Sometimes referred to as Kensal Green, Kensal Rise is primarily located in the North West London borough of Brent however it also stretches over into the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Its surrounding areas include North Kensington, Queens Park, Brondesbury, Willesdon, and Harlesden. Recent periods of development have seen the area change significantly and it has recently earned itself a bit of a reputation for being both a celebrity-haunt and London's newest "Nappy Valley".
In 2021 the average sold price of property in Kensal Rise was £928,069, making the area slightly more affordable than nearby Queens Park with its average price of £1,026,539 but significantly more expensive than Kilburn Park which recorded an average property price of £585,975.
Terraced properties were sold most frequently in Kensal Rise in 2021, reaching an average price of £1,076,606. Semi-detached properties were slightly more expensive, recording an average sold price of £1,445,651. However flats in the area were notably more affordable, fetching £596,586 on average.
Prices in Kensal Rise have remained relatively stable over the past several years and are currently similar to the £922,291 average recorded in 2017.
What is living in Kensal Rise like?
In recent years, Kensal Rise has experienced a significant level of gentrification with the arrival of new residents moving out of Queens Park and Notting Hill. One of the results of this period of development is the proliferation of independent shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants which has added a level of vibrancy to this largely residential area.
To illustrate the area's "Nappy Valley" credentials, it was described as London's answer to Beverly Hills in 2021 and Mulberry, a popular maker of designer goods, has named a handbag after the district. Plus some of the local services, including a sixties men's hairdressing salon, have been used in an array of advertisements including one for trendy creative platform Pinterest.
Kensal Rise is an excellent location for commuters as Kensal Green Station is just 20 minutes from the West End and Oxford Circus on the Bakerloo line. Overground services to Euston are also available, with trains going as far as Watford Junction. Travel to Richmond is also straightforward, as are journeys to Stratford and Clapham Junction. Kensal Rise is also positioned on the Paddington stretch of the Grand Union Canal, offering beautiful views and the opportunity to reach the Paddington Basin, Regents Canal, Little Venice and Paddington Station in a slightly unusual way.
The area is also known for being home to the Grade I listed Kensal Green Cemetery, which is one of the "Magnificent Seven" across London. Many members of the royal family are buried here, as well as civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, author William Makepeace Thackeray, actor Alan Rickman and musician Freddie Mercury.
Living in Kensal Rise pros and cons
Pro: Home to a variety of amenities, facilities and shops
From health studios and gyms to independent retailers, cinemas and more, Kensal Rise is one of those compact parts of the city that somehow manages to cater for every resident. This is something that is highly valued by the local community, who successfully came together in 2014 to save their local library.
Little Wormwood Scrubs and Kensington Memorial Park are just two of the open public spaces in the area, with nearby Queen's Park also proving to be extremely popular amongst Kensal Rise residents. The latter is particularly good for families with children as it contains a petting zoo and a large playground.
Con: High levels of traffic
There are plans to both reduce traffic and generally improve the overall experience for pedestrians and cyclists. The area would also benefit from being a bit greener, with pocket gardens going a long way to bringing some additional character and charm to the streets.
Pro: Welcoming atmosphere with a surprisingly diverse community
Kensal Rise has long been popular amongst creatives, however the area is seeing increasing numbers of finance workers moving out of areas such as Notting Hill in search of more spacious properties. Kensal Rise is also home to a large American community, largely due to the presence of the American School in the nearby St John's Wood area. An increasing number of French families are also moving into the area as a Lycée Francais is now located in the former town hall in Brent.
The community spirit is strong in Kensal Rise, a recent example of which occurred recently when a group of Clifford Garden's residents campaigned to prevent pavements in the area from being asphalted.
Is Kensal Rise a safe place to live?
Kensal Rise recorded 2,871 crimes in the period between January 2020 and December 2021. 942 of those incidents were violent crimes, with a further 413 classified as instances of theft and 382 vehicle offence cases.
The area saw a significant increase in crime between June and September 2020. Since then however crime has remained below the 159 cases recorded in September 2020. There were 129 crimes recorded in October 2021 but fell to 112 reports the following month. Reports fell again in December 2021, with just 103 recorded cases.
Figures from the Metropolitan Police place Kensal Rise in the Queens Park area. During November 2021, there were 15 cases of harassment recorded and 13 cases of assault without injury. The areas around Kensal Green station and Kensal Green Cemetery are known to be hot spots for these types of crime, particularly during the evenings and at night.
Overall though, in November 2021 crime in Kensal Rise was lower than in the borough of Brent and when looking at London as a whole. The area recorded 7 crimes per 1,000 residents, with both Brent and London recording 8 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Which celebrities live in Kensal Rise?
The increasing popularity of Kensal Rise has attracted a plethora of celebrities including musicians Rita Ora, Lily Allen and Paloma Faith, actors Thandie Newton, Sienna Miller and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and authors Zadie Smith and Sophie Dahl.
Presenter Dermot O'Leary, designer Jade Jagger, journalist Louis Theroux, and actor Daniel Craig are also known to have set up home in the area. Essentially you never know who you might bump into in the local deli or café.
Things to consider when moving to Kensal Rise
Kensal Rise is one of those locations that just has a great atmosphere. It can't be described in words, but as soon as you step off the tube you'll start to understand what we mean. Frankly, it's no wonder that the area has become a favourite amongst a variety of celebrities. It offers the best of both worlds, a certain level of privacy without being forced to give up the hustle and bustle of London life completely.
There are some extremely popular parts of Kensal Rise, including Langler Road which appeals to families with young children due to being inside the catchment area for the Princess Frederica and the Ark Franklin schools. There are also several other 'Outstanding' rated schools in the surrounding area, as well as many more that have been deemed as 'Good' by Ofsted. Local independent schooling options are somewhat limited, so many families choose to look further afield to Hampstead and Belsize Park for their children.
If you're looking for a laid-back pocket in London that has everything you could possibly need within easy reach, Kensal Rise is likely to make it to the top of your list.