by Dorothee Schröder
Location
Kentish Town lies in north London within the London Borough of Camden, just north of Camden Town and close to Hampstead Heath.
The Origin of the Name
The name probably derives from Ken-ditch or Caen-ditch, meaning “the bed of a waterway,” referring to its early settlement along the River Fleet, now one of London’s hidden underground rivers.
From Hamlet to Urban District
Once a prosperous medieval hamlet, Kentish Town lost its rural character in the nineteenth century as large areas of land were developed for railway construction, connecting it more closely to the expanding city.
A Centre for Piano Making
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several piano and organ manufacturers settled here, leading The Piano Journal to describe Kentish Town in 1901 as “that healthful suburb dear to the heart of the piano maker.”
Architectural Variety
Kentish Town features a diverse mix of architecture, with buildings from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Notable Residents
The area has been home to notable figures including Karl Marx, George Orwell, Ben Kingsley and Keir Starmer.
Kelly Street
Kelly Street is a historic street known for its charming, colourful houses, offering a striking contrast to the busy nearby high street.
The Pineapple Pub
The The Pineapple in Leverton Street, opened in 1868, was threatened with closure in 2002 but saved by a local campaign and is now a Grade II listed building.
Music Heritage
Kentish Town played a role in the development of pub rock, with the former jazz pub “Tally Ho” as an early venue, while O2 Forum Kentish Town remains a well-known live music venue today.
A Place to Live
Often described as a hidden gem, Kentish Town is valued for its rich heritage, good schools, convenient transport links and lively atmosphere.
Cover picture: Queen’s Crescent (Photograph: Philipp Röttgers)
