• A general listing of the latest events in Kensington can also be found at Spoonfed.
• If you would like your event listed here, please email me!

Current Listings

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 6th February 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from Tom Craine, Peter Buckley Hill, Laura Carr, Dan Adams and Luke Graves. Cheeky Stuart Laws MCs. Free entry.

Dickens’s London Launch at the bookHaus
7pm, 7th February 2012
The bookHaus, 70 Cadogan Place, SW1X 9AH
Website: www.hauspublishing.com/event/51
In celebration of Dickens’s Bicentenary, Dickens’s London by Peter Clark will be launched at the bookHaus. Based on five walks through central London, Mr Clark’s book illuminates the settings of Dickens’s greatest works, his life, his journalism and his fiction. The launch event is free and all are welcome!

L’amour à la française part 2
8pm, 7th February 2012
Institut français, 17 Queensberry Place, SW7 2DT
Website:www.institut-francais.org.uk/music-events/lamour-a-la-francaise-part-2
Featuring songs dealing with various sides of love at the beginning of the 20th century, this concert will include performances from singers from the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Academy Opera. Tickets cost £15 (concessions £12, students £8) and can be purchased via the above link. More details on our blog.

London chamber choir Londinium presents The Elements: Songs of the Earth, the Air, Fire and Water
7.30pm, Thursday 9th February 2012
Holy Trinity Sloane Square, Sloane Street, SW1X 9BZ
Website: www.londinium-voices.org.uk
Based in the City of London, dynamic choral ensemble Londinium will be performing a beautiful concert of motets and part-songs that explore the power of the elements, featuring music by Victoria, Mendelssohn, Howells, Tippett, Lauridsen and more. The ensemble performs an unusual a cappella repertoire, performing around five programmes a year as a full chamber choir, but also featuring in high-profile events such as the world première of Jessica Curry’s Perpetual Light in The Old Vic Tunnels on 4 June 2011, for which they received great acclaim. This concert will be conducted by Stephen Farr, Londonium’s newly appointed Joint Musical Director, who is Director of Music at St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge  and Worcester College Oxford. Tickets cost £14 (£10 concessions) on the door, or in advance at a discount price of £10 until 7th February. Email elements@londinium-voices.org.uk or see www.londinium-voices.org.uk/tickets.html for advance bookings.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 13th February 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from Daniel Simonsen, Chris Boyd, Lindsay Sharman, Ian Rigby, David Kelly and Stuart Laws. Efficient Luke Graves MCs. Free entry.

The Music of Burt Bacharach
7.30pm, 14th February 2012
Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Website: www.cadoganhall.com
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing The Music of Burt Bacharach, conducted by Richard Balcombe and with soloists Graham Bickley, Mary Carewe, Cat Simmons (star of Family Affairs and The Bill) and Sarah Lark from BBC1′s I’d Do Anything. Tickets cost £45, £35, £25 or £15 and can be booked online or via the Cadogan Hall Booking Office on 020 7730 4900. Read more about the concert on our blog!

Kensington & Chelsea Music Society Concert – Adam Walker & James Baillieu
7.30pm, 15th February 2012
Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ
Website: www.kcmusic.org.uk
Adam Walker (flute) and James Baillieu (piano) perform pieces by Martinu, Barber, Schubert, Bartok, Messiaen and Widor. Tickets cost £18, which includes a glass of wine/fruit juice during the interval.

To purchase tickets and for more details of the season and its performers, please see the Kensington & Chelsea Music Society website.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 20th February 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. An hour preview of Nathaniel Metcalfe’s show Enthusiast plus new material support from Anna Freyberg, Apocalypso and Luke Graves. Silly Charlie Duncan MCs. Free entry.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 27th February 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from David Trent, Paul Laight, Jo Selby, Luke Graves, Jay Cowle and Stuart Laws. The many voices of Bobby Carroll MCs. Free entry.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 5th March 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from Nat Luurtsema, Damian Kingsley, Gemma Whelan, Ian Hawkins, Anthony Miller and Bobby Carroll. Cheeky Stuart Laws MCs. Free entry.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 12th March 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from Stuart Black, Jason Kavan, Pat Cahill, Peter Dillon Trenchard, Martin Croser and Luke Graves. Efficient Bobby Carroll MCs. Free entry.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 19th March 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from Alex Hawley, Laurence Tuck, Tez Illyah, Rachel Anderson, Dan Hoy and Paul F Taylor. Silly Stuart Laws MCs. Free entry.

