Welcome to Kensington West

Kensington West is located in Kensington London a short walk from Kensington High Street, where you will find the most exclusive bars and restaurants to meet every need. If that is not enough Kensington High Street is known as "shopping heaven". Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace (where Princess Diana resided) are all within easy reach. 

We are walking distance from both Olympia (approximately 4-5 minutes) and Earls Court (approximately 15 minutes) exhibition centres. The famous Queen's Tennis Club is within easy reach. For those of you who want a shopping spree, Westfield's shopping centre opened in October 2009 which boasts 265 shops is only about a 15 minute walk away. For more information click on Westfield London Shopping Centre. 

Welcome to Kensington West

Kensington West is located in Kensington London a short walk from Kensington High Street, where you will find the most exclusive bars and restaurants to meet every need. If that is not enough Kensington High Street is known as "shopping heaven". Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Kensington Palace (where Princess Diana resided) are all within easy reach. 

We are walking distance from both Olympia (approximately 4-5 minutes) and Earls Court (approximately 15 minutes) exhibition centres. The famous Queen's Tennis Club is within easy reach. For those of you who want a shopping spree, Westfield's shopping centre opened in October 2009 which boasts 265 shops is only about a 15 minute walk away. For more information click on Westfield London Shopping Centre. 

If you are looking for budget London hotels in the

Kensington area, Kensington West could be exactly what you are looking for.

If you are looking for budget London hotels in the

Kensington area, Kensington West could be exactly what you are looking for.

24 hour air conditioned reception

Lift to all floors

Premier Breakfast Pack

Free Wi-Fi throughout Kensington West - each guest will receive a unique username and password for secure reliable Wi-fi usage

Complementary Taylor of London toiletries

Complementary(Subject to availability)- Safes- Ice- Hot beverages

24 Hour Reception

En-Suite Bathroom/Shower Room

Central Heating

Colour Television

Desk & Lamp

Elevator to all floors

Free WI-FI - Each guest will receive a unique username and password for secure reliable Wi-fi usage

Hairdryer

Safe at Reception

Complimentary Taylor of London Shampoo and Hand Wash

Smoke Detectors

Complimentary Hot Beverages at Reception

24 Hour Concierge Service

Wake Up Service

By choosing to stay with us here at Kensington West you will be based in the heart of Kensington, close to all the top attractions London has to offer. Because we are a budget London hotel, the price to stay with us is affordable which means you will have plenty of money left to spend at your leisure. All of our rooms offer a comfortable and pleasurable stay and our staff will help you with anything else you may need during your stay.

Kensington West Exterior and Interior

Kensington West Exterior and Interior

We will Endeavour our promise to make your stay COMFORTABLE, FRIENDLY AND PLEASURABLE and provide the service that is expected by our guests. You just have to ask the staff of Kensington West if you have any further requirements that we may be able to help you with.

KENSINGTON WEST HOTEL. 25 MATHESON ROAD, KENSINGTON, LONDON W14 8SN WEB: HTTP://WWW.KENSINGTONWEST.ORG

1. Marilyn Monroe: A British Love Affair

This tiny, free exhibition in an NPG nook doesn't bother with the question of whether the world needs to see more pictures of Norma Jeane Mortenson, or indeed, any of the same ones over again. But you might as well ask why we look at any photos, or hire good-looking actors to star in films, or concern ourselves with beauty at all.

We love her, perhaps, because of her combination of innocence and knowingness. The smile is Judy Garland, the eyes Ava Gardner: she's permanently, sweetly unsatisfying, the visual equivalent of the siren's song and possibly just as dangerous.

Jan Until Sun Mar 24 2013 National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, London, WC2H 0HE 

Art: Art museums & institutions

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2013

Hyde Park goes all Christmassy with the sparkly additions of rides and attractions including a Giant Observation Wheel and two circuses - 'Christmas Circus' and 'Cirque Berserk' - from the family-friendly Zippos Circus. Winter Wonderland's ice rink, the biggest outdoor rink in the UK, surrounds the Victorian bandstand and is illuminated with more than 100,000 lights. While most activities are ticketed, it's worth noting that entry to the site, including Santa Land and the Christmas Market is free and an after-dark stroll is surprisingly atmospheric.

