London area of SW7 guide

What to do and where to stay in London's SW7 neighbourhood

The exclusive SW7 postcode covers South Kensington and part of Knightsbridge. South Kensington's concentration of prestigious and world-class museums is unique to London. In no other European city would you find the likes of such luminaries as the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and Royal Albert Hall within walking distance of each other and a large number of elegant hotels and landmarks. It's no coincidence that these bastions of culture are clustered together and the name of the street that links them, Exhibition Road, gives a clue as to why they are ''“ the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851 created the foundations for these grand institutions dedicated to the arts and sciences. It was this investment in the area that set in motion a building spurt with large terraced houses which gives the district its current appearance as a high-class residential area. Catering for this type of resident are the designer shops around Brompton Cross. There's also a distinct European flavour to modern day South Ken with a strong French emphasis - thanks to the excellent French Institute and a Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle - making it all the more chic.

See our recommended nearby SW7 Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.