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Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington

Companionship careKensington and Chelsea

Days out in Kensington and Chelsea for an older parent

Ten places in Kensington and Chelsea that make a good day out for an older parent, from Victoria and Albert Museum to Brompton Cemetery. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo: Richard Rogerson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ten days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Kensington and Chelsea

Six of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for five describes a step-free route, and four confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington

Photo: Richard Rogerson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · South Kensington

Victoria and Albert Museum

The V&A on Cromwell Road is the national museum of art and design, with galleries of fashion, furniture, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery from around the world. Entry is free, and the central garden with its café is a pleasant place to rest.

The Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road entrances are step free, staff can suggest the easiest route round the old building, and disabled visitors can add a free carer ticket for paid exhibitions.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, some exhibitions charged, carer tickets free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near South Kensington

Natural History Museum, South Kensington

Photo: jhlau -- a.canvas.of.light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · South Kensington

Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is known for its Romanesque building, the blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall and its dinosaur galleries. Entry is free and there are several cafés inside.

All three main entrances have step-free access by ramp or lift, and five Blue Badge spaces on site can be booked ahead, with twelve more on Exhibition Road.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, some exhibitions charged

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near South Kensington

Science Museum, South Kensington

Photo: Geni, File:Science Museum - Transportation area.jpg by redjar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · South Kensington

Science Museum

The Science Museum on Exhibition Road covers the history of science and engineering, from Stephenson's Rocket and early aircraft to the Apollo 10 capsule. Entry is free, with paid IMAX films and simulators.

Accessible toilets are on every level, a limited number of wheelchairs can be borrowed, and staff can point out step-free routes around the building.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, some exhibitions charged

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near South Kensington

Kensington Palace, Kensington

Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Kensington

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace was the childhood home of Queen Victoria and is still a royal residence, with the King's and Queen's State Apartments and exhibitions on royal fashion open to visitors. It sits at the western edge of Kensington Gardens, with the Sunken Garden beside it.

The palace is run by Historic Royal Palaces, who publish an accessibility guide, so the carer should check it before booking and plan a sit in the gardens afterwards.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Kensington

Design Museum

Museum · Kensington

Design Museum

The Design Museum on Kensington High Street, beside Holland Park, shows how everyday objects, fashion and buildings are designed. Its permanent collection display is free, with paid temporary exhibitions and a café.

A Blue Badge parking space a very short distance from the main entrance can be booked the day before, and wheelchairs can also be reserved online.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Permanent display free, exhibitions charged

What their access information confirms

  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Kensington

National Army Museum, Chelsea

Photo: Joyofmuseums, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Chelsea

National Army Museum

The National Army Museum on Royal Hospital Road tells the story of the British Army from the Civil War to the present, through uniforms, medals, weapons and personal stories. Entry is free and there is a café on the ground floor.

The main entrance is level, two central lifts serve every floor, there is seating with arm rests in the galleries and café, and a few manual wheelchairs can be borrowed.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Chelsea

Chelsea Physic Garden, Chelsea

Photo: Christine Matthews, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Chelsea

Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 to grow medicinal plants and is one of the oldest botanic gardens in Britain, walled off from the Thames Embankment. It holds thousands of plants, a rock garden and glasshouses, and has its own café.

The garden is on one level with flat shingle paths, wheelchairs can be borrowed and there are wheelchair-accessible toilets in the main building and the café.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Chelsea

Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea

Photo: C. G. P. Grey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · Chelsea

Saatchi Gallery

The Saatchi Gallery shows contemporary art in the Duke of York's Headquarters just off the King's Road near Sloane Square. Exhibitions change through the year across several floors of large, light rooms.

There is ramp access at the main entrance, lifts to every floor, level access between the galleries, wheelchairs on request and two Blue Badge bays that must be booked ahead.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Check prices

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Chelsea

Royal Hospital Chelsea, Chelsea

Photo: Camster2, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Chelsea

Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Royal Hospital Chelsea, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, has been home to the Chelsea Pensioners since 1692. Guided tours take in the Great Hall, the Wren Chapel and the Wellington Hall museum, and there is a bakery café and a shop in Soane Stable Yard.

