites in close proximity to open green spaces. During lockdown at Lincoln Square, the central garden remained open

and became a much-valued sanctuary. With residents’ physical and emotional well-being in mind, the team were keen to provide a similar outdoor experience at Holland Park Gate.

Andy Sturgeon, the development’s garden designer and winner of an impressive 11 medals at Chelsea Flower Show, has been working closely with Aspect Ecology, a UK company that offers comprehensive ecological advice. Andy Sturgeon Design have created a series of landscaped areas that strive to enhance the natural environment, wildlife, and biodiversity at Holland Park Gate. The Mews Garden will be an immersive and peaceful green space for residents to contemplate or catch-up, while also

offering calming and beautiful views from apartments on higher floors.

Flowers in The Mews Garden have been chosen not only for their beauty but also for the prodigious amount of pollen and nectar that they produce to attract bees.

Higher up at roof levels, bird boxes will be provided to attract the swifts, house sparrows and starlings.

By focusing on providing high quality communal areas where residents can come together, Lodha hopes to spark a thriving community that has a great sense of belonging and neighbourliness, as well as a positive impact on its surrounding environment.

“THE MEWS GARDEN WILL BE AN IMMERSIVE AND PEACEFUL GREEN SPACE FOR RESIDENTS TO CONTEMPLATE OR CATCH-UP”

Holland Park Gate

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CINEMA RETURNS

The cinema at Holland Park Gate will offer some of the most advanced screening rooms in London, with stateof-the-art technology and luxurious comfort seating, operated by specialists in art-house film-going.

The reopening of the cinema was top of the list for Lodha when envisioning

Holland Park Gate. ‘The Kensington Kinema’ was the largest cinema in England when it opened in the 1920s, and became a much-loved part of the community. The screening schedule will reflect Lodha’s desire to showcase a range of cinematic talent – from live-streamed opera and new art-house films to family favourites and children’s animations, the roster will be both varied and inclusive. Food and beverage options are being considered and will be announced in the coming months.

With the buzzy high-street and a plethora of wine bars and restaurants moments away, visitors to the cinema will be spoilt for dining options ahead of a screening.

After several years of closures, the next decade heralds an exciting new era

of cinema. Through Holland Park Gate, Lodha hopes to revive some of the magic and glamour that made ‘The Kensington Kinema’ a treasured part of the local community, allowing film to be enjoyed on High Street Kensington for years to come.

Cinema-goers

THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND PARK GATE

The area surrounding Holland Park Gate is rich in history, and has been called home by many a famous face. The Lodha Times charts the journey of the area from its origins in 787 AD, through to the present day and the establishment of High Street Kensington as one of London’s most beloved high streets.

A HISTORIC BOROUGH Well-heeled Kensington merged with bohemian Chelsea in 1965, and this Zone 1 borough continues to be infused with both establishment prestige and a dash of artistic flair. St Mary Abbot’s Church is thought to be the oldest surviving building in the area with a history dating back to the Middle Ages. At this time, and up until the beginning of the 16th century, the area was the property of the De Vere family who later became the Earls of Oxford and whose name still appears on various street signs and squares around Holland Park Gate.

Although it was located in the countryside, it was close enough to London for 17th and 18th-century aristocrats to build their stately homes there, including Sir Walter Cope who constructed Holland House, which became an important gathering point for influential politicians and writers known as ‘the Holland House set’. The borough continues to play an active role in international politics and is currently home to more than 50 embassies and high commissions.

Chelsea’s story can be traced back to 787 AD when Offa, King of the Mercians, held a synod there. It continued to be a fairly small village until statesman Thomas More built a manor near what is now Cheyne Walk in 1520, cementing its status as a home for the powerful. A short stroll reveals countless blue plaques detailing the names and achievements of famous, and sometimes infamous, ex-

Film

residents: James Joyce, Winston Churchill and Oscar Wilde, to name a few. In the swinging Sixties, Seventies and Eighties, the King’s Road became the centre of a counterculture movement that created ripples still felt today. Iconic punk fashion designer Vivienne Westwood still has a shop on the King’s Road, while lead singer of the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, has been a Kensington resident for decades.

The ‘Kensington Kinema’ was designed by Julian Randolph Leathart, one of the best-known architects of his time, and owned by Joseph T. Mears, who was president of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association when the curtain first lifted in 1926.

It continued to host red carpet premiers attended by British stars such as Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet right up

until 2015 and, because of its prominent location in the Royal Borough, has been a favourite with various members of the royal family – Princess Diana was a regular visitor. Lodha hopes that its newest project continues to provide a safe and relaxing haven where residents can find calm in the epicentre of W8.

