Events - The Kensington Society

Upcoming and recent Kensington Society events

Private visit to NHM gallery that was closed in 1943

On 30 September, a select few (30) will be given a private early morning tour of a new exhibition in a previously "hidden" gallery in the Natural History Museum that has been closed to the public for more than 80 years
Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
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The Kensington Society AGM 2026

The Kensington Society's 72nd Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 10 June 2026 in Kensington Town Hall's Great Hall. The guest speaker will be Doug Gurr, the director of the Natural History Museum.
Date: Wednesday 10 June 2026
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Opera Holland Park – a view behind the scenes

Shortly before the 2026 four month season starts, Opera Holland Park’s CEO and opera director, James Clutton, will take thirty of us on a tour of the unusual theatre, which celebrates 30 years this summer.
Date: Thurday 7 May 2026
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Natural History Museum’s Evolution Garden: The planting tour

Following our first tour of the National History Museum's new Evolution Garden in October 2025, it is now time for the promised second guided tour, where we look closer at its fascinating pre-historic plants.
Date: Monday 20 April 2026
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Previous Kensington Society events since 2017

Royal Albert Hall northern exterior page 1

Special tour of the Royal Albert Hall

Wednesday 26/11/2025

In November 2025, a limited number of Kensington Society members were given a special guided tour of the Royal Albert Hall and learned lots of fascinating things about this extraordinary building, created in only four years for more than 150 years ago.

Visit to NHM’s new Evolution Garden

Thursday 02/10/2025

In October 2025, 20 lucky members were given the first of three guided tours through the National History Museum’s recently opened Evolution Garden, full of Earth’s very first plants.

The Kensington Society AGM 2025

Monday 16/06/2025

The Kensington Society’s 71st Annual General Meeting was held on Monday 16 June 2025 in Kensington Town Hall’s Great Hall. The guest speaker was Sir Simon Jenkins, the journalist and writer, who talked passionately about the importance of local democracy, in light of the proposed changes to how planning decisions are to be made.

Another evening at Kensington Palace

Tuesday 13/08/2024

On 13 August 2024, we had another unforgettable evening in Kensington Palace, which began with a reception on the terrace of the recently renovated Orangery, followed by a private tour of the palace exhibition Untold Lives, a collection of paintings avd photographs which highlighted some of the staff who the palace going over the past three hundred years.

The Kensington Society AGM 2024

Wednesday 26/06/2024

The Kensington Society’s 70th Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 26 June 2024 in Kensington Town Hall’s Great Hall. The guest speaker wase Sir Stuart Lipton, a leading property developer who is passionate about better quality and more sustainable buildings.

Cosmic House — a post-modern home

Tuesday 21/05/2024

On Tuesday 21 May 2024, we visited the fascinating Cosmic House on Lansdowne Walk, an 1840s villa which 1979-1985 was redesign to be a manifesto for post-modernism and to serve as home for the leading post-modernist architectural theorist and designer Charles Jencks and his wife, the landscape architect and writer Maggie Keswick,

Tall buildings in the modern urban space

Wednesday 01/05/2024

Kensington Society’s 2024 event season began with a fascinating talk about tall buildings in Kensinghton Town Hall, held by architect James Dunnett, Ernő Goldfinger’s last architectural assistant.

Christmas drinks 2023

Wednesday 06/12/2023

On Wednesday 6 December 2023, the Kensington Society held its usual Christmas drinks party with mince pies in the Mayor’s Parlour in Kensington Town Hall.

The Society’s 70th anniversary dinner

Wednesday 26/10/2023

On Wednesday 26 October 2023, the Kensington Society celebrated its 70th birthday with an anniversary dinner at Leighton House, in Fredrick Leighton’s wonderful studio. You can read more about it in our 2023 Newsletter.

Summer party at Leighton House

Thursday 24/08/2023

This year’s Kensington Society summer party was held held at the recently restored Leighton House, with drinks in its the beautiful garden.

Guyzance Mill in Northumberland, one of more than 1,300 buildings in SAVE's register.

