Known to visitors as London’s museum heartland, South Kensington is dynamic, international and offers an exceptional quality of life. If you’re thinking of making South Kensington your new home, our area supplier guide will provide all the local knowledge you need to get started.

Estate agents in South Kensington

South Kensington has a great variety of luxury housing stock. Its most striking feature is the grand Italianate stucco mansions that were built in numbers after the Great Exhibition in 1851. You will also find terraces, mews and spacious, comfortable flats, as well as beautiful Victorian red-brick houses built by Richard Norman Shaw and his various imitators.

With Imperial College at its heart as well as the Royal Colleges of Art and Music, South Kensington has a dynamic property market attracting buyers and renters from all over the globe. House hunters have a range of estate agents to choose from in the district, from large international outfits to small, boutique operations.

Harding Green, Foxtons and Knight Frank are just three of the major agencies with a South Kensington branch. In the Old Brompton Road you’ll also find Dexters, a trusted Central London institution with twelve offices across the metropolis. And if you’re looking for an independent agency with local flair, Dominic & Co have been handling period properties in Kensington and Chelsea since 1988.

There are also plenty of choices for those seeking a short-term let. Fraser Suites, The Harrington and London Perfect are all popular and well-reviewed.

Cleaners in South Kensington

Whether it’s a deep clean and disinfect or a weekly clean to make life easier, reliable cleaning services aren’t hard to find in this corner of London. All the suppliers mentioned here use the latest products and technologies to keep you and your family safe, even in pandemic conditions.

The Kensington branch of London Air Services can handle anything you need, from carpets and soft furnishings to power washing, to end-of-tenancy cleans. They will even take care of your laundry and dry cleaning.

For regular or occasional cleaning services, SW7 Cleaning Service on the Cromwell Road offers one-off slots as well as daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly passes, all bookable online. Their customised, client-first approach allows you to book exactly the services you need – no more and no less.

If your windows are looking a little grubby, Spick & Span Window Cleaners can handle the most demanding jobs. Located on Old Brompton Road, they also provide easy and intuitive online booking.

Smart home solutions in South Kensington

Smart home setups aren’t just a novelty. For many homeowners, they’ve become a reliable part of everyday life. Convenient, elegant and eco-friendly, intelligent systems allow you to control your home’s lighting and climate control, entertainment and security with the swipe of an app. You can even boil your kettle remotely.

If you’re planning to make your South Kensington house a smart home, there’s no substitute for informed and hands-on local support. Right by South Kensington Tube you’ll find Unity, a cutting-edge “technology concierge” and consultancy providing intuitive custom intelligent home solutions. Their approach explicitly puts functionality first, meaning you’ll never have to struggle with an expensive but difficult piece of technology.

In Brompton Road you’ll find Your Smart Home. Founded in 2011, YSH is one of the UK’s leading smart home designers, covering everything from bespoke home cinemas to assisted living setups, to tiny homes – and even horseboxes. Simplicity and flexibility are two of their key values, and they also provide ongoing support.

Locksmiths in South Kensington

A good locksmith is an essential person to know. Apart from letting you in if you lose your keys, locksmiths can also bring your property up to date with the latest and most effective security hardware. And of course, it’s always worth changing the locks on your new home so you can be certain exactly who has a key.

New Locksmiths of London are close at hand in Onslow Square, just a couple of minutes’ walk from South Kensington Tube. They’re open 24 hours a day from Monday to Saturday and, as their testimonials show, they are highly responsive and very reliable.

Further west, where South Kensington meets Earl’s Court, you’ll find Two Brothers. These master locksmiths offer round-the-clock emergency support to clients within ten miles of their shop. They also provide crucial security services such as door and frame strengthening, lock fitting and repairs, and key cutting.

If you’re really under pressure, Locksmiths of Kensington and Chelsea on Kensington High Street promise a 15 to 30-minute response window for emergency calls – at any hour of the day or night. Their dedicated team of locksmiths provide specialist services such as burglary repair and non-destructive entry, as well as supplying everything you need to keep your home secure.

Hotels in South Kensington

Thinking of spending a few days in South Kensington to get a feel for the place? Or looking for a convenient base while you hunt for a property? When it comes to hotels, you’ll be overwhelmed with choice.

Most of South Kensington’s hotels are clustered around Cromwell Road, especially at the western end where it leads into Earl’s Court. If you want to get a sense of what it’s like to live in the area rather than visit, all you need to do is look a little further north or south.

Take the Lexham Gardens hotel by Cheval Maison, housed in one of South Kensington’s classic white-columned mansions. Here you can rent a one or two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, and even bring your pet. Another option is Number Sixteen, a classic white townhouse in Sumner Place with interiors designed by Kit Kemp.

When you’ve secured your new home, Cadogan Tate would be delighted to help with your removal. Established in 1977 in Covent Garden, we know and love central London – and our expertise is at your disposal. Click here to find out more about our services and to request your bespoke quotation.