Kensington, Johannesburg

The historic suburb of Kensington lies almost due east of Braamfontein and the city centre of Johannesburg, its most recent past as a trendy locale for the more creative residents of Johannesburg - a collection of artists, teachers and academics - a trend that also influenced neighbouring suburbs of Observatory, Yeoville and Melville.

Whilst today, Yeoville is no longer high on the average tourist’s agenda and is definitely no longer the buzzing, arty milieu of the 80s and early 90s, Kensington has remained, in essence, a more sedate and timeless part of the city. The houses here are lovely and old, many of them restored, and Kensington’s Golf Course is an acclaimed institution in Johannesburg, its history dating back to 1909. Kensington is only some 10 minutes from the inner city of Johannesburg, undergoing something of a regeneration that has restored Newtown to its former glory and is fast establishing part of the city as a cleaner and greener area, easier to visit than in the most recent past where the streets had degenerated and many buildings deteriorated.

Eastgate is just around the corner from Kensington and provides ample shopping opportunities, entertainment and restaurants and coffee shops, whilst Bruma Lake flea market - a conversion of an old sewerage catchment area into a lakeside mall and market - is also a great place to while away the time. A visit to Gillooly’s farm in Bedfordview is a lovely weekend outing, and the farm in the middle of the city is a lovely locale for morning picnics along the lake under the trees - a popular spot for locals.