Kensington & Chelsea’s Tallest Skyscraper Is Just The Ticket (To The V&A)

Art lovers, alert: Kensington’s tallest skyscraper is the hot new ticket to exploring London’s cultural scene. Here’s everything you need to know about 100 Kensington.

100 Kensington Will Be The Tallest Skyscraper In Kensington & Chelsea

Kensington & Chelsea is officially on the up – and we mean that literally. 100 Kensington (named for its location on 100 Cromwell road) is set to be the tallest skyscraper in the borough. 

SEVENCAPITAL

Once the hunting grounds of Oliver Cromwell’s (plus his son Richard’s) Kensington estate during the 17th century, the site of the skyscraper was then chosen in the 1850s to play host to ‘Albertopolis’ – Prince Albert’s Victorian science park. Abandoned from the Albertopolis scheme, builder Thomas Hugget had the bright idea to use the land to build a suburb of Italianate villas along Cromwell Road. Left in a state of disrepair for many years, 100 Cromwell Road became nothing more than the sorry site of a car park in 1990. Until now. 

The £500 million ‘vertical village’ (the first and only in the borough) is the tallest skyscraper to ever be built in Kensington and Chelsea. Currently sitting at 18 storeys, it is set to stretch up to 29 storeys once the build is complete. With 462 new sky-high homes on the market (including 186 affordable residences), the property offers luxurious apartments, two penthouses, rooftop gardens and terraces with unblocked views, concierge services, plus a health spa with a 20m swimming pool, fitness studio and gym. 

SEVENCAPITAL

Designed by John McAsland & Partners, alongside Corstorphine & Wright, this new property isn’t just one tower block, but comprises of seven buildings designed around a central podium. The podium will feature a residents-only lounge for events, plus a cinema screen facing onto the landscaped gardens designed by award-winning landscape architects IDP. As well as the central skyscraper, there will be three mansion buildings (at a slightly less impressive 12 to 14 storeys high), inspired by Kensington’s Victorian and Edwardian mansion blocks, plus office and retail spaces. Started back in 2020, residents should be able to move in from 2027. 

In a first of its kind agreement, the property developers (SevenCapital and partner MARK Capital Management) have struck a deal with the Victoria & Albert Museum which provides residents of 100 Kensington access to the V&A collections, exhibitions and VIP events. Just a stone’s throw from V&A South Kensington (plus the Science and Natural History Museums), it is an ideal location for arts and culture lovers looking to make the most of their free V&A access. 

V&A Museum

The world’s largest museum of applied arts, the first brick of the original South Kensington site was laid by Queen Victoria herself in 1899, and has since branched out into the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, V&A Dundee and the new V&A East Storehouse, where visitors are invited to order any object from the collection for their personal viewing. As well as these museums, residents of 100 Kensington will also gain access to the V&A East Museum in Queen Elizabeth Park once it opens its doors next year. 

James Moody, chief operating officer of SevenCapital, says: ‘We are hugely excited about our corporate membership with the V&A, with its local landmark museum and wider family of cultural spaces that align with our design values and bridge the gap between the historic and the avant-garde. This new relationship means 100 Kensington will have unprecedented access and enjoyment to some of the most thrilling cultural events of the year, and we know the V&A is set to become very much a part of our homeowners’ lives.’

Where Is It?

Located on 100 Cromwell Road, the site provides easy access to Earls’ Court, West Kensington, West Brompton and Kensington Olympia stations, while also being a short walk to the shops and cafes on Kensington High Street and Gloucester Road. 

How To Buy

Prices are anticipated to range from £895,000 to £5 million. The sales agents for 100 Kensington are joint sole selling agents Savills and JLL. For further sales information, please visit 100kensington.com