Kensington Church Street and beyond ...

We picked an area for this profile, and then couldn’t work out what to call it. East of Campden Hill Road, as far as Kensington Gardens, north to Notting Hill Gate and south to Kensington High Street. Hillgate Village? Phillimore Estate? Kensington Village? But not even the estate agents could come up with a name. Someone should, because it’s lovely. We found an array of delis, restaurants, coffee houses and unusual shops – even a Farmers’ Market. There are some wonderful houses and it is all incredibly central and convenient. Most of the places we felt it essential to tell you about are on Kensington Church Street – everything in the list is there unless it states otherwise.



Food shops & delis
Essentials
Cafés
Restaurants
Pubs
Interesting extras
Shopping
Shopping for kids
Playgroups & nurseries
Prep & primary schools
Activities for children
Health & Leisure
Hair & Beauty
Property

Food Shops and delis
Clarke’s (tel: 020 7229 2190) Next door to Sally Clarke’s fabulous restaurant is this lovely bread shop, which also sells patisserie and great English cheese. There is a little seating area at the back for a coffee or snack and it is open until 8pm on weeknights so very handy when you realise you’ve forgotten the ciabatta for dinner.

Kempton’s Deli on Holland Street (tel: 020 7376 0010) sells all the best goodies.

The Exeter Street Bakery (tel: 020 7937 8484) is tucked behind Kensington High Street on Argyll Road. They supply local restaurants, will deliver, and make the most wonderful pizza bread.

Kensington Place (the restaurant) has a Fish Shop (tel: 020 7243 6626) next door. You can also organise outside catering through the shop.

M&S (tel: 020 7938 3711) on the High Street is open until 10pm and will deliver.

For branded products, the Safeway (tel: 020 7937 0694) on the High Street had a revamp a couple of years ago and still looks fairly snazzy as supermarkets go.

Pierre Marcolini in Lancer Square (tel: 0207795 6611) ‘the Hermes of chocolatiers’ – a mouthful of heaven.
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Essentials
KSR Food and Wine, a couple of shops down from Clarke’s, is the best newsagent on the strip – for forgotten pints of milk and a friendly chat.

Buy your booze at Nicolas (tel: 020 7937 5232) or in bulk at Majestic on Campden Hill Road (tel: 020 7792 9902).

For a pharmacy, it is best to go to the big Boots on the High Street (tel: 020 7937 9533).

For a day-to-day dry cleaner who you might also trust with your wedding dress, Burlingtons (tel: 020 7939 2988) is highly recommended.

Drayson Garage on Drayson Mews (tel: 020 7937 5036) is reliable and quick for servicing and repairs. Bill is very helpful.
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Cafés
Patisserie Valerie (tel: 020 7937 9574) is a café and a shop, which opens at 8am, and at the weekend is packed with families with prams. We tried it out, and they were incredibly helpful and welcoming to our large, young family.

Maison Blanc (tel: 020 7937 4767) another of this trusty chain for coffee, cakes and take-home goodies or there is a Café Rouge (tel: 020 7938 4200) in Lancer Square.
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Restaurants
There is a wide selection of restaurants on Kensington Church Street. Highly recommended are:
Clarke’s (tel: 020 7221 9225) the restaurant offers a fixed four-course menu (including cheese). The freshest ingredients, beautifully cooked and served. Upstairs is small and almost like someone’s dining room; downstairs is in sight of the kitchen, bigger and has a more modern feel. You can call ahead to find out the menu, but the surprise is half the fun, and if you really don’t like something they will always grill you a chicken breast.

Kensington Place (tel: 020 7727 3184) has a new chef and a new menu and is apparently much improved. Great atmosphere and good for people-spotting.

Sushi Wong (tel: 020 7937 5007) also known to friends as Bladerunner for its blue neon outside serves delicious garlic rice, teriyaki and, of course, sushi.

Maggie Jones just off Church Street on Old Court Place (tel: 020 7937 6462) has uncomfortable seats, but is worth a visit for the steak and mango casserole.

Black and Blue (tel: 020 7727 0004) serves good steak and Caesar salad. Better than Sticky Fingers for grown-ups, but the kids probably still prefer the old favourite at the bottom of Phillimore Gardens (tel: 020 7938 5538).

The Mediterrean Kitchen (tel: 020 7836 8289) is the new kid on the block, offering sophisticated food at reasonable prices. It’s already popular with families at weekends.