Until Sun Jan 6 2013 Hyde Park, London, W2 4RU 

Around Town: Ice skating

January in London 2013Rain Room

Contemporary art group Random International creates a digital installation that gives visitors the chance to experience how it might feel to control the rain. In 'Rain Room', the sound of water and moisture in the air gives the impression of being in the centre of an unpredictable downpour, without getting wet.

Until Sun Mar 3rd 2013 Barbican Centre, Silk St, London, EC2Y 8DS 

Around Town: Exhibitions

Natural History Museum Ice Rink 2012

Alfred Waterhouse's stunning Natural History Museum once again provides the backdrop for this 1,000-metre-square outdoor ice rink, which for the first time this year features a Christmas tree at its centre, and a smaller rink for children.

Until Sun Jan 6 Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London, SW7 5BD Full details & map

Around Town: Ice skating

January in London 2013Skate at Somerset House

Once again, the grand eighteenth-century courtyard at Somerset House provides this 900-metre-square ice rink with one of the most impressive skating backdrops in town. New this year is The Christmas Arcade, a pop-up luxury shopping mall situated along the West Wing, with winter accessories, jewellery, choices, gifts and decorations for sale.

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013  Somerset House, The Strand, London, WC2R 1LA 

Around Town: Ice skating

Tower of London Ice Rink 2012

Located in the dry moat, the Tower of London ice rink (aka Ice at the Tower) offers a grand historical setting for seasonal skating sessions, along with views of London's ancient fortress. Ice guides are available for supervised group skating (£32 per session). As with fellow Historic Royal Palace Hampton Court, sessions last an hour and wheelchairs are welcome on the ice except during the last session of the day. Online booking is advised

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013 Tower of London, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4AB 

Around Town: Ice skating

January in London 2013Walking with Dinosaurs

Live arena show based on the BBC series returns, featuring 20 life-size, mechanical dinosaurs roaring their way around a stage beset by earthquakes, volcanic explosions and falling comets. Age 3+. The show transfers to Wembley Arena on May 1, 2013.

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013  The O2, Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX 

Around Town: Performance

Art in the Wild

Wildlife photography by Roger Hooper capturing some of the world's most endangered species with an emphasis on leopards, tigers and other big cats.

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013  Gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse St, SE1 9PH Full

Around Town: Exhibitions

January in London 2013January in London 2013Christmas in Trafalgar Square 2013

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree has been a seasonal symbol in London since 1947. It takes pride of place in the square until January, when it is taken down for recycling. The tree is decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion, using vertical strings of energy-efficient bulbs, which are being switched on at a ceremony on December 6 (the ceremony usually features dignitaries from Oslo and Westminster). The tree is a gift from the Norwegians to the British and there's a remarkable story behind this traditional present-giving.

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013 Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN 

Around Town: Festivals

Oxford Street Christmas Lights 2013

Oxford Street's twinkly illuminations for 2012 are, intriguingly, sponsored by that famously divisive yeasty spread, Marmite. At the switch-on ceremony on November 5, Robbie Williams flicked the switch, supported by Leona Lewis and four-piece boy band Lawson.

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013 Oxford St, London, W1A 1EX

Around Town: Festivals

January in London 2013Chris Bracey: Circus of Soho

From the man who has already given us such delights as Stella McCartney's window displays and the neon for Gotham City for Tim Burton's 'Batman' comes a new exhibition of old and new work, including pieces refashioned from salvaged iconic signs, spent window displays and discarded neon.

Until Tue Jan 15th 2013 47 Beak St, London, W1F 9SE

Around Town: Exhibitions

Covent Garden Christmas

If Marmite Christmas lights and the buzz of Oxford Street leave you cold, this alternative Christmas destination could be just the thing. Centred around the piazza but also taking in some of the streets radiating from it, Covent Garden Christmas offers a wide range of festive treats, all of them beginning on November 7 when the lights were switched on to the accompaniment of the Gay Men's Choir (who will also sing every Saturday from Nov 24 until Christmas). A range of other activities includes the opening of a Lego advent calendar window every day, The lights remain on display until the first week of January.

