North Kensington is a district of the famous neighbourhood of Notting Hill. Cosmopolitan and chic, Notting Hill's current run of fame is partially attributable to the annual Carnival celebration, which is second only to the one that's put on in Rio. Notting Hill is an eclectic and bohemian area, though now an upmarket version of this, with lovely stuccoed and brightly painted homes on private garden squares dominating the area, while North Kensington is an area of contrasts between edgy urban and leafy residential streets.
A mixture of young professionals, families, media industry and City workers, and politicians call this area home. It is diverse and has a European feel, with Italian and French buyers favouring the area. Notting Hill is also known for its communal gardens.
North Kensington is a fairly safe place to live. The Met police rates the area as having average crime, although there is a high crime pocket surrounding the nearby Westfield Shepherd's Bush. The 2014/2015 crime and violence against the person rates in the wards comprising the area were somewhat higher than for London overall.
It's generally fairly easy to park if you have a Kensington & Chelse permit. The rate of car ownership in this area is about one car per every two households - a bit lower than for London overall. There are good road links, especially the A40. Beware the congestion zone.
The area of Notting Hill and its surrounding neighbourhoods has a wide variety in restaurants, pubs, and bars, many of the upscale wine and cocktail bar variety. There aren't many nightclubs, but it is easy to get to Chelsea or the West End if you are looking for a night out.
This area attracts both families and young professionals, insuring a range of neighbourhood amenities that includes those targeted to families. The area has a number of good schools to choose from, as well as proximity to famous private schools. The vast open space of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park is nearby, with many acres for the family dog to enjoy and also featuring equestrian facilities, and Wormwood Scrubs is also nearby. The age distribution in this area is very similar to London overall, with nearly 1 in 5 residents being a child aged 0-15.
Notting Hill is generally known for its communal gardens. The vast open space of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park is nearby, with many acres for the family dog to enjoy and also featuring equestrian facilities, and Wormwood Scrubs is also nearby.
White City (Zone 2) is on the Central Line. Ladbroke Grove, Latimer Road, and Westbourne Park (Zone 2) are on the Circle and Hammersmith and City Lines. Queen's Park and Willesden Junction (Zone 2) are on the Overground and the Bakerloo Line. There are numerous buses in this area, including several all-night buses connecting Notting Hill residents with the West End. Paddington is nearby for mainline rail services including the Heathrow Express. The Westway, or A40, is nearby.