Map 34

West Kensington / Olympia

West Ken is a Jekyll-and-Hyde kind of place. The calm, village atmosphere around Holland Park soon gives way to an ‘in your face’ cluster of kebab shops and grime once you go south of High Street Kensington. While the hordes head to Hyde Park, locals in the know make a beeline to the more intimate Holland Park with its peaceful Kyoto Garden, sublime in autumn. Olympia Exhibition Centre gets that middle class blood boiling—Erotica Show anyone? Near the tube, Café Continente is the place to go for an irresistible stack of blueberry pancakes. The Arab Hall at Leighton House Museum is worth a visit alone.

Coffee

• Cafe Continente • 62 N End Rd

Landmarks

• Kyoto Garden (Holland Park) • 100 Holland Park Ave

Libraries

• Barons Court • North End Crescent

Nightlife

• The Cumberland Arms • 29 N End Rd

• Famous 3 Kings • 171 North End Rd

• Society Bar • 380 Kensington High St

Post Offices

• Olympia • 8 North End Rd

Restaurants

• Belvedere Restaurant • Abbotsbury Rd

Shopping

• Homebase • 195 Warwick Rd