We left
stage 1 of the Kensington Walk descending the stairs at the back of
the Royal Albert Hall down to Prince Consort Street.
Royal College of Music
In front of you is the Royal College of Music. The College teaches
all aspects of modern classical music. Among its famous past pupils
are Andrew Lloyd Weber, Gustav Holst, Benjamin Britten and Rick Wakeman.
As you can see its the cream that attend here, around 600 students
from all around the world.
|
Earth
Galleries Natural History Museum & Science Museum |
Imperial
College
Turn left at the bottom of the steps, heading eastwards,
then right at the T junction into Exhibition Road, then keep on the
right hand side of the road. You now pass the Imperial College of
Science & Technology, found in 1907 and part of the University
of London. One of the top tier of scientific, engineering and medical
research and teaching institutions in the world.
Science Museum
Next on your right is the Science Museum, a world class
museum with free entry and open 7 days a week. This really is a great
museum for people of all ages, museums are usually quite dry for kids,
but this is the exception. The basement and workshops are especially
good for youngsters.
Floors of exhibits ranging from full size steam locomotives and aircraft
to how computers work will keep many absorbed for a whole day.
(See our South
Kensington Museums page for links to web sites) |
 |
| Kensington
Walk Stage 2 Street Map |
|
1 -
Royal College of Music
2 - Imperial College
3 - Science Museum
4 - Natural History Museum
5 - Victoria & Albert Museum
|
6
- London Oratory
7 - Rembrandt Hotel
8 - Harrods Department Store
9 - Harvey Nichols Department Store |
Natural
History Museum
Next on your right are the Earth Galleries of the Natural
History Museum, once a separate entity called the Geological Museum.
Carry on down to the busy Cromwell Road and turn right. The full impact
of the Natural History Museum now hits you, from the outside it looks
more like a palace than a museum. A Victorian masterpiece?, completed
in 1881.
Like the Science Museum, entry is free and opens 7 days a week. With
more than 70 million specimens , ranging from microscopic slides to
mammoth skeletons, the Museum is home to the largest and most important
natural history collection in the world. They include material from
the ill-fated dodo, meteorites from Mars and a full-size blue whale
skeleton. They cover almost all groups of animals, plants, minerals
and fossils, and range in size from cells on slides to whole animals
preserved in alcohol.
(See our South
Kensington Museums page for links to web sites)
|
Natural
History Museum |
Now
retrace your steps to the busy junction of Exhibition Road and Cromwell
Road, walking across Exhibition Road to the Victoria & Albert
Museum opposite. The entrance is a few yards on your left.
Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the major museum
in the UK for arts and design. Like the Science Museum and Natural
History Museum entrance is free and the museum is open 7 days a week.
The collections unrivalled in their scope and diversity. 3000 years'
worth of artefacts from many of the world's richest cultures including
ceramics, furniture, fashion, glass, jewellery, metalwork, photographs,
sculpture, textiles and paintings.
(See our South
Kensington Museums page for links to web sites)
|
V&A
Museum Entrance |
The
London Oratory
On leaving the main exit of the V&A Museum turn
left on the wide pavement heading eastwards towards Knightsbridge.
Immediately on your left is the London Oratory, the London headquarters
of the Catholic Oratorian Order. There are several masses offered
each day and private masses are available by arrangement.
During the 1980's the KGB had a dead letter box near the alter.
Rembrandt
Hotel
On the opposite side of the road is the Rembrandt Hotel,
a 4 star hotel. The building was originally commissioned as a set
of luxury suites for Harrods department store, which we visit very
soon.
Carry on walking eastwards along what is now the Brompton Road. In
the middle of the road you will see a green kiosk, probably with a
few black cabs parked alongside. This is a tea room for the cab drivers.
There used to be similar places all over London, those that are left
are now protected.
You now begin to see Harrods Department Store with its flags up ahead
on your right. |
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