Here’s our guide to Kensington & Chelsea for kids – places in the area that the little ones might enjoy, such as playgrounds and exhibits at museums, as well as some family-friendly restaurants. We’ve also included a guide to some shops that stock children’s essentials – and toys! (Perhaps they’re essentials too!)<\/p>\n
Holland Park playgrounds FREE<\/span><\/strong> Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground FREE<\/span><\/strong> Launchpad exhibit at the Science Museum<\/strong> FREE<\/span> Special museum exhibits FREE<\/span>(mostly!)<\/strong> Byron<\/strong> Cafe Rouge Giraffe My Old Dutch Pizza Express Sticky Fingers Early Learning Centre<\/strong> Peter Jones<\/strong> Trotters A good selection of children’s clothes, toys and baby items can also be found at:<\/p>\n Marks and Spencer <\/a>(clothes, small selection of toys) Gap<\/a> (clothes) Zara<\/a> (clothes) Argos<\/a> (toys and baby items) Boots<\/a> (baby items, plus pharmacy items) Miniversity<\/a> offer half term, ‘university’-themed\u00a0holiday camps\u00a0at the\u00a0Chelsea Academy.<\/p>\n
\nHolland Park, <\/em>Ilchester Place, W8
\nUnderground: High Street Kensington\/Holland ParkWebsite: Holland Park – RBKC<\/a>
\n<\/em>There are a couple of very fine children’s playgrounds in Holland Park for children of assorted ages! Close to the cafe is a playground for the younger lot, with assorted small playground items and a sandpit. Further north in the park there’s a larger adventure playground with various activities for the older set.<\/p>\n
\nKensington Gardens
\nUnderground: Bayswater\/Queensway
\nWebsite: Kensington Gardens – Playground<\/a>
\n<\/em>Opened in 2000 in memory of Princess Diana, the centrepiece of this fine playground is a large wooden pirate ship, set on a “beach”. There are assorted toys and structures for kids to play with, as well as teepees and small treehouses, all set in a pretty and relaxing garden design. Plenty of room for parents to sit back and relax too, and a cafe is also on site.<\/p>\nMuseums, Exhibits and Similar for Children<\/h2>\n
\nScience Museum, Exhibition Road, SW7 2DD
\nUnderground: South Kensington
\nWebsite:Launchpad<\/a><\/em>
\nPrimarily aimed at kids aged between 8 – 14 years old, almost all children will love this hands-on science exhibit. (I know I certainly did when I was young!) There’s a high level of interacticity at Launchpad, so kids can have tonnes of fun messing around with all sorts of science demos whilst they learn a bit too.<\/p>\n
\nVarious locations <\/em>
\nMany museums, galleries and similar in the area often put on children’s workshops or activity days during school holidays, especially in summer. Take a look at our Museums<\/a> and Galleries<\/a> page, and check for special events at each venue.<\/p>\nChild-Friendly Restaurants<\/h2>\n
\n222 Kensington High Street, W8 7RG
\nUnderground: Kensington High Street
\nWebsite: www.byron.co.uk<\/a>
\nSometimes, you and your brood are probably in the kind of mood where only burgers will do the job – so go to Byron! They offer a selection of burger options – including classic, cheese and their own Byron concoction, with cheese, bacon and a special Byron sauce – as well as a number of other mains. Their chicken burger is also incredibly tasty, and ideal if you fancy something a little different. There’s a special menu that features smaller portion sizes for kids under six. And don’t forget to treat yourself to one of their glorious desserts – who can resist an Oreo and brownie sundae?! Their Kensington branch is in a great location overlooking Holland Park, which is perfect for a brisk walk or run-around after to work off your meal (or to work up an appetite beforehand!).
\nAlso at 75 Gloucester Road, SW7 4SS (underground: Gloucester Road); 242 Earls Court Road, SW5 9AA (underground: Earl’s Court); 300 King’s Road, SW3 5UH (underground: Sloane Square\/South Kensington); and 93-95 Old Brompton Road, SW7 3LD (underground: South Kensington)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>2 Lancer Square, W8 4EH<\/em>
\nUnderground: Kensington High Street<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.caferouge.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/em>Excellent French-style chain of cafes, adults will find something tasty from their menu whilst children will do so too from the “Enfants Menu”! Kids can also have fun with the games on the special table mats for them. This particular Cafe Rouge has pleasant outdoor seating, set in a small square.
