The Kensington Society

Welcome to the website of the Kensington Society.

Formed in 1953, the Kensington Society strives to ensure that our part of London retains its magnificent heritage of buildings, parks and gardens alongside the best of contemporary architecture and design.

With more than 700 members and around 40 affiliated societies, we are very active in planning issues and exert a real influence on planning decisions in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Events

We normally also have a programme of lectures, talks, walks and visits, covering a wide range of subjects. The events offer the chance to meet your Kensington neighbours. However, during the ongoing pandemic these activities have been forced to take a pause. Otherwise, all upcoming society events can be found here.

Annual report

Our annual report is produced in the spring and has both an update report on the activities of the society as well as interesting and topical articles relating to Kensington. The most recent annual report can be read here, and most annual reports since 1954 can be found in the society archive.

Newsletter

Our newsletter is produced in the autumn. The most recent newsletter can be read here, and all newsletters since 2006 can be found in the society archive.

Membership

The annual membership subscription is £15 and you can join here.

Text updated 07/02/2021

The news blog (click here to see all)

Temporary pavement licences help restaurants

04/12/2020

During the summer, we saw many more tables and chairs outside restaurants and bars than before, plus "café terraces" on suspended parking bays. This is because of a temporary measure until the end of September 2021, intended to help parts of the hospitality industry survive Covid-19.

Today the lockdown ends - and also the cycle lane trial

02/12/2020

Today, Wednesday 2 December, is not only the day when the second national lockdown ends, but also the day when the council begins to remove the temporary cycle lanes from Kensington High Street, which were introduced in October. The removal of the many metal “wands” will be done at night time and is expected to take five days.

The 2020 newsletter is here!

18/11/2020

The 2020 issue of the Kensington Society newsletter has just been mailed to all members, but it can also be read and/or downloaded here.

Latest planning news (click here to see all)

Kensington Forum development approved again by City Hall

Following a judicial review requested by RBKC, the High Court forced the London mayor to hold a second hearing in October regarding the plan to replace 92 meters high Kensington Forum/Holiday Inn tower with an even higher and bulkier complex. As expected, the decision by the mayor's office was the same as last time: it was approved.
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City Hall’s refusal of the “caviar care” development overturned

The proposed luxury retirement development on the site of the former Heythrop College, approved by the RBKC planning committee, then refused by the London mayor for its lack of affordable housing, has been approved on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate, i.e. in practice by the housing secretary Robert Jenrick.
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Upcoming society events (click here to see all)

What is RBKC doing to encourage electric cars?

This event is now fully booked!

As we can't have physical events right now, we'll have a virtual one instead: an online talk and Q&A with two councillors about electric cars and what the council is doing to help Kensingtonians switch to electric cars, as sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in nine years' time.
Date: Wednesday 24 February 2021
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The Kensington Society AGM postponed

The The Kensington Society's 2020 annual general meeting, which was planned for Monday 18 May, has been postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Hopefully our intended guest speaker, the architect, TV presenter and Kensington resident George Clarke, will still be available when the AGM eventually can be held.
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