With children also be sure to head for Pizza Express on Notting Hill Gate (tel: 020 7229 6000) and Ask, on the High Street near Holland Park (tel: 020 7937 5540) or on Notting Hill Gate on the corner of Campden Hill Road (tel: 020 7792 9942).

Turn off Church Street to find:
The Terrace on Holland Street (tel: 020 7937 3224) particularly nice in summer thanks to the eponymous terrace.

Geale’s on Farmer Street (tel: 020 7727 7528) for the real fish and chips dining experience.

Malabar (tel: 020 7727 8800) on Uxbridge Street for delicious Indian fare.

Wagamama’s (tel: 020 7376 1717) high up above the High Street (next to the Royal Garden Hotel) is great for children too. Healthy, quick and fun noodles are always a safe bet.
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Pubs

The Elephant and Castle on Holland Street (tel: 020 7368 0901) is very pretty, with a Who Wants to be a Millionaire machine to keep you busy.

The Windsor Castle on Campden Hill Road (tel: 020 7243 9551) is a very traditional pub with a lovely (but crowded) beer garden, which has been the scene of many first dates and even marriage proposals.

The Churchill Arms (tel: 020 7727 4242) is opposite Sally Clarke’s on the corner of Campden Street. This is more of a community pub, and offers hot, spicy, nourishing, cheap Thai food at the back.

The Mall Tavern at the top of Church Street on Palace Gardens Terrace (tel: 020 7727 3805) is a revamped pub serving good modern English food, owned by the same team as the Henry IV on the Harrow Road. It is possible to walk in and get a table, unusual otherwise round here.
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Interesting Extras
The Farmers’ Market is behind Waterstone’s and Kensington Place and is held every Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm. You will find bread, cheese, meat and fish, the freshest fruit and vegetables and homemade pies of all kinds. A friend swears by the Clover Hill Farm shepherd’s pie. You can have a mid-morning snack (delicious blueberry cookies and freshly pressed apple juice) or lunch (aromatic freshly-cooked mushroom ciabatta and carrot juice) to make your morning complete.
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Shopping
Continuing down Church Street from Notting Hill Gate, look for:
The Trinity Hospice Shop (tel: 020 7376 1098) – definitely worth hunting through every now and again for smart Kensington ladies’ cast-offs.

Designer Bargains (tel: 020 7795 6777) is another good place to rummage for goodies, including Jimmy Choos.

Ann’s Lamp Shades (tel: 020 7937 5033) is outstanding among the many lighting shops on offer.

Baan Debbie (te: 020 7938 3806) sells paintings, fabrics, accessories and gifts from South-east Asia.

Seraphine (tel: 020 7937 3156) is a great new maternity shop which certainly gives Formes a run for its money.

Cologne and Cotton (tel: 020 7376 0324) for beautiful linen and gifts. Surprisingly good value.

Sweaty Betty (tel: 7937 5523) is a great shop for girls’ sport kit. If your thing is skiing, spinning or swimming, shop here to look and feel the part.

LK Bennett (tel: 020 7937 6895) for gorgeous shoes – be sure to go on their mailing list to be sent really good discount offers.

There are many shops along the road selling beautiful antiques, lights, clocks, old books, wonderful mirrors, stained glass and armoury. Not necessarily what you need every day, but fun to window-shop.

Look along Holland Street for:
Scrivo (tel: 020 7937 4000), which offers a good selection of writing paper, cards, photo albums and assorted stationery paraphernalia. They weren’t thrilled about children in the shop – worth a look while they are at school.

Musa (tel: 020 7937 6282) for slippers and lingerie.

Manguette on the corner of Gordon Place (tel: 7937 2897) is a jewellery shop for the boys to know about – I was wooed (and won) with one of their necklaces.

Also not to miss is Antoine et Lili (tel: 020 7792 9922) on Uxbridge Street – great for unusual pressies for young and old(er) friends.

Urban Outfitters (tel: 020 7761 1001) on the High Street – we may have outgrown the clothes, but if you ever want to give a toy to a grown-up, this is where to find one.
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Shopping for Kids
What Katy Did (tel: 020 7937 6499) is a gorgeous clothes and accessories shop for babies and children up to eight. Fabulous flower, boat, car or princess beds are available to order.

Otherwise, Kensington High Street is on the doorstep:
Trotters (tel: 020 7937 9373) has a good selection of clothes, books and shoes and is the place to have your little one’s hair cut.