Meeting SAVE Britain’s Heritage

Monday 19/06/2023

On Monday 19 June 2023, Kensington Society members and guests met up at the recently refurbished Dora House, where heritage campaigners Ben Dewfield-Oakley and Guy Oliver told us about the important work done by the organisation SAVE Britain’s Heritage and the current state of our planning systems and the possible involvement of local residents in the pre-application stage of the planning process.

The Kensington Society AGM 2023

Thursday 01/06/2023

The Kensington Society’s 69th Annual General Meeting was held on Thursday 1 June 2023 in Kensington Town Hall’s Great Hall. The guest speaker was the art historian and art dealer Philip Mould, most known for the long-running BBC series “Fake or Fortune?”. Afterwards, there was the usual wine reception in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Christmas drinks 2022

Thursday 08/12/2022

On Thursday 8 December 2022, The Kensington Society held its traditional Christmas drinks party with mince pies in the Mayor’s Parlour in Kensington Town Hall. Some 60 members and guests attended.

Visit to re-opened Leighton House

Wednesday 09/11/2022

The Kensington members who managed to get the 60 available spaces for our visit to the recently restored Leighton House (they sold out within a few days) had a wonderful experience, exploring 19th century artist Fredrick Leighton’s fantastic home and studio near Holland Park. An event that we probably will redo in a few years’ time, as so many who wanted to come couldn’t.

An evening at Kensington Palace

Wednesday 10/08/2022

Kensington Society’s event on 10 August 2022, “An evening at the Kensington Palace”, will be remembered for a long time by the lucky sixty who managed to get a ticket. Drinks on the Pavilion veranda, a walk along the Sunken Garden and private tours of two of the palace’s main attractions… What better way to spend a warm and glorious summer evening?

The Kensington Society AGM 2022

Monday 12/06/2022

After one cancelled AGM in 2020 and one held virtually in 2021, the Kensington Society could finally hold a face-to-face Annual General Meeting in Kensington Town Hall’s Great Hall again. The guest speaker was Sir Peter Bazalgette, “the most influential man in British broadcasting”, who talked about his great-great-grandfather, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who designed and built the great revolutionary Victorian sewage system that helped to eliminate cholera and reduced outbreaks of typhus and typhoid. Counter’s Creek sewer, on Kensington’s west boundary, is part of the network he built.

Christmas drinks again!

Wednesday 08/12/2021

On Wednesday 8 December 2021, The Kensington Society held its first “live” event since the Covid-19 pandemic arrived; our now traditional Christmas drinks party with mince pies in the Mayor’s Parlour. Some 70 Kensington Society members and guests attended.

The Kensington Society AGM 2021

Monday 07/06/2021

On Monday 7 June 2021, The Kensington Society held its 2021 AGM. Due to Covid, it was held virtually over the internet and encompassed both 2019 and 2020, as the 2020 AGM had to be cancelled.

What is the Passivhaus system?

Tuesday 25/05/2021

Our third virtual event was an online talk and Q&A about the Passivhaus system for creating low energy buildings, and Octavia’s award-winning Passivhaus experiment in Princedale Road, where a Victorian terraced cottage was gutted and re-built to be almost completely insulated and powered by low carbon technology.

Making all buildings net zero carbon by 2050 – a daunting task

Thursday 27/04/2021

Our second virtual event was an online talk and Q&A with Chris Lenon about the daunting task of making all UK buildings net zero carbon compliant before 2050: what the government and the council will be doing, and what all home owners must do.

Online event about electric cars

Thursday 24/02/2021

More than 40 members took part in a very successful Kensington Society virtual event on 24 February, where councillors Johnny Thalassites and Cem Kemahli talked about electric cars and the council’s efforts to help residents to switch over to them. It was obvious that most attendees found it useful and interesting, with several sharing their experiences as EV owners, while others asked very good questions or came with practical suggestions that the two councillors promised to look into.

