Tips for the newly arrived
Page updated 27/06/2023
Welcome to one of London's nicest areas. However, it's only nice because we care about it and work together as good neighbours to keep it that way. On this page we intend to give newcomers valuable information to help them feel at home. The items below are just a few starting points. Feedback will hopefully make this page grow.
Some quick facts about our conservation area and ward
We live in Kensington Palace conservation area in the eastern part of the Campden ward. The ward covers the area between Notting Hill Gate, Kensington High Street, Holland Park and the Broad Walk (directly east of Kensington Palace), while the conservation area (created in stages between 1971 and 1995) covers the eastern part of the ward, between Kensington Church Street and the Broad Walk.
In 2014, the council published condensed facts about each of its 18 wards, based on the 2011 census. The fact sheet about the Campden ward reveals that 55% of the ward’s inhabitants were born outside the UK, whereof 21.6% in other west European countries, followed by North Americans at 9.5%. 72% of the Campden inhabitants live in flats, 41% are single households, 56% do not have access to a car (while 1% have access to four or more cars), 24.5% of all residencies are second homes, and 42.4% of those who work do so more than 49 hours per week.
The results of the 2021 census began to be published in the second half of 2022 and the final publication is expected at the end of 2023. Hopefully, the council eventually will update its ward fact sheets based on those results.
Refuse collection
Never put any dustbins or refuse sacks on the pavement. It's unsightly, it's illegal and it attracts rats and foxes (yes, we have foxes here!). The dustmen will collect from the property's designated refuse area, so refuse should never be put out on the pavement.
The collection days for household rubbish are Mondays and Thursdays in our area.
For more details about household refuse, garden refuse, collection of items too large for the bin, and collection of re-usable items by charities, see "Refuse collection" on the page with Useful links and phone numbers.
Crime and security
We live in a very calm and secure area, which is largely due to the hard work of our police liaison group. They give neighbours crime protection advise and are our liaison with the Police. If you want to know more, contact Elisabeth Meunier (see Committee members).
Several residents are also subscribers to a private security scheme, which covers Palace Gardens Terrace, Strathmore Gardens, Berkeley Gardens, Brunswick Gardens, Inverness Gardens, Vicarage Gardens, and the upper part of Vicarage Gate (the part opposite Inverness Gardens). Myrto Papadopoulos-Rochat can provide information about that scheme (see Committee members).
Dogs
Dogs must be on a lead at all times in our neighbourhood. And when your dog poops, pick the mess up and bring it home - or put it in one of the two special dog mess bins in our area. One is located in the junction of Brunswick Gardens and Palace Gardens Terrace, and the other can be found next to the bicycle hire stand on Vicarage Gate. Leaving dog mess is unacceptable, offensive and illegal.
Getting involved
The best way to quickly get to know our area and find new friends is to become involved in a few local associations beside the CTRAA.
For those interested in preserving and improving the amenities of Kensington, there is The Kensington Society, Friends of Holland Park and Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
Those interested in St Mary Abbots Church may wish to join the church's supporters, and for music lovers there is of course Opera Holland Park Friends.
For mothers with young kids, there is Kensington Mums, a local mums network, started in 2012. It’s similar but separate from Mumsnet and has meetings a couple of times each month.
For the more mature residents there are several organisations:
Age UK's Kensington and Chelsea branch, which provides a range of services for the elderly,
Open Age, a tri-borough organisation which works to enable anyone aged 50 or older in Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster to maintain an active lifestyle,
The Kensington and Chelsea Over 50s Forum charity, which has more than 2,500 members and began in 1996. Most members are in northern and central Kensington.
And for all ages, the People First website is a fantastic resource for “independent living and health”, run by the adult social care teams in RKBC and Westminster. It provides links to a range of services and organisations for different age groups.
The Cherry Trees Residents' Amenities Association 2026