Welcome to Kensington
Kensington is an affluent, quiet and small unincorporated area near Berkeley. It\’s located in the beautiful Berkeley Hills, which means it offers great views for residents. Located on the border of Alameda county, one can see why this is a beautiful place to live. With tree-lined streets, happy residents and plenty of cool places to check out, Kensington is certainly a neighborhood for people who want the big city amenities without having to deal with the big city problems. Yes, the truth is, the town feels more like one big park than a town in the middle of the Bay Area.
Lay of the Land
Located in the Berkeley Hills, right near the border with Alameda county, one can easily see why this is a great place to live. It\’s also close enough to commute to Oakland and San Francisco, as well as San Jose. Just under a square mile in size and with a population of around 5,000 people, this is a quiet, small and well-kept secret. Mostly families live here, but a few college students share housing in Kensington as it\’s a great place to be a student. With small stores and quiet streets, it can feel like being in a small town in the middle of nowhere, but nothing could be further from the truth as Kensington is happening.
Transportation
In Kensington, one can easily get around on bike or by taking the local AC transit bus. Of course, if you want to cross the bay or go a little further, there is BART. One can head to El Cerrito BARRT or the Berkeley station, depending on where they are going and what part of Kensington they live in. People who prefer to take their cars to work can easily hop on the 580 and get to the other cities in the Bay Area. Simply put, whether working in Oakland, Berkeley or downtown San Francisco, Kensington is a great place to live as far as commuting options go.
Local Highlights
Obviously anyone who wants to live in Kensington knows that there is not a lot to do in the town. This doesn\’t mean it\’s boring as much as it means that it\’s a slam community. However, if a person wants to relax and enjoy the slow pace of life and know their neighbors, Kensington is perfect. With tree-lined streets and happy and friendly neighbors, it’s easy to fall in love with this town. But, the real draw is that it\’s close to other cities and towns.
Living in Kensington, it\’s hard to avoid Berkeley. While Berkeley is in Alameda County, it\’s right down the road. Whether one wants to check out the library, head to the college or ride their bike on campus, they are right near it all in Kensington. But, for the non-college crowd or the crowd who wants to be left alone, there are options. In Kensington, one can check out local parks, take advantage of the weather and play tennis or just ride their bike. Kensington is a great place to relax, and it\’s obvious the minute one takes a look at the streets.
When living in Kensington, one can also head down to Oakland and check out unique an interesting places. Or, San Francisco is just a 25-minute BART ride. If a person wants to enjoy more nature, they can head up to Tilden and ride their bike, hike or just relax in the woods. No matter what one wants, they are sure to find it in Kensington or the surrounding areas as there is so much to offer for people from all walks of life.
