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 some 30 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 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. 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 16/11/2020

The news blog (click here to see all)

Temporary pavement licences help restaurants

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.
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Today the lockdown ends - and also the cycle lane trial

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.
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The 2020 newsletter is here!

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.
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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)

No events until further notice

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the government's advice for everyone to avoid social gatherings in order to minimise the spread of the virus, Kensington Society will not be holding any events until further notice.
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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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