A walk around Kensington

 This afternoon our class partook in our first cultural outing. We traveled in a couple groups to Kensington, by way of the tube. A couple stops on the Jubilee line, a couple more on the Piccadilly line, and boom! Kensington Station!

Our tour guide was the lovely Michelle, a 20 year resident of London and history afficionado. She had an answer to every question and even remembered dates. My high school self would have been highly jealous of her ability to remember mundane details and the numbers attached to them. 

Our walking tour was roughly 2 hours altogether, beginning at Kensington Station and ending at Paxton's Head Pub in Westminster. Between these two, we strolled through Exhibition Row and learned about the museums therein, with special focus on the Victoria & Albert. After passing Imperial College we strolled Kensington and passed the Royal Albert Hall. Across the street from this hall was the memorial statue to Prince Albert, large, ostentatious, and quite shiny. By the conclusion of the tour we had learned about historic Underground and museums planning, modern museum planning, university costs and practices in the UK, what is and isn't free admittance and why, and that old pubs are beautiful. All in all a lovely way to start our exploration of this old, historic city! 

A few images from this adventure....

Our adventure begins at the gorgeous and historic Kensington Station

Up Exhibition Row we go! Originally used for the Great Exhibition in 1851, this area has since been parceled into museums focused on arts and sciences. 

A quick chat outside the V&A.

Even without knowing the history, the streets are beautiful and full of life. 

The old side of Imperial College.

The Gore, so named due to structures being wedge shaped throughout the ages. This term dates back to the Anglo-Saxons and could be seen on multiple signs. 

The memorial for Prince Albert. Large, shiny, and clearly not a favorite around here. 

Prince Albert believed that art and culture needed to be available to the public at large. As such, the museums have free admittance and the Royal Albert Hall is inexpensive for many seats.

The point (one of many really) between Kensington and Westminster.

Paxton's Head. Now owned and operated by a larger company, however the building has been preserved and gives a feel of the classic English pub.