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.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Garden Top Hotel
The Garden Top Hotel offers accommodation in Johannesburg in the Bezuidenhout Valley, just 3.5km from Kensington and less than 20 minutes from OR...
Victoria Cottage
Victoria Cottage can be found in Kensington, just 8km away from Sandton CBD. The cottage accommodates two guests in a bedroom with two three-quar...
Monica's Cottage
Monica's Cottage offers accommodation in a cottage on the grounds of the owners property in the quiet Johannesburg suburb of Kensington. There is...
51 On York
51 On York is the ideal location for both business and leisure alike, located in a charming suburb in Johannesburg. The Kensington accommodation ...
Signature @ 44
Signature @ 44 offers accommodation just 15 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport and a short drive from the Eastgate and Bedford Shopping ...
Fish Bird Art Deco Villa
Fish Bird Art Deco Villa is a hidden gem in the historical leafy suburb of Kensington in Johannesburg. The century-old villa offers an unbeatable...
Queens Place
Queens Place offers accommodation in the popular area of Kensington. From here you are within easy reach of a number of top attractions as well a...
House on York Guesthouse
House on York offers accommodation in elegant, well-designed en-suite rooms, individually decorated with style and comfort in mind. Heated pool, ...
Margaret's Place
Margaret's Place provides accommodation in Johannesburg, South Africa, for business trips or holiday stopovers. Margaret's Place is situated in a...
Westmoreland Lodge
Westmoreland Lodge offers accommodation just 15 minutes drive away from OR Tambo International Airport and 10 minutes away from the city centre. ...
Willy's Chateau
Nestled in the quiet suburb of Kensington, Willy's Chateau is only 15 minutes away from Johannesburg Airport, ideally suited for the business and...
Things to do in the area
Rhodes Park
Unlike many of the parks in the townships of Johannesburg, some of which went up in a matter of days or weeks, Rhodes Park has been around foreve...
Bezuidenhout Park
The city of Johannesburg is the commercial and financial epicentre of South Africa, and the starting point for millions of tourists. However, it ...
Eastgate Shopping Centre
For guests who choose to stay in Bedfordview, Eastgate Shopping Centre is Conveniently situated between the city centre of Johannesburg and the O...
Victoria Yards Market
The Victoria Yards Market is held on the first Sunday of every month and makes for a really great day of quirky innovation for anyone that is enj...
Noteworthy attractions
Crown Mines Golf Club
South Africa is famous for its gold, and Crown Mines Golf Club is built in genuine mining country, just a few kilometres southeast of central Joh...
Observatory Golf Club
Observatory Golf Course is one of the less well known Johannesburg courses, but just as good as many of its more famous neighbors. A sophisticate...
Randpark Golf Club
With two very distinct but different golf courses, Randpark offers golfers of varying ability an unforgettable experience on two of the finest an...
Royal Johannesburg Golf Club
The World Atlas of Golf, which lists the great courses and how they are played, features just two South African clubs on its hallowed pages. One ...
OR Tambo International Airport
Formerly officially known as Johannesburg International Airport, the OR Tambo International Airport is a large airport near the city of Johannesb...
East Rand Flea Market
Just outside Johannesburg in Boksburg, the East Rand Flea Market lies right next to the East Rand Mall, and as a result, is open just about all w...
East Rand Mall
The popular East Rand Mall takes full advantage of the prime position of this area and offers a variety of restaurants, boutiques, chain stores a...
Absa Money Museum
Home to the largest collection of money used in South Africa's past in the world, Absa Money Museum lies in downtown Johannesburg on Troye Street...
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum is the story of the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Beginning in 1948, the white elected National Party governme...
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