At-a-Glance

Once an undeveloped grassy hillside that was home to dairy farms and pastures, primary residential development in Kensington didn’t begin until the turn of the twentieth century. That’s when droves of families, driven by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the Berkeley Fire of 1923 would come to lay down roots.

Named for the London borough of South Kensington, birthplace to one of the city’s original surveyors, Kensington would experience slow but steady development over the decades that followed. Today, it is a tight-knit, affluent community that possesses a deep sense of hometown pride.

In a Word

Views

Living Here

Just minutes from North Berkeley’s Gourmet Ghetto, Kensington is home to its own fine and casual dining establishments (standouts include the Kensington Circus Pub and The Arlington) as well as two quaint shopping districts, the Colusa Circle and the Arlington Shops. There’s also a not-to-be-missed farmer’s market that takes place each Sunday.

Good-to-Know

For a weekend stroll with the family or quiet time with a book, don’t miss Blake Garden, a 10.6-acre public garden located four miles north of the Berkeley campus that boasts stunning views of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate.

Why Kensington?

Residents are drawn to Kensington for its sense of community, quiet charm, and magnificent views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.