Kensington & Chelsea: A hub for sport and one of the most beautiful boroughs London has to offer

There’s plenty of gripping sport to enjoy in easy reach of Kensington & Chelsea’s beautiful accommodation

We’ve all seen stunning city accommodation in films and TV shows based in London. So: when you’re planning your summer 2012 getaway, why not consider staying in Kensington & Chelsea?

With a vibrant mix of traditional architecture and modern builds for you to admire, this borough looks set to offer highly sought-after places to stay.

Known as a base for the rich and famous, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with Londoners who have access to some of the most luxurious boutiques and restaurants in the world. For example, in swish Knightsbridge, the extravagant Harrod’s allows you to indulge the finest foods, gorgeous garments and must-have luxuries – from diamond fountain pens to designer suits. This is just one of the jaw-dropping venues that could transform retail therapy into its own Olympic sport!

Kensington & Chelsea epitomises city life wonderfully – a vivacious, buzzing and innovative area where you can watch talented athletes battle it out for gold medals. Of course, if you want to relax by night, visiting the Royal Albert Hall or the West End can allow you to receive a cultural education – attending some of the most famous shows in the world.

Earls Court and Hyde Park: Two stunning venues for sport at the London summer games

If you’ve always enjoyed watching volleyball, Earls Court is the place to go as 288 athletes compete in teams of six. The venue, which has been a famous place for exhibitions since the 1930s, may not have rolling golden sands, but it will still offer a fantastic place for spectators to cheer their country on.

It’s speedy and intense, running over 15 days. Will Cuba rediscover the talent which secured them three gold medals in a row from 1992 to 2008? We’ll have to wait and find out!

Meanwhile, Hyde Park will be transformed on Saturday the 4th and Tuesday the 7th of August into the venue for the triathlon, in addition to marathon swimming on a separate date. Prepare to be amazed as the true stamina of athletes is revealed through a gruelling 10km run, a 40km cycling contest, and an intense swim over 1,500m. This may sound impossible to some and overly demanding to others, but the accomplished athletes we’ll see at this 2012 event have been known to complete this race in well under two hours.

Best London holiday accommodation

The attractions in Kensington & Chelsea certainly are attractive!

So – if the triathlon’s going to take just two hours of your time to watch, this could mean that you’ll have the whole day ahead of you to spend sightseeing. If visiting the Natural History Museum isn’t of interest, or reading the morning newspapers over a latte and a muffin in countless cafés, what attractions are there on offer?

Places to go in Kensington & Chelsea

In addition to the Science Museum, which rakes in millions of visitors every year, the Victoria & Albert Museum is perfect for those who adore art, and who want to see artistic expression in numerous forms from over the years. Although some of the museums do charge an entry fee, others are free to visit – with donations optional.

Places to eat in Kensington & Chelsea

Are you a restaurant connoisseur looking to be impressed with London’s eateries? If so, two places to try are Langan’s in Green Park, a restaurant famed for the late owner who was comically abusive to guests. Alternatively, Carluccio’s in South Kensington offers sumptuous Italian food as well as a delicatessen – allowing you to take some of their carefully-crafted European creations home with you in gift-wrapped boxes.

Getting around Kensington & Chelsea doesn’t have to be a triathlon effort...

In some secluded places, it can take hours to get from one place to another on public transport. However, this doesn’t need to be the case in Kensington & Chelsea.

The London Underground operates every day from around 5.30am in the morning, with the last trains usually leaving at midnight. The most popular bus routes throughout the borough also run 24 hours a day. Don’t forget taxi ranks, either!

If you are getting here by air, choosing London Heathrow is an excellent idea – as you will be able to pick up the Piccadilly line which will bring you direct to South Kensington station. There are also National Rail services that extend throughout the country; available at stations such as Waterloo, Euston, Victoria, Paddington and Liverpool Street.