A cleaner and greener borough

Monday 17/02/2020

As a follow-up to our successful November 2018 event, where Sue Harris, executive RKBC director for Environment and Communities, answered questions about the changes to the council’s organisation, especially the planning department, we held a similar free event in February, where residents could put questions to those responsible for the borough’s rubbish collection, parks, community gardening, leisure centres, markets and local arts events.

Christmas drinks for members

Monday 9/12/2019

In December some 70 members and guests gathered in the Town Hall’s Mayor’s Parlour for Christmas drinks, nibbles and mince pies. It was a very successful event which may become a tradition.

Visit to the Royal Society of Sculptors

Thursday 10/10/2019

In October we were invited to a private view of a brand-new exhibition of work by two important Japanese sculptors in Dora House – the fascinating Old Brompton Road home of the Royal Society of Sculptors. We also learned more about the house and the society.

Church walk around St James’s Gardens

Wednesday 25/09/2019

In September, Nicholas Mellor took us on a short but fascinating walk in the immediate area of St James’s Gardens in the Norland ward, showing us five or six very different faith centres. Within two days, this event was unfortunately sold out, but hopefully we’ll be able to repeat it at a later date.

Looking down from the steps of the Anglican Chapel Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0) 1500x831

Guided tour of Kensal Green Cemetery

Tuesday 16/07/2019

In July we had a fascinating guided tour of the oldest and largest of London’s seven large commercial cemeteries that were established between 1833 and 1841: Kensal Green Cemetery, where more than 250,000 bodies have been interned through the years. Today there are 65,000 marked graves; some are simple while others are enormous mausoleums.

People's Hall Google Streetview 1500x1304

Hill & Park at the Frestonian Gallery

Thursday 20/06/2019

On 20 June 2019, some 30 Kensington Society members and members’ guests had a very interesting private curator’s tour of the Frestonian Gallery’s ‘Hill & Park’ exhibition, which displays works by many of the artists who have called Notting Hill and Holland Park their home, such as Patrick Caulfield, Lucian Freud, Patrick Heron, David Hockney and Bridget Riley.

Middlesex Guildhall Wiki CC-BY-3.0 1500x1125

A tour of the Supreme Court

Thursday 09/05/2019

On 9 May 2019, the Kensington Society members were invited to see the inside of the Supreme Court, the highest appeal court in the United Kingdom, which has only existed since 2009.

Some 25 members took the opportunity and were given a fascinating tour through an old building repurposed for a very new court.

The Kensington Society AGM 2019

Monday 29/04/2019

Some 200 members attended the Kensington Society’s 2019 annual general meeting, where the guest speaker was Dr Simon Thurley, the architectural historian and former head of English Heritage, whose gave a fascinating speech about the main reason why super rich Londoners began to move to remote villages like Kensington in the early 17th century: the Hungarian invention of the suspended coach, which enabled whole families to be transported in comfort over long distances at a speed previously available only for those skilled enough to ride a horse in full gallop.

The meeting was followed by the traditional wine reception in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Wine tasting Anton Kuzmin (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 1500px

Wine tasting in the Museum of Brands

Monday 25/02/2019

In February, wine merchants Jeroboams staged a fantastic wine tasting evening for us in North Kensington’s Museum of Brands, which took us to all corners of France’s wine growing districts without us even having to stand up – which towards the end of the evening probably was a very good idea…

Slaughter, Stephen, 1697-1765; Sir Hans Sloane, Bt

Visit to the Sloane Herbarium

Monday 21/01/2019

We were given the unique opportunity to visit the Natural History Museum’s Sloane Herbarium, which is normally only accessible for scientists. We also got to see “Expeditions and Endeavours”, a new exhibition about the artists that accompanied the many British expeditions around the world during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Christmas carols with St Mary Abbots School

Thursday 06/12/2018

For the second year, the Kensington Society arranged a very popular carol singing event in Kensington Town Hall’s Mayor’s Parlour, with parents and other grownups attending, who sang along with the 35 young members of the St Mary Abbots School’s chamber choir, while enjoying some wine and nibbles.