A CINEMATIC LEGACY Holland Park Gate was once an Art Deco cinema and its Portland stone facade, built in the Neo-Grecian style complete with a recessed entrance that references a stage, has been painstakingly restored by Lodha to its former glory.

Architect Philip Hepworth compared the building’s exterior to an ancient Egyptian temple, writing that it “prepares the mind for the great void behind.”

A SAFE AND RELAXING HAVEN WHERE RESIDENTS CAN FIND CALM IN THE EPICENTRE OF KENSINGTON 7

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LOCAL LUNCHES: IL PORTICO & COMMUNITY IMMUNITY

Il Portico has been a cherished part of the neighbourhood since it was founded in 1967 by Pino Chiavarini. Today, run by his son James, “It’s a place where you might see a celebrity on your left and a taxi driver on your right,” he says. Too discreet to name his current wellknown clientele, James says “For decades, Johnny Cash, who was from an agricultural background, would visit to talk farming with my father, who had absolutely no idea who he was. It wasn’t until 2003 when my dad saw reports of his customer’s death on the news that he realised the guy he called ‘my friend Johnny’ was one of the most recognisable singers in the world.”

The food is hearty, and based on the Chiavarini family’s roots near Parma in Northern Italy. “Il Portico is known as the home of fresh pasta, which of course is very popular but we also have a farm in Kent which my father runs, where we do a lot of fishing, hunting and foraging for the restaurant,” James continues. “We base everything around provenance and slow food, what Italian cooking should be all about.”

“WE BASE EVERYTHING AROUND PROVENANCE AND SLOW FOOD, WHAT ITALIAN COOKING SHOULD BE ALL ABOUT. But it’s not just about the food, albeit some of the finest in London. “With a restaurant you want to add value for money,” James continues. “It’s not difficult to find good food in London, but it’s the level of comfort and belonging, the love you get from the staff, being shown to your usual table, and being asked ‘how are the kids?’ and have a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine.” No surprise some regulars come in five nights a week for dinner.

A sense of civic duty is as an important part of the restaurant as the fresh pasta; during lockdown James and Lodha’s Daisy York, a certified nutritionist, devised the Community Immunity programme. Rising at the crack of dawn they would go to Nine Elms Market and put together food boxes full of nourishing ingredients to

deliver to vulnerable people in the neighbourhood who were self-isolating. “I was in constant contact with my family in Emilia-Romagna which was the epicentre of Covid was and they were stressing the importance of the immune system being in tip-top condition to avoid infection,” James continues. “So we would buy the ingredients, put together the boxes and Daisy would write a letter saying why we had included, say coconut oil for example, and suggestions as to what to make as well as including household essentials such as toilet paper.”

During the lockdown James and Daisy hand-delivered over 500 Community Immunity boxes while the chefs at Il Portico also made discounted meals for the construction workers on Holland Park Gate.

Iconic Design lodha.co.uk

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NOT TO MISS IN KENSINGTON & CHELSEA Unsure of weekend plans? Read on for some of the Lodha Times top recommendations for a weekend in Kensington & Chelsea, all within walking distance of Holland Park Gate.

Holland Park, just across the road from Holland Park Gate, is 54 acres of gardens and woodlands that attract peacocks, robins, green woodpeckers and parakeets. Highlights include the Kyoto Garden, a calming sanctuary created twenty years ago to celebrate the friendship between Japan and the UK. Sports facilities include tennis and netball courts, football pitches and golf and cricket practice nets. A brief history finds that the park formed the surrounding grounds of Holland House, formerly Cope Castle, a Jacobean mansion built in 1605 by Sir Walter Cope. An early casualty of bombing during the Blitz in 1940 in the following decade it was bought by Kensington and Chelsea Council and today houses a youth hostel and is also the location of Opera Holland Park.

Read: Holland House: A History of London’s Most Celebrated Salon by Linda Kelly

Kensington

Kyoto Gardens

Opera Holland Park is a fixture of London’s outdoor summer season.Founded in 1996, the company’s 2022 programme includes Eugene Onegin, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore. It will also host the UK premiere of Mark Adomo’s 1998 opera, Little Women, adapted from Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. The company has a strong community focus, working with schools to overcome taboos around learning disabilities and helping integrate refugees and asylum seekers.

Edwardes Square, built in the early 1800s, was given its name after the land was sold by Edward Edwardes, a descendent of Sir Walter Cope. The resident’s private square is a striking space with more than three acres of meandering flora and wooden glades and a lodge built in the style of a Greek temple, where the gardener still lives today. The quiet residential square also has its own villagestyle pub, The Scarsdale Tavern, a hidden gem.

