Our time in Kensington was spent standing in awe before massive dinosaur bones and finding tiny grass flowers in Hyde Park. This upscale neighborhood surely has much, much more to offer, especially for those looking for a concert at Royal Albert Hall or shopping on Kensington High street–or you know, all the things we have yet to discover.

To my deepest dismay, the Natural History Museum’s Hintze Hall was closed at the time, busy swapping out the popular Dippy the dinosaur for a gigantic blue whale. But not to fret–for now the hall is back open to the public and Dippy is off galavanting on tour across the UK (I’d hate to be in charge of that set up and take down, phew!)

If you’re looking for a way to escape the concrete, Hyde Park is a way to find some peace and quiet, and a much needed change of scenery. The park is so massive, you could find any corner of it to be on your own with the grass and the sky. When we made our way through the park, we found ourselves in Paddington, drinking roadside at a pub. Where will you find yourself?

Our highlights:

• Visiting the Natural History Museum.
• Walking around Hyde Park and having a picnic on the grass in front of Kensington Palace.

Want more London & photos? Check out our full 8-day story here.