Welcome to our new series: London hotspots. We’ll be exploring a different district of London each week, getting under the skin of the best places to eat, drink, and play in that locale. If you’ve got any personal recommendations for us, send us a message on Facebook or Instagram. This week, we’re kicking off with South Kensington.
Known as the museum district of London, South Kensington is home to the likes of the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Science Museum. When you’ve had your fill of sightseeing, there are lots of restaurants and bars to explore in South Kensington. Get stuck in to our recommendations below.
Where to eat in South Kensington
Eastern Mediterranean, or Levant, Ceru is a relaxed, bright, and buzzing restaurant in South Kensington. Their menu is centred around colourful, spiced dishes including fresh houmous, spiced cauliflower salad, and slow-roasted lamb shoulder. For a light lunch, there’s also an express platter. Dairy-free and gluten-free come as standard on most of these dishes, as do vegan options.
This seafood restaurant is entirely South Kensington, and proud. The speciality at the Wright Brothers is fish, fizz, and live jazz evenings. Oyster lovers should arrive between 3pm-6pm for happy hour(s), which means oysters at £1 a shell. Mains come in the form of whole bream, Dorset crab, and hearty fish pie.
They also run oyster masterclasses for £65, which includes a glass of champagne, a glass of wine, and two hours of oyster theory and tasting 10 oysters.
Found inside the beautiful Michelin building, Bibendum is run by two-Michelin starred chef, Claude Bosi. Décor is modern and bright, highlighting the large Michelin man stained glass window.
Diners can look forward to the likes of Scottish lobster, Anjou pigeon, and Brittany rabbit for mains. And there’s an ice cream trolley, alongside more delicate puddings, for those with a sweet tooth.
Sushi connoisseurs should book a table at Yashin for delicate and beautiful sushi and sashimi, created by sushi masters Chef Mineno and Chef Ikeda. The menu features sections for sashimi, carpaccio, sushi rolls, fresh salads, and a chargrill.
Yashin’s slogan is ‘Without soy sauce, but if you want to,’ which stems from a belief that consumers generally drown their sushi in soy sauce, thus overpowering the flavour of the fish. The chefs at Yashin brush on the perfect amount of soy sauce, but you are allowed more should you want some!
Where to drink in South Kensington
Rustic, homely, and with a lot of choice, The Hour Glass is a true English pub in the heart of South Kensington. The bar is dog-friendly, while the lounge upstairs is great for relaxing over a bottle of wine.
The bar stocks an extensive selection of gins, including London-brewed numbers (Half Hitch Camden Town Gin) and south coast beauties (Brighton Gin).
If a traditional London pub is up your street, then the Anglesea Arms is just the ticket with dark, polished wood interiors, and frosted glass panes. The Anglesea has a great selection of real ales, which change every month, featuring local brews and the occasional one from abroad.
The Anglesea also offers a hearty pub grub menu, using local ingredients to serve up dishes such as burgers, fish & chips, and chicken and ham pie.
Things to do in South Kensington
French cinema advocates will enjoy the small screen showings of popular and historic French films at Ciné Lumière. Part of the Institut Français du Royaume-Uni, the cinema is a tiny Art Deco room which seats 225 people. The cinema runs events and festivals, including a film for a fiver for under 25s.
Princess Diana Memorial Playground
A free to enter children’s playground, with tepees, a pirate ship, and a backdrop of trees to explore and play in. Built in 2000 to commemorate Diana, the playground has been designed with the Peter Pan tales in mind.
If tummies rumble, head to the Broadwalk Café for snacks and drinks, or settle down with a picnic in the summer.
Try something a little bit different at the Natural History Museum with a stretch and relax yoga class under Hope, the Whale.
Lay down your mat at 8am, before the museum opens, and enjoy an invigorating yoga session that ends with peaceful gong chimes. You’ll need to bring your own mat and caters for ages 16 and older. Once the session is over, your ticket includes early access to an exhibition, then normal access to the rest of the museum.
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