Local Studies and archives

What's available in Local Studies?earching the library archives

The Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies collection is housed at the Kensington Central Library. It contains all the borough's material on the history of both Kensington and Chelsea, including books, maps, press cuttings, illustrations, census returns, electoral registers, manuscripts, ephemera and other archive material.

The Kensington and Chelsea Local Studies collections are housed in the Kensington Central Library. Our library staff will advise you on what material is available.

Important: If you want to see local studies archive records you should make an appointment. To make an appointment phone the Kensington Central Library.


Opening hours

Day Times
Monday 1pm - 6.30pm
Tuesday 1pm - 6.30pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 6.30pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 1pm - 5pm

Local Studies blogMr Hedderly in Old Church Street

The library blog ‘The Library Time Machine’, created and written by local studies librarian Dave Walker is now live. Please, read and follow.

The weekly blog will give glimpses into the past lives and history of Kensington and Chelsea.


Useful websites

Here are some useful websites for you to try: