Even the affluent have to cut costs, so here are some tips on what to do in Kensington, London without spending a penny of your hard earned cash.
Any estate agent in Kensington can tell you that house prices remain stable in Kensington as it rides out the recession. However, recently, a whole food store in Kensington had to cut-back on many of its frills. The reason – even the affluent have to tighten their belts and cut back on the usual things they do in Kensington. If you are lucky enough to live in one of the properties in Kensington, you won’t be spending all your time indoors this summer and autumn. However, with high mortgage rates, congestion charges, petrol costs, high food prices, and salary cuts, you may find yourself with less disposable income. Surprisingly, there are plenty of things to do in Kensington on a tight budget.
# 1 tip on free things to do in Kensington: Pack a picnic and head for Holland Park or Kensington Gardens
The gardens and woodlands in Holland Park are great for a long romantic walk with a partner or a picnic with the family, as it is renowned for its rich wildlife and beautiful, secluded hideaways. Just be careful not to wander towards the trendy shopping district in High Street Kensington to do unnecessary shopping.
If you have money to splash around, rather buy some scrumptious fresh fruit, health bread and pâtés to enjoy alongside the Serpentine Lake in Kensington Gardens. You can spend a full day in the gardens if you decide to visit the Serpentine Gallery where you can enjoy art in the picturesque setting of a thirties tea pavilion.
# 2 tip on free things to do in Kensington: Borrow a kid and take a day at the museums
The museums in south Kensington aren’t the stuffy formal places that museums were in the past; the Natural History and Science museums have been reinvented with modern technology to offer the visitor plenty to do. The Natural History and Science museums can only be fully appreciated with childish enthusiasm if you take a child along with you, so if you don’t have your own, invite a niece or a friend and her children along for the occasion.
#3 tip on free things to do in Kensington: Download a map and follow a trail
The internet is your greatest resource when it comes to finding things to do in Kensington. Download a map of a nature trail or a historic walk, fill a backpack with water and snacks and get together a group of friends to do the walk with you. Kensington’s rich history will give you plenty to explore and the combination of exercise and good friends is great for the soul.
Put aside a Sunday every month to follow a trail or visit a new exhibition at one of the many museums in the area, and you’ll find your spirits lifting as you benefit from the fresh air and discover nooks in crannies in Kensington that you never knew existed. There is plenty to do in Kensington as it is one of the most exciting, historic and beautiful areas in the world, so it would be a sin not to explore it fully if you have the opportunity.