Property

With Westbourne Park to the east and Ladbroke Grove to the west, Kensal Road is a well-trodden yet little-celebrated thoroughfare. Nevertheless it has quietly become the creative and media hub of W10 with its secret nooks and crannies.

The street is steeped in history. Originally called Albert Road, it was renamed in 1850, and the area became known as a ‘laundry colony’, thanks to its 57 wash houses, which provided the predominantly Irish neighbourhood with its livelihood. Today, White Knight Laundry (No 253) is one of the last remaining businesses of that time.
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In the Edwardian era, Kensal New Town was dominated by the local gangs of Kensal Road and Lisson Green. The district continued its decline throughout both WWI and WWII, although in more recent years community and council initiatives such as the North Kensington City Challenge and the Canalside Trust have aided regeneration.

A The Blag Club B Cobden Club C Middle Row Primary School D Emslie Horniman's Pleasance

One tangible sign of the times is that three former factories now serve as creative studios on Kensal Road. Fashion designer Bella Freud, bag lady Lulu Guinness, and lighting consultants Minx all reside at The Old Gramophone Works (No 326). Yusuf Islam (the ’60s legend formerly known as Cat Stevens) makes music at Walter’s Workshops (No 249-251), and Canalot Studios (No 222) – once a chocolate factory – is home to several film, TV and PR firms.

Off-duty locals can find a moment’s contemplation at nearby Kensal Green Cemetery (Harrow Road). The Georgian necropolis is the resting place of such luminaries as Isambard Kingdom Brunel, William Thackeray, Anthony Trollope, Freddie Mercury and Wilkie Collins. More greenery is supplied by Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance (Bosworth Road), a Spanish garden with a handpainted playground that hosts outdoor cinema in the summer. And during Notting Hill Carnival, the street is a very close to the parade route and Norman Jay’s Good Times bus. All aboard for Kensal Road.

Local shops
There’s little to lure shopaholics from Portobello Road, apart from a big Sainsbury’s, Ghost’s HQ, which holds the odd warehouse sale, and a tiny, unsigned Filippino store tucked away down a side street. Can’t find it? Follow the smell of delicious curry…

Going out
The Cobden Club (No 172; 020 8960 4222) was first built in 1882, as a working men’s club, although these days it is members-only. A few door down, the Asian-themed Blag Club (No 222; 0207 243 0123) is a brasserie by day and bar/disco by night. The Western Arms (No 33; 020 8969 3361) is a cosy boozer and The Village Inn (No 265; 020 8968 8944) serves up good pub grub.

Schools
Middle Row Primary School (Kensal Road; 020 8969 4094) ‘provides a good quality of education for all its pupils’, according to Ofsted. Sion-Manning School for Girls (St Charles Square; 020 8969 7111) is ‘satisfactory with some good features’. St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College (St Charles Square; 020 8968 7755) is deemed ‘outstanding’ and ‘a truly inclusive college’. Meanwhile, Kensington & Chelsea College (Wornington Road; 020 7573 3600) offers more than 700 further education courses.

Transport
The nearest tube is Westbourne Park station on the Hammersmith & City line in Zone 2. The 23 bus goes down Kensal Road. And, yes, it is in the congestion zone.

Local estate agents
Carringtons, 318 Kensal Road, W10 (020 8960 0001/www.carringtonsproperty.co.uk)
Chard, 123 Notting Hill Gate, W11 (0845 338 5827/www.chard.co.uk)
Homesite, 16 Lambton Place, W11 (0845 373 5136/www.homesite.co.uk)