The Pomegranate Jewellery Guide To Kensington

Kensington is a district located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It's known for upscale residential areas, cultural attractions, fashionable retailers and much more.

Our home for some 15 years, we thought it would be nice to delve into some of the history of the area and to reveal some of our favourite things to do in our neighbourhood. Read on to find out more.

Introduction to Kensington

Pomegranate opened in 2008 and has been located on Kensington Square ever since.

Katie at Pomegranate is an active champion of the local area, both as business owner and local resident, and is Vice Chair of Opportunity Kensington whose aim is to deliver a programme of services and initiatives to support and improve the local area.

Kensington High Street was made famous by its iconic shops which include the legendary Biba store, Kensington Market & Hyper Hyper (shopping trips to the latter two defined Katie's teenage years) and it is book-ended by two beautiful green spaces, Holland Park and Kensington Gardens.

Kensington features a mix of architectural styles, ranging from Georgian and Victorian to modern designs, giving it wide ranging visual appeal.

Described as a Victorian Citadel, Kensington has some excellent and well-preserved examples from that architectural era along with some fine examples of Georgian architecture on Kensington Square, adding to the area's charm.

There are also several conservation areas in Kensington that aim to protect its historical and architectural heritage.

Famous Kensington residents

Over the years, Kensington has been home to numerous notable figures, including writers, artists, and musicians.

Notable former residents include Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, and Sir Isaac Newton. The area's reputation for being a haven for the creative and intellectual elite continues to this day.

Elton John’s house can be found in the area of Holland Park referred to as Millionaire’s Row. Other famous Kensington property owners include Stella McCartney, Robbie Williams and even Sir Richard Branson.

Culture and the arts

Kensington is home to several notable museums and cultural institutions. The most famous is the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum, pictured above), which houses an extensive collection of art, design, and historical artefacts.

The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum are also located in the area, making Kensington a hub for learning and exploration.

Kensington High Street plays a large role in the British music industry, with many major labels located there. Record labels like Universal Music Group, EMI, Sony Music and Warner Music Group all call Kensington home.

Fun facts about Kensington

• Kensington Gardens is home to a number of statues and memorials, the largest being the Albert Memorial located on the southern edge of the gardens. Unveiled in 1872, it was designed in the Gothic Revival style by architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. 
• The very first public library in London was built in 1872 and is located in the Kensington district. 
• Kensington Square was important in terms of London’s garden square development, as the first such square to be built outside the centre of the capital in the late C17,  Garden square development is a key feature in the architectural history of London. Following the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire in 1666, there was added impetus for more spacious developments outside London’s city walls.
• Pomegranate is sited in a Grade II listed building.
• Kensington Roof Gardens has sadly been closed since 2018 but is the most amazing space which we hope will be open to the public again soon. These magnificent gardens cover 6,000 square metres on top of the former Derry & Toms building on Kensington High Street. The space is divided into 3 themed gardens: the Spanish Garden, the Tudor Garden and the English Water Garden renowned for its famous inhabitants: four pink flamingos.

Katie's Insider Tips For Visiting Kensington

We asked Katie about some of her favouite places and spaces in Kensington, and high up on the list was Kensington Gardens, with Katie saying;

...this is my absolute favourite place to be and I walk my two spaniels here most days... the best thing about this area is its incredible green spaces...

Favourite Eateries

• Clarkes, Kensington Church Street - my go to for all special family suppers.
• Ffionas on Kensington Church Street - her Chicken Kiev is to die for, I can’t choose anything else on the menu!
• Dishoom - super popular, super yummy
• Grato - our lovely next door neighbours serve up perfect Italian delicacies
• Cafe Phillies - a lovely local cafe perfect for people watching on a quiet Kensington side street

Best Pubs

• The Scarsdale
• The Builders Arms
• The Devonshire Arms

Places to visit

• Japan House
• Design Museum
• Kensington Palace - the current Crown to Couture exhibition is fantastic and beautifully curated

Kensington Jewellery

For those looking for a Kensington jeweller, of course, you simply must come and visit us at Pomegranate!  We love our home on beautiful, historic Kensington Square and after spending an amazing 14 years here, in summer 2023 we decided it was time for an update and we are currently under a big layer of dust as our renovations are being completed.

Located just 5 minutes walk from High Street Kensington Tube Station, If you're in the area, do make sure you come and visit our newly refurbished shop and take advantage of our knowledge and high levels of customer service in person.

We're here to help you find the perfect piece of jewellery whether it's for yourself or a gift for a loved one. You can find out more about where we are and how to find Pomegranate Jewellers in Kensington here.

For all things Kensington, and of course, Kensington Jewellery, make sure you're following us over on Instagram, and why not sign up to our newsletter for our latest products and occasional extra special offers?