Kensal Green

Kensal Green sits at the junction of several very different Londons. The station is on both the Bakerloo line and the London Overground, and the neighbourhood around it has been going through a prolonged period of change - from industrial and post-industrial to an increasingly populated zone of restaurants, independent shops and creative businesses. Meanwhile, a short walk north from the station, Kensal Green Cemetery stands as one of the finest Victorian garden cemeteries in England, a Grade I listed landscape where notable Victorians including Isambard Kingdom Brunel and William Makepeace Thackeray are buried among trees, obelisks and crumbling Gothic chapels.

The Chamberlayne Road area, which runs north from the station, has become one of north-west London's more interesting restaurant streets. The Paradise pub at the bottom end and a succession of independent cafes and wine bars along the road have made this a destination for local residents and increasingly for visitors from further afield.

Station Overview

Kensal Green Underground station opened in 1916. It sits in Zone 2 and is served by both the Bakerloo line and the London Overground. The station does not have step-free access. The Overground platforms are above the Bakerloo line level, with stairs connecting the two.

Lines and Connectivity

The Bakerloo line (brown) connects south to Queen's Park, Kilburn Park and Paddington, and north to Willesden Junction, Harlesden and Harrow and Wealdstone. The London Overground connects on the Watford DC line towards Shepherd's Bush and Richmond in one direction and towards Willesden Junction and Watford in the other.

Facilities

Kensal Green station has limited on-site facilities but a small shop nearby. The Chamberlayne Road area has several cafes, restaurants and a supermarket within a ten-minute walk. ATMs are available on Chamberlayne Road.

Accessibility

Kensal Green does not have step-free access. There are stairs between street level and both the Bakerloo and Overground platforms. Queen's Park (one stop south on the Bakerloo) is the nearest step-free station in this direction.

Travel Tips

• Kensal Green Cemetery is about five minutes walk north of the station - follow College Road. It is open daily and entry is free. The Victorian chapels and catacombs are remarkable; guided tours run on selected Sundays.
• Chamberlayne Road heading north has a strong independent cafe and restaurant scene. The Paradise pub at the southern end of the road is one of the neighbourhood's best-known pubs.
• Portobello Road Market in Notting Hill is about twenty minutes walk south - a longer walk but through interesting streets.
• The area around All Saints Road, accessible by a short bus ride, has independent galleries and vintage shops.
• Golborne Road, south towards Notting Hill, is known for its Moroccan restaurants and antique market on Fridays and Saturdays.

Nearby Attractions

Kensal Green Cemetery - five minutes walk north. One of England's finest Victorian garden cemeteries, opened in 1832. Notable graves include Brunel, Thackeray and Anthony Trollope. Free entry. Guided tours available.

Chamberlayne Road - immediately north of the station. Independent cafes, restaurants, wine bars and the Paradise pub form one of north-west London's better local food streets.

Golborne Road - twenty minutes walk south. Known for Moroccan cafes, antique dealers and Friday and Saturday market stalls.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Bakerloo line and Overground services at Kensal Green run from approximately 05:30 to midnight Monday to Saturday and 07:00 to 23:30 on Sundays. Night Tube operates on the Bakerloo line on Friday and Saturday nights. Kensal Green Cemetery is open daily until dusk; the best time for a visit is on a dry morning in spring or autumn.