The tours are wheelchair accessible, a spare wheelchair can be borrowed, and there are accessible toilets at the stable yard where tours meet.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Guided tours booked in advance

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Chelsea

Brompton Cemetery, Earls Court

Photo: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Earls Court

Brompton Cemetery

Brompton Cemetery is one of London's Magnificent Seven Victorian cemeteries, managed by the Royal Parks, with a long central avenue leading to a domed chapel and sweeping colonnades. It is a quiet green space full of trees, wildlife and elaborate monuments.

The broad Central Avenue gives a straight route through, and there is a café and an information centre with volunteers at the north end.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Earls Court

Regular groups and events in Kensington and Chelsea

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Kensington and Chelsea.

  • Sports · ChelseaSenior sessions at Chelsea Sports CentreThe council leisure centre on Chelsea Manor Street runs activities aimed at older adults, including gentler classes and swimming. A carer can book the session, help with changing and wait nearby.Details
  • Volunteering · KensingtonVolunteering with Age UK Kensington & ChelseaThe local Age UK recruits volunteers for roles across the borough, including visiting and telephone support for older people. A carer can help with the application and the first few shifts until the routine is familiar.Details
  • Volunteering · KensingtonAge UK Kensington & Chelsea befriendingA one to one befriending service matching older residents with a regular visitor or caller. A carer can make the referral and fit visits around the rest of the week.Details
  • Knitting · ChelseaKnit and Natter at Chelsea LibraryA regular knitting and needlecraft session at Chelsea Library in the Old Town Hall on King's Road. A carer can book a place, bring the wool and needles along and sit in for the first session.Details
  • Knitting · KensingtonLibrary creativity and wellbeing sessionsRoyal Borough libraries run a programme of free creative and craft sessions, including needlecraft, across their branches. A carer can check the current listings and pick the branch that is easiest to reach.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Kensington and Chelsea

At a glance

The ten places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Victoria and Albert MuseumSouth Kensingtonhalf a dayFreePartlyAskYes
Natural History MuseumSouth Kensingtonhalf a dayFreeYesYesYes
Science MuseumSouth Kensingtonhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Kensington PalaceKensingtonhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Design MuseumKensingtonan hour or twoFree outside, paid insideAskAskYes
National Army MuseumChelseaan hour or twoFreeYesYesYes
Chelsea Physic GardenChelseaan hour or twoPaid entryYesYesYes
Saatchi GalleryChelseaan hour or twoCheck pricesYesAskAsk
Royal Hospital ChelseaChelseaan hour or twoPaid entryYesYesYes
Brompton CemeteryEarls Courtan hour or twoFreeAskAskYes

Where the places are in Kensington and Chelsea

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

ChelseaNorth KensingtonHolland ParkEarls CourtNotting HillKensington12345678910
  1. 1Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington
  2. 2Natural History Museum, South Kensington
  3. 3Science Museum, South Kensington
  4. 4Kensington Palace, Kensington
  5. 5Design Museum, Kensington
  6. 6National Army Museum, Chelsea
  7. 7Chelsea Physic Garden, Chelsea
  8. 8Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea
  9. 9Royal Hospital Chelsea, Chelsea
  10. 10Brompton Cemetery, Earls Court

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Kensington and Chelsea

Carers in Kensington and Chelsea charge £19 to £22 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Kensington and Chelsea has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Kensington and Chelsea

Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, Natural History Museum in South Kensington, Science Museum in South Kensington, Kensington Palace in Kensington, Design Museum in Kensington, National Army Museum in Chelsea, Chelsea Physic Garden in Chelsea, Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea and Brompton Cemetery in Earls Court. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Natural History Museum, National Army Museum, Chelsea Physic Garden, Saatchi Gallery and Royal Hospital Chelsea describes a step-free route. Natural History Museum, National Army Museum, Chelsea Physic Garden and Royal Hospital Chelsea have an accessible toilet. Design Museum, National Army Museum, Chelsea Physic Garden, Saatchi Gallery and Royal Hospital Chelsea lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Design Museum (outside free, inside paid), National Army Museum and Brompton Cemetery. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 22 of the carers with a rate near Kensington and Chelsea drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Kensington and Chelsea shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Kensington and Chelsea

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Kensington and Chelsea

Days out in the areas around Kensington and Chelsea

Companionship care by town in Kensington and Chelsea

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Kensington and Chelsea

See carers near Kensington and Chelsea who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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