Excellence Luxury Villas · South Kensington
Luxury Apartments and Townhouses in South Kensington
Stucco terraces and garden squares a short walk from the great museums, Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall
As featured in
Prince Albert's quarter, with the museums on the doorstep
Prince Albert had plans for the profits of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and South Kensington is the result. Within a few streets of each other stand the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Royal Albert Hall and Imperial College, a cluster the Victorians nicknamed Albertopolis. Around them run white stucco terraces, quiet mews and garden squares, and Hyde Park sits at the top of Exhibition Road.
Our South Kensington collection runs to 90+ homes. Most are apartments in mansion blocks and converted townhouses around Thurloe Square, Onslow and the Brompton Road, and there are whole family townhouses with up to 6 bedrooms.
Here is how the neighbourhood works, and why so many families come back to it.
South Kensington at a glance
- Homes
- 90+ apartments and townhouses, with up to 6 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,400 to £6,700 a week, from around £2,700
- Best streets
- Thurloe Square, Onslow Gardens, Pelham Crescent and the streets off the Brompton Road
- Highlights
- The V&A, the Natural History and Science Museums, the Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park
- Getting there
- The Piccadilly line runs direct from Heathrow to South Kensington station
Browse all 90+ properties in South Kensington
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Apartment Helm Frazer South Kensington: Luxury 6-Bedroom Apartment with Air Conditioning & Private Parking – South Kensington London6 bedrooms
House Gloaming Thurloe South Kensington: Luxury 5-Bedroom House with Air-Con & Family-Friendly Features – South Kensington5 bedrooms
House Fohn Thurloe Square South Kensington: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Rooftop Terrace – South Kensington4 bedrooms
House Aurore Thurloe Square South Kensington: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Private Garage – South Kensington4 bedroomsNearby neighbourhoods
Thurloe Square and Onslow for museum-side calm, the Brompton Road edge for Knightsbridge shopping, and the Fulham Road side for Chelsea and the King's Road.
Three great museums on one road, and free
Exhibition Road is the spine of the neighbourhood. On one side, the V&A holds two thousand years of art and design, from the Raphael Cartoons to fashion and jewellery. Opposite is the Natural History Museum, a cathedral of terracotta, where Hope, the skeleton of a blue whale, hangs in Hintze Hall. Next door, the Science Museum keeps children busy for whole afternoons.
General admission to all three is free, so you can drop in for an hour rather than make a day of it. At the top of the road, the Royal Albert Hall faces the Albert Memorial across Kensington Gore, and the BBC Proms fill it every summer.
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Garden squares and a French accent
Away from the museum crowds, South Kensington is quiet and residential. Thurloe Square looks across to the V&A, and Onslow Gardens and Pelham Crescent are some of the handsomest stucco streets in London.
The neighbourhood has a strong French streak. The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and the Institut français are both here, and the Institut's Ciné Lumière shows French and European films. You will hear as much French as English in the cafés and bakeries of Bute Street. On the Brompton Road, the London Oratory is a grand Italianate church, and on the Fulham Road, Michelin House, built in 1911, still shows off its tiled Bibendum windows.
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Harrods at one end, the King's Road at the other
South Kensington's real advantage is its position. Walk east along the Brompton Road and you reach Knightsbridge and Harrods. Go south and you are soon on Chelsea's King's Road. Head north up Exhibition Road and you come to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, with the Serpentine, Kensington Palace and plenty of room for children to run.
South Kensington station is on the Piccadilly, District and Circle lines, so the West End and the City are easy to reach. Many families find they barely need a taxi.
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Proms, flowers and a long French lunch
Each season brings something different. The Chelsea Flower Show fills the streets to the south every May, and the Proms run at the Royal Albert Hall from July to September. In winter, the museums are a warm refuge and Hyde Park's Winter Wonderland draws crowds before Christmas.
The local food is cosmopolitan, with French bistros and bakeries, neighbourhood Italians and smart dining towards Knightsbridge. Our concierge can book restaurant tables, arrange private museum tours and help with Proms tickets where they are available.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in South Kensington
House Vesper Thurloe Square South Kensington: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Terrace – South Kensington3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £9,604 a week
House Chrysos Thurloe South Kensington: Spacious 5-Bedroom Townhouse Rental with Roof Terrace & Private Parking – South Kensington5 bedrooms · sleeps 9From £9,163 a week
House Gorse Exhibition Road South Kensington: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Family-Friendly Amenities – South Kensington3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £9,002 a week
House Cromwell Kensington: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Air-Con – South Kensington3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £8,771 a week
House Albion Brompton South Kensington: Luxurious 3-Bedroom Apartment with Stunning Views – South Kensington3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £8,344 a week
Hall Brompton Kensington: Elegant 3-Bedroom Penthouse with Family-Friendly Features – South Kensington3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £8,071 a week
House Rowan Onslow South Kensington: Elegant 2-Bedroom Apartment with Family-Friendly Features – South Kensington2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £7,798 a week
House Pelargonium Kensington: Exquisite 3-Bedroom Townhouse with Historic Charm – South Kensington3 bedrooms · sleeps 5From £7,651 a weekWhy book your home in South Kensington with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
South Kensington looks uniform from the street, but the homes differ greatly in quietness, outlook and access to garden squares, and we know which ones will suit your stay. With 90+ properties in South Kensington, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant tables, private museum tours, help with Proms tickets, nannies, Harrods personal shopping and transfers from Heathrow or St Pancras. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in South Kensington?
For calm streets close to the museums, choose the garden squares around Thurloe Square and Onslow. The Brompton Road side is closer to Knightsbridge shopping, and the Fulham Road side puts Chelsea and the King's Road within an easy walk.
How do I get to South Kensington from Heathrow?
The Piccadilly line runs direct from Heathrow to South Kensington station, and the journey takes under an hour. If you arrive by Eurostar, the same line runs direct from King's Cross St Pancras. Our concierge can arrange private transfers if you prefer.
Are the South Kensington museums free?
Yes. General admission to the V&A, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum is free, but some temporary exhibitions charge for entry. Booking ahead is wise for the most popular shows and during school holidays.
Can you arrange a private chef at a home in South Kensington?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in South Kensington cost?
Across our 90+ properties in South Kensington, weekly rates typically range from £3,400 to £6,700, with the most affordable from around £2,700 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
When is the best time to visit South Kensington?
South Kensington is good all year. Late spring brings the Chelsea Flower Show, and summer brings the Proms and long days in Hyde Park. In winter the museums are at their most welcoming and the Christmas lights are up in Knightsbridge.
Are there homes in South Kensington for large groups?
Yes. Our South Kensington collection includes properties with up to 6 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your home in South Kensington
90+ homes a short walk from the museums and Hyde Park, with our London concierge on hand