A Walk From South Kensington to Buckingham Palace
Walking a city is the best way to experience a city. Below you will find a great walk that takes you from South Kensington to Chelsea, Westminster, and back to South Kensington. I stayed at The Ampersand Hotel which is an adorable boutique hotel (more about that later), which I recommend if you're looking to stay in South Kensington.
From South Kensington, I walked towards Kensington Palace and spent time enjoying the garden specially designed with white flowers in memory of the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death.
Right now there is an exhibit with some of Princess Diana's iconic looks on display. It was surreal to see some of her dresses in real life -- like her wedding dress and the one she wore while dancing with John Travolta. It's a small exhibit and the line moved quickly.
From Kensington Palace, I made my way towards Made In Italy in Chelsea (on King's Road) after reading some good reviews. I stopped here for pizza and a glass of wine for lunch. I was looking for something casual and quick but if you're looking for something a bit more upscale then The Ivy is right down the street and a perfect lunch spot to stop on the way to the next destination.
After lunch, I headed to the Chelsea Physic Garden. Google maps took me through residential streets which made for a really peaceful walk. London architecture never gets old (especially if you're an American). The garden hours are limited so make sure you check their hours before you go. The Chelsea Physic Garden is London's oldest botanical garden and houses over "5,000 different medicinal, herbal, edible, and useful plants."
After this, I walked through Chelsea passing by the National Army Museum and the Royal Hospital. On my walk, I saw a few Chelsea Pensioners in their red coats, and I'm sure you will too.
Next stop? Peggy Porschen for dessert. You might recognize this place and their iconic entrance from Instagram.
I opted for a latte and a slice of Strawberry & Champagne cake. It was really busy and they do not have a lot of seating so I got mine to go and headed to Buckingham Palace to eat my cake on the steps of the Victoria Memorial.
Once I finished taking in the people watching at Buckingham Palace, I was ready to head back to my hotel to rest before dinner. I walked along Constitution Hill, took in the Wellington Arch, and continued along Knightsbridge/Brompton Road passing Harvey Nichols and Harrods until I got back to The Ampersand Hotel.
I know it seems like this adventure includes a lot of eating but I assure you the walking permits it! Once I rested up and changed, I took advantage of my complimentary glass of champagne from Expedia for booking a +VIP hotel in the hotel's bar, Apero.