Kensington & Chelsea Music Society Concert – Meng Yang Pan & Thomas Neubauer
7.30pm, 20th March 2012
Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ
Website: www.kcmusic.org.uk
Meng Yang Pan and Thomas Neubauer (piano duets) perform pieces by Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Milhaud and Brahms. Tickets cost £18, which includes a glass of wine/fruit juice during the interval.

To purchase tickets and for more details of the season and its performers, please see the Kensington & Chelsea Music Society website.

Set Up…Punchline Comedy Night
7.30pm, Monday 26th March 2012
Archangel, 11-13 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP
Website: www.comedyknights.co.uk
New home of the hot fresh new comedy, it’s like the birth of punk but in cardigans. New material from Henry Ginsberg, Joanne Lau, James Mason, Nick Hodder, Luke Graves and Bobby Carroll. The comedy stylings of Ed O’Meara MCs. Free entry.

Kensington & Chelsea Music Society Concert – Njabullo Madlala, Kitty Whatley with Simon Lepper
7.30pm, 17th April 2012
Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ
Website: www.kcmusic.org.uk
Meng Yang Pan and Thomas Neubauer (piano duets) perform pieces by Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Milhaud and Brahms. Tickets cost £18, which includes a glass of wine/fruit juice during the interval.

To purchase tickets and for more details of the season and its performers, please see the Kensington & Chelsea Music Society website.

Kensington & Chelsea Music Society Concert – Williamson Clarinet Trio
7.30pm, 22nd May 2012
Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ
Website: www.kcmusic.org.uk
Sarah Williamson (clarinet), James Barrlet (cello) and John Reid (piano) perform pieces by Beethoven, Bruch, Brahms and Rota. Tickets cost £18, which includes a glass of wine/fruit juice during the interval.

To purchase tickets and for more details of the season and its performers, please see the Kensington & Chelsea Music Society website.

Annual Events

JULY

Holland Park Opera
Held each summer in June, July and August, this wonderful open-air venue right in the centre of Holland Park is home to some fantastic opera performances each year. Details of operas held and how to book can be found at www.ohp.rbkc.gov.uk

InTRANSIT
various venues
Website: www.rbkc.gov.uk/leisureandlibraries/cultureservice/intransit.aspx
A contemporary arts festival that takes place in Kensington’s streets, parks and public places!

AUGUST

The Notting Hill Carnival
Taking place over the last weekend of August, the Notting Hill Carnival gets bigger, bolder and better every year. In case you’re wondering, the Monday after that weekend is always a public holiday in the UK – so you can party hard with no work consequences! Read more about it on our sister site: Notting Hill Carnival.

NOVEMBER

Ice Skating at the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
Underground: South Kensington
Every winter (November to January), a 1000 square foot ice-skating rink is created in the grounds of the Natural History Museum. Over the years, this pastime has increased in popularity in London during winter, and a number of rinks appear all around the capital – including some in very scenic locations (e.g. Somerset House, or the Tower of London). The rink at the Natural History Museum, although smaller than some others, is amongst the more established ones in London and is hence very popular. The excellent location and the beautifully decorated surroundings attract numerous visitors. There’s also a bar serving hot and cold drinks, food and snacks, plus the ultimate winter warmer – Winter Pimms. You definitely have to book in advance as tickets tend to sell out relatively quickly, and if you prefer not to skate amongst the crowds, try to go on a weekday afternoon. Alternatively, I’d recommend going in the evening to get the full effect of the atmosphere and the pretty fairylights twinkling in the trees. There’s also a little side rink for beginners or those wishing to brush up their somewhat rusty skating skills. There are also marshalls on the rink who provide tips, or help those that haven’t quite got the hang of it. And don’t worry, plenty of people fall down! Tickets can be bought online. Skates are provided at no additional cost to the ticket. See Ice Rink at the Natural History Museum for further details.

Past Events

See a listing of recent past events that have taken place in Kensington & Chelsea.

© 2012 The Guide to Kensington & Chelsea. All Rights Reserved.