Watch: Hip Hop to Opera. Eight inner-city teenagers take a trip into the world of opera with Michael Volpe, the venue’s General Director

Read: The Complete Father Brown Stories by GK Chesterton, one of Edwardes Square’s most celebrated residents

Kensington Gardens forms the luscious surroundings of Kensington Palace. The birthplace of Queen Victoria and the former residence of Princess Diana, whose life is commemorated at the Diana Memorial Fountain, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children live there today. Highlights are the view from over the Serpentine lake towards Kensington Palace through Henry Moore’s vast sculpture, ‘The Arch’, while the Italian Gardens are an oasis of ornamental fountains and a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria. The striking Albert Memorial commemorates his untimely death at just 42 from typhoid and is one of London’s most ornate monuments; the Prince is shown holding the catalogue of the Great Exhibition which he inspired and organised to great acclaim.

Watch: The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt

The Design Museum moved from the South Bank to its Kensington High Street site in 2016. It was founded in 1989 by the late Sir Terence Conran, arguably the most important British designer of the 20th century. The museum tells the history of manufacturing from the 19th century to the present, showcasing everything from architecture, graphic design, fashion and furniture to common household items.

Read: The Story of the Design Museum by Tom Wilson

The Design Museum

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The Scarsdale Tavern

FINE DINING

The borough of Kensington and Chelsea is full of mouthwatering food establishments. Visitors to the area should be sure to book in at one of the below.

Launceston Place - At just 30 years old, the London born chef and Pierre Koffmann’s protégé at The Berkeley Hotel, head chef/patron Ben Murphy has been awarded three AA rosettes and is one of the most exciting new culinary luminaries in the UK restaurant scene and hotly tipped for Michelin starred recognition.

Core by Clare Smyth - To add to a plethora of awards, 2021 saw Smyth awarded three Michelin stars. Tables are hard to come by but the food, sourced from the UK’s most dedicated farmers and suppliers makes it one of the most exciting and imaginative restaurants today and well worth the wait.

Maggie Jones - Founded in the swinging sixties, the restaurant was renamed after the Queen’s late sister Princess Margaret, who made her reservations under her married name, Armstrong-Jones. Cosy with eclectic mismatching furniture and classic dishes this is one of London’s most romantic restaurants with an equally charming story.

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Kitchen W8 - Opened in 2009, Kitchen W8 was awarded its first Michelin star in 2011. Alongside an exceptional team, chef Mark Kempson strives to serve the best of modern European cooking, in a relaxed and informal setting. A neighbourhood favourite.

And four of the best pubs…

The Churchill Arms - Instantly recognisable from afar for the glorious flowers that climb the building, the Churchill Arms is renowned for amazing Thai food and is crammed with Winston Churchill memorabilia.

The Windsor Castle - Local folk law has it that the pub was built in the reign of George III. Its name was derived as the castle could be viewed from Campden Hill. The original wood panelling makes it snug in the winter, a large pub garden at the back is

ideal for summer days and the Sunday roast is a perennial favourite.

The Anglesea Arms - Not only a lovely little pub with dark wooden panelling but it was also a favourite drinking haunt of the author Charles Dickens. The pub also has a certain notoriety – the Great Train Robbery of 1963 was plotted over a few pints at this Kensington favourite.

The Scarsdale Tavern - Offering cask real ales and outdoor seating, the Scarsdale Tavern is covered in flowers in the secluded Edwardes Square. Described as comparable to a village pub yet in the centre of Kensington, the Sunday roast lunches are a favourite with the locals.

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Holland Park

Running Rout

EET

Kensington Palace

CA

5 mins

TR R S

THE SERPENTINE

ET

PD E N H I L L

NO

RK

ACE

A CE

PA L

AL N P

RE H ST

CAM

SV E

PA

GTO

K A

by foot and try one o

EET

G RO

SI N

R PA

H U RC ON C

ND

IN G T

LLA

UE

ST R

OK

D

KEN

K EN S

HO

the café. Discover Ke

ET

we’ve picked the bes

E

10 mins

T RE RD S

BAYSWATER

BAYS

N VE

to feed the ducks and

D

E

B RO

NOTTING HILL

River Thames, or hea ET

RO

BO

SS

G

IN VE R

W E ST

spaces. Enjoy a walk

EW

SU

G RO V U RN E

EX

S

T RE NT S

P

PADDINGTON

RA

MARYLEBONE G

N

ST B

AD

RE G E

WE

RO RK

ED

Enjoy a walk or run

Up Kensington High Stree

ton Palace entrance. Con

PL

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

4.7 miles, 45 minutes H ILL

R A C E

Harrods

and the Albert Memorial,

BELGRAVIA

one you’ve left the park.

