West Kensington, London
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West Kensington is an area of west London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. It is at the eastern edge of the borough and also encompasses some western areas of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. West Kensington is roughly defined as the area between Hammersmith Road to the west, Fulham to the south, Shepherd's Bush to the north and Kensington to the east.
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[edit] Housing
West Kensington is a primarily residential area, made up mostly of light housing. This consists mainly of Victorian terraced houses, some of which are subdivided into small flats. As excellent examples of Victorian architecture, several houses and some entire streets are listed. There are also a number of municipal housing buildings in the southern half of the area, including the sprawling Lytton Estate.
[edit] Businesses
Business is mostly limited to small shops, offices and restaurants, but the Olympia Exhibition Centre is nearby. There are also several pubs and hotels. A Tesco supermarket recently opened nearby on the Cromwell Road, creating new jobs perhaps but undoubtedly having negative impacts for the many local, independently owned shops. Indeed, it is the mix of local shops that give the place its character. There is also easy access to High Street Kensington. West Kensington is also home to the St James Independent School for Junior Boys and Girls.
[edit] Transport
West Kensington is situated on the A4 Cromwell Road and Kensington High Street. It is served by West Kensington tube station, Barons Court tube station and Kensington (Olympia) station, all on the District Line, with Barons Court also on the Piccadilly Line.
[edit] Famous residents
- Mahatma Gandhi lived in West Kensington for a year while a student.
- Edward Elgar lived for some years on Avonmore Road.
- Estelle the West London rapper was born and raised in West Kensington; her song "1980" was written about her experiences growing up in the area.
[edit] Social problems
Parts of the southern half of West Kensington remain in a state of dereliction, with dilapidated council estate buildings and boarded-up shops, although recent renovation efforts on the Lytton Estate have had considerable success. There is also some crime in the area, but this is mainly limited to drugs and anti-social behaviour. Parts of the area are affected by poverty and unemployment, but not as seriously as much of inner city London.
