Activity: Explore a Tale of Two Kensingtons through Google Maps
Use the map below to explore the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Pay attention to the contrasts between the area around Grenfell Tower in the north and the streets of South Kensington just a few miles away.
Locate Grenfell Tower and zoom out slightly. Note what kinds of buildings, roads, and facilities surround it.
2
Move south towards South Kensington (around Kensington Palace, Exhibition Road, or the major museums). Compare what you see with North Kensington in terms of housing type, green space, transport links, and visible amenities.
3
Use Street View in at least two locations (one near Grenfell Tower and one in South Kensington), and note any differences in the built environment (e.g. building height, density, upkeep, street layout).
4
Optionally, turn on layers such as satellite view or transport to explore how infrastructure connects (or separates) different parts of the borough.
Reflect
What contrasts stand out most clearly between North and South Kensington?
How might these spatial differences shape everyday life for residents?
How does seeing Grenfell’s location on the map change (or complicate) your understanding of the disaster?