TO THE WEST, HAMM

EC

RE E T N E ST

C LE

AD

ST PA

M

RO

HA

D

RL

’S CO

D

AD

O LD B RO M P T O N

RO

CHELSEA H

CK

LA

N

D

Thames, on to Margravine EO

RG

E’

S

DR

through quiet residential s IV

E

PIMLICO

ST

RE

ET

L

A

Walking Route

TO THE NORTH, NOT

RI

D

G

E

’S

ER

G

B

3.5 miles, 1 hour 10 minu

RO

NG

TH

T

A

A D

M

KI

ST RE

A

D

AD

CH

S

Through Holland Park to P

ET

LH

A

UR

EN

H

AL

BE

FULH

S G RO

RT

VE N

OA OR R

D

Farmacy, south to The Ch

via Kensington Church W

ID G

AD

AD

O D R

O E R

N H E

OAD

CE R

PALA

RT

BR

NO

AM

LI

D

IN

SE

RD

H D C

GA

G

AD

RO

RO

RO

A

EL

D

C

OL

E

U

RO

FU

RO A L LI E

BU

Wetland Centre, retracing SA

Saatchi Gallery

FF

O

D OA

Bridge and loop around t

AD

LI

OR

R

’S

G

DC

NB

LI E

N KI

SU

RE

LI L

UE

D

FI

Post Box

EN

IT

A

AV

SP

RO

D OA

E

O

K

R

AN

H

IC

O

L

W

D

YA

AR

LH

A

RO

W

WEST KENSINGTON

Hammersmith Bridge

FU

RO

RO A

RT

E LL

U

MW

RO

UR

EA

A

W

CRO E ST

Down Hammersmith Road

EB

RO

WEST CROMWELL ROAD

M

Y

D

ST

EN

RE

H

ET

RT

ROAD

A

SL

IN G

AD

O

R

GREAT WEST

7.5 miles, 1 hour 15 minu

LA

TO EA

K

N

KING STREET

RIVER THAMES

AD

N

ET

IC

LL RO A D

CE

RE

W

C RO M W E

RO

U

ST

A

N

RE

Natural History Museum

O

AR

S

O

O

Brompton Oratory

AD M A R LO E S RO

W

EN

BR

PT

SLO A

S G ATE

N RO A D

AD

QUEEN ’

RO

IC K G A RD

Victoria and Albert Museum

M

SQ

D

W A RW

RO

AN

A315

statue towards Speaker’s

Harvey Nichols

N

LL

Royal Albert Hall

E XH IBIT IO

HO

Design Museum

TO THE SOUTH, EARL

HEART OF KENSINGT

4.2 miles, 1 hour 30 minu

South down Earl’s Court Ro

Choux South Kensington, o

bert Museum, east to Harro

Hall and home through qui Elizabeth Walk

KENSINGTON

BY FOOT

Holland Park Gate is on the doorstep of some of London’s best parks and green spaces. Enjoy a walk or run along the River Thames, or head to the Serpentine to feed the ducks and pick up a coffee in the café. Discover Kensington & Chelsea by foot and try one of the routes below – we’ve picked the best pit stops too.

RUNNING ROUTES To the north, Holland Park, 2 miles, 22 minutes - Enter at the Earl’s Court Gate past the Design Museum, continue west through the rose garden, north to the Greek embassy and down through the shady arboretum, past Holland Park House, exiting through the same gate.

To the east, Hyde Park, 4.7 miles, 45 minutes - Up Kensington High Street, through the Kensington Palace entrance.

Continue past the Peter Pan statue towards Speaker’s Corner, the Serpentine

and the Albert Memorial, retracing your steps once you’ve left the park.

To the west, Hammersmith and the River Thames, 7.5 miles, 1 hour 15 minutes - Down Hammersmith Road, cross Hammersmith Bridge and loop around the tranquil WTT London Wetland Centre, retracing your steps over the Thames, on to Margravine Cemetery and home through quiet residential streets.

WALKING ROUTES To the north, Notting Hill, 3.5 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes - Through Holland Park to Portobello Road, on to Farmacy, south to The Churchill Arms and home via Kensington Church Walks’ boutiques.

To the south, Earl’s Court and the heart of Kensington, 4.2 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes - South down Earl’s Court Road, east to Maitre Choux South Kensington, on to the Victoria and Albert Museum, east to Harrods, past the Royal Albert Hall and home through quiet residential streets.

Running in Holland Park

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