West Kensington, London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| West Kensington | |
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference: | TQ246783 |
| Latitude: | 51.4907° |
| Longitude: | -0.2065° |
| Administration | |
| London borough: | Hammersmith and Fulham |
| County level: | Greater London |
| Region: | London |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Greater London |
| Historic county: | Middlesex |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Metropolitan Police |
| Fire brigade: | London Fire Brigade |
| Ambulance service: | London Ambulance |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | LONDON |
| Postal district: | - W14 |
| Dialling code: | 020 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | Hammersmith and Fulham (UK Parliament constituency) |
| London Assembly: | West Central |
| European Parliament: | London |
| London | List of places in London | |
West Kensington is an area within the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London. It is at the eastern edge of the borough and also encompasses some western areas of Kensington and Chelsea. The area is generally considered to encompass the area between the commercial stretches of Hammersmith Road to the west, the area of Fulham to the south, the area around Shepherd's Bush to the north and Kensington to the east. It is served by West Kensington tube station, which is in Zone 2 on the District Line.
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[edit] Housing
West Kensington is a primarily residential area, made up mostly of light housing. This consists mainly of Victorian terraced houses, some of which are subdivided into small flats. As excellent examples of Victorian architecture, several houses and some entire streets are listed. There are also a number of municipal housing buildings in the southern half of the area, including the sprawling Lytton Estate.
[edit] Businesses
Business is mostly limited to small shops, offices and restaurants, but the Olympia Exhibition Centre is nearby. There are also several pubs and hotels. A Tesco supermarket recently opened nearby on the Cromwell Road, creating new jobs. West Kensington is also home to the St James Independent School for Junior Boys and Girls.
[edit] Transport
West Kensington is situated on the A4 Cromwell Road and Kensington High Street. It is served by West Kensington tube station, Barons Court tube station and Kensington (Olympia) station, all on the District Line.
[edit] Famous residents
- Mahatma Gandhi lived in West Kensington for a year while a student.
- Edward Elgar lived for some years on Avonmore Road.
- Estelle the West London rapper was born and raised in West Kensington; her song "1980" was written about her experiences growing up in the area.
[edit] Social problems
Parts of the southern half of West Kensington remain in a state of dereliction, with dilapidated council estate buildings and boarded-up shops, although recent renovation efforts on the Lytton Estate have had considerable success. There is also some crime in the area, but this is mainly limited to drugs and anti-social behaviour. Parts of the area are affected by poverty and unemployment, but not as seriously as much of inner city London.