Until Sun Jan 6th 2013 Covent Garden Market, Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 8AA

Around Town: Festivals

January in London 2013Gingerline HQ

From the pioneers of underground immersive dining comes the ultimate night out for East London's food adventurers: Gingerline HQ. Part hideout, part parallel reality, Gingerline HQ is a clandestine and chameleon dining adventure held in a secret location along the East London Line (or 'ginger line', as they call it). The destination and concept is as mysterious as the menu. Visitors to their past adventures have been thrust into Siberian circuses, dived into submarine mess halls and descended into underground tunnels for Victorian banquets. To take part, hover near any station on the East London Line (London Over ground stations between Highbury and Islington and Crystal Palace) at 6pm on the evening of your booking; you'll receive a text message telling you where to go. Once there, you'll be dined and delighted with a welcome cocktail, five courses of delicious seasonal cuisine and a piece of take-home menu art. After being treated to a night of fine food and unexpected pleasures, all diners will be sworn to keep the secrets of the Gingerline safe. Over-18s only.

Until Sat Mar 2, 2013 A Secret location on the East London Line, London, xx999xx 

Around Town: Festivals

Gifted

Contemporary Applied Arts's selling Christmas exhibition offers a great chance for some unusual present browsing, particularly so this year. All CAA members were invited to take part in this collaborative event based on the them of gifting, and those who chose to have produced up to five limited edition pieces priced at £50, £100 and £200. It's a broad range of work that encompasses jewellery, ceramics and accessories to textiles, glassware and sculpture, so you're almost sure to find something perfect for someone on your Christmas list.

Until Sat Jan 12th 2013 Contemporary Applied Arts, 2 Percy St, London, W1T 1DD

Around Town: Fairs & sales

January in London 2013The Original London Sightseeing Tour

Hop-on, hop-off, open-top bus tour covering most of tourist London on three different routes, with commentary in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian and Japanese. The ticket price includes a river cruise and three walking tours.

Original London Sightseeing Tour, 17-19 Cockspur St, London, SW1Y 5BL

Around Town : Places of Interest: Tours

Voyage

'Voyage' is an art installation by Aether & Hemera (aka architect Claudio Benghi and lighting artist Gloria Ronchi) consisting of a flotilla of 300 paper boats sailing along Canary Wharf's Middle Dock. Every night at dusk the installation will be lit up in colours and patterns that can be changed by passers-by using their mobile phones.

Until Fri Feb 15th 2013  Canary Wharf, Isle Of Dogs, London, E14 4HJ

Around Town: Exhibitions

January in London 2013The Double R Club

'An evening of mystery and nightmares played out to an otherworldly rock 'n' roll soundscape, influenced by the world of maverick film director David Lynch,' say the firebrands behind Double R. With sinister cabaret, surreal comedy, bizarre live music and smouldering atmosphere from live acts.

Thu Jan 17th 2013  Bethnal Green Working Men's Club, 42-46 Pollard Row,

London, E2 6NB

Alternative Nightlife: Alternative nights out

Harry Potter London Tour with Muggle Tours

A walking tour for 'Harry Potter' fans, exploring film locations and inspirations for the books, with props and trivia. Ten per cent of donations go to charity. Group sizes are kept small so booking is essential. And you need a travel card as a short tube is involved.

Until Tue Apr 30th 2013

Around Town: Walks

January in London 2013London Duck Tours

London Duck Tours (previously Frog Tours) start in a conventional fashion from the rear of County Hall, crossing the river via Westminster Bridge to travel round Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Then they cross Vauxhall Bridge and take a slipway down the side of the MI6 Building - into the Thames. The final half hour of the 80-minute tour is a boat trip along the river to the London Eye and back. The tour 'buses' are four adapted DUKWs developed by General Motors during WWII. The D-Day Duck Tour features character tour guides revealing important WWII sites, in authentic vehicles built for D-Day.

