If you’re staying somewhere in Kensington & Chelsea, you may well be interested in knowing what supermarkets are in the area in order to be able to buy your own food!

Generally, there’s a handful of chain supermarkets that exist in the UK, the main ones being Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Co-operative Food. The first two tend to have (at least in Kensington & Chelsea) larger superstore versions as well as smaller, local high-street versions, though the latter type would more than suit your needs if you’re a visitor and only need to pick up a few essentials.

To give you an idea of pricing, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer are considered top-end supermarkets with good quality products. Marks & Spencer generally sells its own brand products, although introduced some well known brand items (think Heinz ketchup, Whiskas cat food, Persil washing powder) a few years ago. Tesco and Sainsburys are mid-range in terms of price and Somerfield is a bit more budget.

Many of these supermarkets now have home delivery services; if you shop for your groceries online, you can get them delivered (for a fee) direct to your home. That’s something else to consider if you’re staying for any extended period of time and have a proper kitchen setup…but perhaps don’t have the means to get to a large supermarket (and back!).

Tesco
There’s a large superstore right on the edge of Kensington, at West Cromwell Road, W14 8PB – it’s open 24 hours, Tuesday to Friday.

Smaller stores include decent sized ones at at 146-158 Kensington High Street, W8 6SU and at 114-120 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3QE, as well as smaller “express” stores at 87-93 Gloucester Road, SW7 4SS and at 82-90 Holland Park, W11 3RB.

Sainsburys
The largest Sainsburys in the Borough is at 158a Cromwell Road, SW7 4EJ, another superstore open 24 hours, Monday – Friday. Smaller stores at 162-164 Earls Court Road, SW5; 295-297 Fulham Road, SW10 and at 86-94 Westbourne Grove, W2.

Waitrose
There are pretty decent sized Waitrose supermarkets at 243 Kensington High Street, W8; at 128 Gloucester Road, SW7 and at 196 Kings Road, SW3.

Marks & Spencer
There’s a pretty big M & S at 113 Kensington High Street, W8 which is also a general M & S, selling clothes, shoes, homewares and so on. There are also some M & S Simply Food (self-explanatory!) shops at 226-268 Earls Court Road, SW5; 146-154 Notting Hill Gate, W11; and at 289 – 291 Fulham Road, SW10.

Co-operative Food
There’s a small Co-operative Food store at 210-212 Earls Court Road, SW5; and one at 471-487 Kings Road, SW3.

Whole Foods
If you like your groceries a bit more expensive…but of very good quality…there’s a very big Whole Foods at 63-97 Kensington High Street, W8.

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