The borough’s new and leaner organisation

Monday 26/11/2018

The structure of the borough’s daily operations has drastically changed in the last few months, with the goal of making it more responsive and flexible. At an evening seminar in Kensington Town Hall, we met Sue Harris, who is the head of the largest of the new “service areas”, and were given a chance to asks her questions about anything handled by the seven departments she leads.

Gastro walkabout in South Kensington

Thursday 04/10/2018

Starting from the South Kensington tube station, 15 Kensington foodies did a gastronomic tour through South Kensington, visiting the Cave au Fromage, the Brompton Food Market and Orsini Caffe, where they had a chance to sample some of the products. The tour ended at the Hour Glass pub on the Old Brompton Road. This gastro tour was so popular that we plan to repeat it elsewhere in Kensington.

A guided walk around Notting Dale

Thursday 13/09/2018

Local historian Caroline MacMillan took us on a walk through Notting Dale, visiting the sites of the famous “Potteries”, where bricks were made for London’s growing suburbs, and the “Piggeries”, where once three times as many swine as humans lived.

The walk finished at The Mitre pub, which stands on the site of Notting Hill Farm.

An evening at Kensington Palace

Tuesday 10/07/2018

Kensington Society members were given a very eppreciated private showing of Kensington Palace, beginning with drinks by the Sunken Garden and including several of the state rooms and as well as exhibitions, among them the highly successful exhibition of Princess Diana’s dresses: Diana: Her Fashion Story.

Harrington Gardens No 39 900px sold out copy

Celebrating the work of George and Peto

Wednesday 05/06/2018

This walk and lecture about the dramatic Victorian architecture of Sir Ernest George and Harold Peto in Collingham Gardens and Harrington Gardens was quickly sold out when we held it in May 2017, so we decided to do it again this year – and once again it was sold out weeks before!

The Kensington Society AGM 2018

Monday 21/05/2018

Some 200 members attended the Kensington Society’s 2018 annual general meeting, where the guest speaker was Barry Quirk, the new RBKC chief executive, whose talk highlighted the borough’s dire need for more social housing.

The meeting was followed by the traditional wine reception in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Emergency first aid training course

Wednesday 04/04/2018

Our second emergency first aid training course with the London Ambulance Service was sold out just as quickly as the first one. Hopefully, we’ll be able to arrange a third course in a not too distant future.

Benjamin Franklin’s British life

Monday 19/02/2018

Kensington Society’s visit to the recently restored Benjamin Franklin House was a great success. The historian George Goodwin, who is the museum’s honorary author in residence, entertained us with fascinating stories of Franklin’s life and friendships in London.

Christmas carols with St Mary Abbots School

Tuesday 05/12/2017

Kensington Society arranged a very popular carol singing event in Kensington Town Hall’s Mayor’s Parlour. Some 85 attended and sang along with the 30 young members of the St Mary Abbots School’s chamber choir, while enjoying some wine and nibbles.

Emergency first aid training course

Monday 27/11/2017

Together with the London Ambulance Service, we held a first aid training course in Kensington Town Hall. The course was so popular that the 12 available seats were booked within a couple of days, so a second course was arranged for April 2018.

Architectural walk to modern buildings

Wednesday 13/09/2017

The chairman of the Twentieth Century Society, Peter Ruback, took us on a two-hour walk through central Kensington to see some well-designed but under-appreciated modern buildings.

Celebrating the work of George and Peto

Wednesday 17/05/2017

The dramatic architecture of Sir Ernest George and his design partner Harold Peto graces Collingham Gardens and a stretch of Harrington Gardens. Professor Hilary Grainger, an expert on the two men’s work, gave a spirited talk and took everyone on a fascinating tour along the two streets. This event, limited to 25 people, quickly sold out, but we hope to repeat it in a not too distant future.

The Kensington Society AGM 2017

Tuesday 25/04/2017

Some 200 members attended the 2017 Kensington Society Annual General Meeting, where the guest speaker was the Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, Mr Kenneth Olisa OBE, who very entertainingly told us what a lord-lieutenant’s job entails.

The meeting was followed by a lively wine reception in the Mayor’s Parlour.

Page updated 14/05/2026