\nAlso at 27-31 Basil Street, SW3 1BB (underground: Knightsbridge) <\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>7 Kensington High Street, W8 5NP <\/em>
\n<\/strong>Underground: High Street Kensington<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.giraffe.net<\/a>
\n<\/em>The kind of place that children and grown-ups will love equally! Children have their own special menu here, though there’s also plenty to choose from from the main one – and the variety of world cuisine dishes means that everyone should be happy. A great place to come any time of day, there’s also a good selection of breakfasts. There should also be something on offer (crayons and colouring sheet) to keep the little ones amused!
\nAlso at 120 Holland Park Avenue, W11 4UA (underground: Holland Park)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>221 Kings Road, SW3 5EJ<\/em>
\n Underground: Sloane Square\/South Kensington<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.myolddutch.com
\n<\/a><\/em>For something a little different, why not try this pancake place? A Chelsea classic, My Old Dutch serves both sweet and savory pancakes, and there’s plenty of fillings to choose from. Kids might like the “make your own” sweet pancake, where they can choose their own fillings from a variety of sauces, fruit, ice creams and toppings.
\nAlso at 16 Kensington Church Street, W8 4EP (underground: High Street Kensington) <\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>35 Earls Court Road, W8 6ED<\/em>
\n Underground: Earls Court\/High Street Kensington<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.pizzaexpress.com<\/a>
\n<\/em>Great pizza chain that’s always been very child-friendly, its delicious (and reasonably-priced) pizzas and other dishes mean its a family favourite. Again, there’s a special kids menu for them – and you might want to treat them to one of the delicious desserts too!
\nAlso at 137 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3LB (underground: Notting Hill Gate) and at 363 Fulham Road, SW10 9TN (underground: West Brompton) <\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>1A Phillimore Gardens, W8 7QG <\/em>
\nUnderground: High Street Kensington<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.stickyfingers.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/em>A lively restaurant just off Kensington High Street, this American-style diner serves just what you’d expect – steaks, burgers, ribs, big sandwiches – though there’s a kid’s menu too serving more managable portions for them. Parents may be impressed to know that the restaurant is owned by former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman.<\/p>\nShopping – Toy Stores & Children’s Clothes<\/h2>\n
\n174 Kensington High Street, W8 7RG<\/em>
\n Underground: High Street Kensington<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.elc.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/em>The classic British children’s toy store sells toys, games, puzzles and books for kids of all ages, right from young babies upwards! There’s also a pretty good selection of outdoor toys (pools, climbers, slides, swings) if you have or know of someone with a bit of private outdoor space.
\nAlso at 113 Kings Road, SW3 4UP (underground: Sloane Square) <\/em><\/p>\n
\nSloane Square, SW1W 8EL<\/em>
\nUnderground: Sloane Square<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.peterjones.co.uk
\n<\/a><\/em>The classic Chelsea department store with a wide range of children’s clothes and shoes. (And many a local child – myself included! – has come here to be fitted out in school uniform.) There’s also a pretty big toy department.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>34 Kings Road, SW3 4UD<\/em>
\nUnderground: Sloane Square<\/em>
\n Website: <\/em>www.trotters.co.uk<\/a>
\n<\/em>Babies and children’s clothes and shoes, with a small selection of games and toys; hairdressing facilities for children are also on offer at their stores.
\nAlso at 127 Kensington High Street, W8 5SF <\/em>(underground: High Street Kensington) <\/em><\/p>\n
\n113 Kensington High Street, W8 5SQ<\/p>\n
\n99 High Street, Kensington, W8 5SA
\n132-136 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3QG
\n122 Kings Road, SW3 4TR
\n145-149 Brompton Road, SW3 1QP<\/p>\n
\n48-52 Kensington High Street, W8 4PE
\nDuke of York Square, King’s Road, SW3 4LY
\n79-81 Brompton Road, SW3 1DB<\/p>\n
\n164-166 Kensington High Street, W8 7RG<\/p>\n
\n127a Kensington High Street, W8 5SF
\n96-98 Notting Hill Gate, W11 3QA
\n254 Earls Court Road, SW5 9AD
\n30-31 Gloucester Arcade, SW7 4SF
\n203-205 Brompton Road, SW3 1LA<\/p>\nChidren’s classes and clubs<\/h2>\n
Babysitting<\/h2>\n