Plus all the high street names:
Russell & Bromley (tel: 020 7376 2855), BabyGap/GapKids (tel: 020 7368 2900) boys and girls 0–16, H&M (tel: 020 7368 3920) boys and girls 0–14, Benetton (tel: 020 7937 3034) boys and girls 0–12, French Connection (tel: 020 7937 4665) boys and girls 2–12, Monsoon (tel: 020 7376 0366) girls 2–12, Zara (tel: 020 7368 4680) boys and girls 0–16 but particularly good for girls. Books and storytapes from Waterstone’s (tel: 020 7937 8432) or The Children’s Book Centre (tel: 020 7937 7497), which is a fantastic old-fashioned toy shop as well as a book store. There is also a Waterstone’s right at the top of Kensington Church Street.
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Playgroups and Nurseries
St Mary Abbot’s Mother and Toddler Group meets in the Church Hall on Friday morning from 10am until noon. There is a charge of £2 per child, which includes a snack for the child and coffee for the carer. It is run on a first-come, first-served basis, with space for 20 or so children each week, so it is worth getting there early.

Iverna Gardens Montessori Nursery in the Armenian Church Hall on Iverna Gardens (tel: 020 7565 0850) is just south of the High Street, but the one that the children in the area go to. Do register early to be sure of a place.
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Prep and Primary Schools
St Mary Abbots is a C of E primary with a great reputation at the bottom of Church Street (tel: 7937 0740); also Fox Primary on Kensington Place (tel: 020 7727 7637).

For private schools, try Hawkesdown House on Edge Street (tel: 020 7727 9090) or Wetherby (tel: 020 7727 9581) for boys (about to expand to take boys up to 13 years) and Pembridge Hall (tel: 020 7229 0121) for girls, both just the other side of Notting Hill Gate in Pembridge Square. For a co-ed option, go down the hill to Norland Place (tel: 020 7603 9103) or across the High Street to Thomas’ and the newly acquired Lady Eden’s (tel: 020 7361 6500).
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Activities for Children
Kensington Central Library (tel: 020 7937 2542 and ask for the Junior Library) Story time for pre-schoolers at 10.30am every Tuesday. You need to get a ticket in advance as space limits the group to 30 children (and carers) and it is popular. The Junior Library also runs craft activities during the school holidays – call for information.

Charity and other fairs are held in the town hall next door to the library. A few of the Christmas ones this year will include:
9 October Gift of Sight fair;
1 November Commonwealth Fair; 24 November FSID and
4 December British Red Cross.

For open spaces to let off energy, head to the parks: go east to Kensington Gardens and the wonderful Diana Memorial playground. It is best to be there early and plan to stay for an hour; it really does get busy later on.

Go west to Holland Park and discover the new playground, huge sandpit, kiosk (the café is unfortunately not reopening until September) and One O’clock Club on offer there.
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Health and Leisure
A very good doctor’s surgery is Kensington Place Surgery (tel: 020 7221 2816). For alternative health, try the Life Centre on Edge Street (tel: 020 7221 4602) aromatherapy, homeopathy, pre and post-natal yoga, baby massage, kids’ yoga, cranial osteopathy and much more.

There is a Holmes Place off Church Street on Old Court Place (tel: 020 7761 0000); The Phillimore Club (tel: 020 7937 2882) is on Phillimore Walk just to the east of Holland Park and is for ladies only. It offers a gym, steam room, sauna, pool and studio for classes.
For public centres, go north to the Kensington Leisure Centre on Walmer Road (tel: 020 7727 9747), which has good kids’ swimming lessons; or try the Imperial College Sports Centre on Princes Gardens (tel: 020 7594 8964).
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Hair and Beauty
Cool Cuts on Holland Street (tel: 020 7937 1666) offers a haircut for £16 (blow dry extra)
Toni & Guy on Church Street (tel: 020 7937 0030)
Scarlet Nail Bar (tel: 020 7376 9376) is a one-stop-shop for manicures, pedicures, massages and other beauty treatments.
Space NK (tel: 020 7376 2870) for beauty essentials.
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Property
Estate Agents:
Lane Fox (tel: 020 7938 3666)
J D Wood (tel: 020 7908 1110)
Knight Frank (tel: 020 7938 4311)
Savill’s (tel: 020 7535 3300)
Marsh and Parsons (tel: 020 7937 6091)
Aylesford (tel: 020 7727 6663)

House prices:
Two-bedroom flat from: £375,000
Three-bedroom house from: £1,100,000
Five-bedroom house from: £2,500,000
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First published in angels and urchins, Summer 2003