The demise of the British high street is much lamented, reflecting a shift in consumer habits to online shopping as shops seem to give way to empty storefronts everywhere.
It’s a shame to see the landscapes of so many towns and cities changing, and personally, I love a high street. High Street Kensington is undoubtedly one of my favourites.
This elegant, bustling area encapsulates everything good about a high street with its selection of upmarket shops and independent stores, cafes, bars, and restaurants. It also has the beauty and peace of Kensington Gardens at one end and the innovative Design Museum at the other.
We’re starting our day of exploration at Japan House, an oasis of stylish calm. It’s one of only three in the world set up by the Japanese government to showcase Japan’s art, design, technology, gastronomy, and innovation – a gallery, shop, and restaurant all in one. They’ll even help you organise your next trip to Japan. Their pictogram exhibition is running until 9 November and is a fascinating look into how the humble pictogram (which originated in Japan) has shaped our world.
Then it’s time to meander. There are plenty of retail opportunities both on and just off the high street, and I love wandering through Kensington Church Walk and Holland Street with their mix of shops, cafes, homes, and gardens. And then it’s off to the area’s biggest garden of them all.
Kensington Gardens lies adjacent to Hyde Park – the two flow into one another, so effortlessly, you’d hardly know they’re officially separate parks. London, with its remarkable abundance of over 3,000 parks, is made up of 47% green space – pockets of calm amid the city’s energy. It’s easy to slip away from the urban buzz and lose yourself among the wide, tree-lined avenues and beautifully kept grounds.
And a visit to the magical Diana Memorial Garden is a must. After all that, we’ve worked up an appetite, so it’s time for lunch. We’re heading to the newly-opened Bancone. It’s the fourth location for this popular Italian eatery, and handily it’s right next door to the tube station. Bancone is all about luscious handmade pasta, but first there are signature Negronis and starters to sample.
My orange blossom Negroni is refreshing and bursting with a lively citrus zing. We start with fried artichoke on a bed of romesco sauce – crispy and soft at the same time. Alongside, a bowl of Palourde clams with nduja arrives – delightfully spicy and rich with the sweetest of clams.
For mains it’s spicy pork and nduja ragu with tagliatelle and herdwick hogget with pappardelle, Thai basil and chilli. Both dishes boast perfectly cooked pasta drenched in rich, satisfying sauces. Though, I must confess a pang of regret for not ordering their silken handkerchief pasta, which we could see being plated from our table – utterly tempting.
Naturally, dessert beckons: a smooth creme caramel and the remarkable fior di latte, a dance of sweet and salty on the tongue. Bancone captures the essence of simple Italian dishes elevated with style and flair – it’s the kind of place I’d like to visit regularly.
It’s tempting to linger, but we have an appointment at the Design Museum. This striking building is the world’s largest museum devoted to contemporary design – there’s a lot to see and the shop is fabulous. We also take in their More than Human exhibition – a thought-provoking look at how design can help our planet thrive.
This would be a great end to an action-packed day, bookended by cultural experiences. But we’re not quite finished, and I have a secret to share. A couple of minutes’ walk off this fabulous high street is a hidden garden (clearly there are a lot of gardens in Kensington). Kensington Court Garden is a beautiful haven in the Holiday Inn on Wrights Lane where they serve exceptionally good cocktails.
Now that’s the perfect end to the day. A High Street Kensington day.
Find out more at www.highstreetkensington.co.uk
Other websites
www.japanhouselondon.uk
www.bancone.co.uk
https://designmuseum.org
www.hilondonkensington.com
Words by Sandy Cadiz-Smith