Resident population
Kensington and Chelsea had 143,373 residents at the 2021 Census, compared with 158,649 in 2011, forming a dense local customer base in the heart of London.
Population at the 2021 Census
Discover local businesses, shops, restaurants, professional services and growing companies across one of London’s most famous boroughs, from the high streets of Kensington, Chelsea and Knightsbridge to the markets and boutiques of Notting Hill.
Explore key facts covering the borough’s population, transport links, business areas, geographical area, heritage and borough identity.
Kensington and Chelsea had 143,373 residents at the 2021 Census, compared with 158,649 in 2011, forming a dense local customer base in the heart of London.
Population at the 2021 CensusThe Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly lines, together with National Rail services at Kensington (Olympia) and West Brompton, connect the borough’s businesses and customers with Central London and the wider region.
Well connected Inner London boroughKensington High Street, King’s Road in Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and South Kensington are among the borough’s main commercial and high street areas.
Key business locations across the boroughKensington and Chelsea is a compact Inner London borough covering Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and Earl’s Court, combining famous shopping streets, museums and elegant residential neighbourhoods.
Approximately 12 square kilometresThe Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A anchor South Kensington, alongside landmarks such as Kensington Palace and the Royal Hospital Chelsea and green spaces such as Kensington Gardens and Holland Park.
Culture, heritage and green spaceThe Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Chelsea and Kensington.
Royal borough formed in April 1965
The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of Inner London’s best-known boroughs, home to around 143,000 residents just west of Central London. Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and South Kensington are its main commercial centres, giving the borough a distinctive mix of world-famous museums, luxury retail, independent boutiques and elegant residential streets.
For customers, Kensington and Chelsea offers famous shopping streets, independent retailers, restaurants, cafés, galleries, healthcare providers, property specialists and professional services across its main business areas. For businesses, the borough provides access to a dense local population, visitors drawn by its museums, landmarks and markets, and Underground connections into Central London and beyond.
Kensington and Chelsea combines strong Underground connectivity, world-famous shopping streets, museums and landmarks, a dense local customer base and historic green spaces, creating opportunities for businesses of different sizes and sectors.
The Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly lines, National Rail services at Kensington (Olympia) and West Brompton, and bus routes along King’s Road, Fulham Road, Kensington High Street and Ladbroke Grove give businesses convenient access to Central London and destinations across the wider region.
The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, Kensington Palace, Portobello Road and the Notting Hill Carnival draw visitors from across London and abroad, supporting demand for hospitality, retail, catering and local services.
Kensington High Street, King’s Road in Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and South Kensington are among the main commercial areas, giving businesses a choice of high street locations close to local customers.
Harrods in Knightsbridge, Peter Jones at Sloane Square and the boutiques of Sloane Street and the King’s Road make the borough one of London’s best-known shopping destinations, bringing shoppers who support restaurants, cafés and service providers.
Kensington Palace, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Kensington Gardens and Holland Park give businesses, residents and visitors access to heritage and green space alongside busy shopping streets.
With 143,373 residents at the 2021 Census across just 4.7 square miles, plus students at Imperial College London in South Kensington and large numbers of visitors, Kensington and Chelsea offers businesses a concentrated local market in Inner London.
Explore companies, professionals and local services operating throughout the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Customer reviews help people find trusted Kensington and Chelsea businesses and give local companies the credibility they need to attract more customers. Choose an option below to get started.
Discover popular business categories across the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Whether you're looking for shops and retailers, restaurants and food providers, hospitality businesses or fashion boutiques, these categories make it easier to find local providers.
Kensington and Chelsea combines Central London connectivity, elegant residential neighbourhoods, world-famous shopping streets, museums and green spaces, with access to employment across retail, hospitality, culture, education, healthcare and professional services.
Kensington and Chelsea offers a distinctive mix of housing, from the stucco terraces and garden squares of Kensington and the townhouses of Chelsea to the colourful terraces of Notting Hill and the mansion blocks around Earl’s Court. Residential areas include Kensington, Chelsea, Notting Hill, Holland Park, Earl’s Court and North Kensington.
Terraces and garden squaresHousing, retail and commercial costs can be among the highest in London and vary across the borough. Prime locations such as Knightsbridge, Chelsea and Kensington can differ considerably from other neighbourhoods, so residents and businesses should compare costs carefully when choosing a location.
Premium Inner London pricingResidents, workers and visitors benefit from Central line services at Notting Hill Gate and Holland Park, Circle and District line services at High Street Kensington, Earl’s Court and Sloane Square, Piccadilly line services at South Kensington and Knightsbridge, Overground and National Rail services at Kensington (Olympia) and West Brompton, and extensive bus routes along King’s Road, Fulham Road and Kensington High Street.
Excellent London connectivityKensington Gardens, Holland Park, Brompton Cemetery and the Chelsea Physic Garden are among the local parks and open spaces, alongside the River Thames at Chelsea Embankment and the borough’s many garden squares, with room for exercise, recreation, family activities and community events.
Royal parks and garden squaresSouth Kensington is home to Imperial College London, the Royal College of Art and the Royal College of Music, alongside a wide range of schools and colleges. Education is also an important local employer and a source of skills and talent for businesses across Kensington, Chelsea and the wider borough.
Schools, colleges and skillsEmployment spans retail and hospitality on the borough’s shopping streets, finance and professional services, museums, culture and higher education in South Kensington, and healthcare including the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the Royal Marsden on Fulham Road.
Diverse employment opportunitiesLocal consideration: Kensington and Chelsea combines established residential neighbourhoods with famous shopping streets, museums and green spaces beside the Thames. Property costs, transport access, customer footfall and the character of local business areas can vary between Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and other parts of the borough.
Find answers about Kensington and Chelsea’s business environment, local areas, major industries, transport connections and how to use the London Business News Directory.
Explore common questions about living, working and doing business in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Kensington and Chelsea is a compact Inner London borough of around 143,000 residents, known for the world-famous museums of South Kensington, Kensington Palace, luxury shopping on Sloane Street, the King’s Road and in Knightsbridge, the colourful streets of Notting Hill, and elegant residential neighbourhoods.
Kensington, Chelsea and Knightsbridge are the borough’s principal commercial and shopping centres, with Notting Hill and South Kensington among the other main business areas. Businesses can also be found around Earl’s Court, Holland Park, Brompton, West Brompton and North Kensington, along with local parades and high streets across the borough.
Knightsbridge and Sloane Street are known for luxury shopping, with Harrods a landmark department store, while the King’s Road in Chelsea and Kensington High Street offer a wide range of shops, cafés and restaurants. Portobello Road in Notting Hill is famous for its market, and the Saatchi Gallery, Leighton House and the South Kensington museums attract visitors throughout the year.
Kensington and Chelsea supports businesses across retail and luxury goods, hospitality, finance and professional services, property, healthcare, education, culture and the creative industries, and a wide range of local professional and personal services.
Yes. The borough is served by the Central, Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly Underground lines, including stations such as South Kensington, Gloucester Road, High Street Kensington, Earl’s Court, Sloane Square, Knightsbridge and Notting Hill Gate, along with Overground and National Rail services at Kensington (Olympia) and West Brompton and extensive bus routes. These provide convenient access to Central London, Heathrow and the wider region.
Select “List Your Business,” create an account and submit your business information. The listing can then be reviewed before publication in the London Business News Directory.