London Duck Tours, 55 York Rd,

London, SE1 7NJ 

Around Town: Places of Interest: Tours

Tiger Tracks

Awareness and fund-raising initiative Save Wild Tigers presents this participation event, at which you're invited to learn more about tigers and their plight in the wild. Exact details are under wraps, though motivational tiger-themed activities are set to transform the station's gothic arches, platforms and monumental train shed.

Jan 1-20th 2013 St Pancras International Station, Pancras Rd,

London, NW1 2QP

Around Town: Festivals

January in London 2013Ghost Bus Tours

Roll up for a tour on a Route master painted black and redecorated in a gothic vein, to hear half-factual, half-fictional tales about the sinister side of London, delivered by an on-board troupe of actors, stand-up comics and cabaret performers. Booking is recommended and the tour is suitable for all ages but not recommended for under-fives.

Ghost Bus Tours, Designated bus stop on Northumberland Ave, WC2N 5BY

Around Town: Places of Interest: Tours

Mind the Gap Tours

Mind the Gap Tours runs guided tours using vintage-style bikes to Windsor and Hampton Court. There's an emphasis on 'the road less travelled', with small groups travelling at a leisurely pace to discover the quirky and hidden parts of London on traffic-free routes. Tours include 'Hampton Court by Bike', a day trip which includes transport from central London, bike hire, an audio guide and entrance to Hampton Court Palace ( www.hamptoncourtbybike.com daily; £69). Booking is essential

Mind the Gap Tours

Around Town: Places of Interest: Tours

January in London 2013Everything Was Moving: Photography from the 60s and 70s

The Barbican's stunning, global array of photography from the 1960s and '70s claims that 'Everything Was Moving'. But, as most of these artists were static observers with still cameras, was that really the case.

As a title, it sounds vague, but also disturbing: after all, if everything was moving, which way was a poor photographer to look? There is no simple answer to that, and the Barbican doesn't try for one. Its exhibition of 1960s and 1970s photography is as inclusive as that famous hippy gathering of tribes in 1967, the Human Be-in, embracing as it does 12 photographers hailing from Japan, Russia, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Germany and Mali, as well as America.

Until Sun Jan 13th 2013 Barbican Centre, Silk St, London, EC2Y 8DS

Art: Art museums & institutions

British Museum

Officially the country's most popular tourist attraction, the British Museum opened to the public in 1759 in Montagu House, which then occupied this site. The current building is a neoclassical marvel built in 1847 by Robert Smirke, one of the pioneers of the Greek Revival style. The most high profile addition since then was Lord Foster's popular if rather murky glass-roofed Great Court, open since 2000 and now claimed to be 'the largest covered public square in Europe'. This £100m landmark surrounds the domed Reading Room (used by the British Library until its move to King's Cross), where Marx, Lenin, Dickens, Darwin, Hardy and Yeats once worked.

Star exhibits include ancient Egyptian artefacts - the Rosetta Stone on the ground floor (with a barely noticed, perfect replica in the King's Library), mummies upstairs - and Greek antiquities, including the marble friezes from the Parthenon known as the Elgin Marbles. The Celts gallery upstairs has Lindow Man, killed in 300 BC and so well preserved in peat you can see his beard, while the Wellcome Gallery of Ethnography holds an Easter Island statue and regalia from Captain Cook's travels.

Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG

January in London 2013Natural History Museum

Both a research institution and a fabulous museum, the NHM opened in Alfred Waterhouse's purpose-built, Romanesque palazzo on the Cromwell Road in 1881. Now joined by the splendid Darwin Centre extension, the original building still looks quite magnificent. The pale blue and terracotta façade just about prepares you for the natural wonders within.

Taking up the full length of the vast entrance hall is the cast of a Diplodocus skeleton. A left turn leads into the west wing or Blue Zone, where long queues form to see animatronic dinosaurs - the endlessly popular T Rex is back after hip surgery in 2010. A display on biology features an illuminated, man-sized model of a foetus in the womb along with graphic diagrams of how it might have got there.

Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

SOURCE: TIMEOUT.COM