The Exhibition Road Project

The Exhibition Road Project focuses on:

The Exhibition Road corridor and the pedestrian tunnel
The wider South Kensington area bound by and including: Kensington Gore, Queen’s Gate and Cromwell Road
The roads in South Kensington one-way system north of South Kensington Station (Cromwell Place, Thurloe Place and Thurloe Street)

Key features

To reflect the fact that South Kensington is looking to the future and setting new standards of urban design. It must be a modern classic – a space for a new century.
To integrate vehicle and foot traffic effectively whilst preserving the road’s important function as a vital transport link serving people from the whole surrounding area. Use techniques such as ‘inferred pedestrian priority’ to encourage careful driving. Develop a streetscape that encourages ’polite’ behaviour by pedestrians.
To encourage and support better use of the public domain, especially adjacent to the museums.
To create an attractive environment for pedestrians. This will encourage Londoners and visitors alike to explore South Kensington on foot. The design will reduce street clutter and assist in orientation and ‘way finding’. It will incorporate attractive walking routes with more trees and imaginative lighting along Exhibition Road.
To discourage through traffic from some of the streets close to South Kensington Station, including the southern end of Exhibition Road and Thurloe Street.
To preserve and improve the amenity and quality of life for those living in the largely residential surrounding area.
To deliver continuous design along the length of Exhibition Road, with the use of a bold paving design and coordinated street furniture.
To follow principles of ‘inclusive design’. These help ensure that the route at both street level and underground will meet the highest standards of accessibility and inclusion for all members of the community.
To encourage better use of the South Kensington pedestrian tunnel for access to and circulation within the precinct. To address the tunnel’s current state of disrepair.
To help local institutions develop a visitor development strategy. This will help to create the most welcoming and stimulating environment in London.
To develop proposals that respond to and, where appropriate, influence the institutions’ development plans. These will be sensitive to the predominantly residential areas surrounding them, as well as to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
To ensure good access to bus service for people using South Kensington Station, Exhibition Road and the surrounding area.
To provide public art to animate and enrich the streetscape.
To provide coach parking either on or off the South Kensington site.
To safeguard residents’ parking.

More information on the project

For more information

For further details on the project, go back to the page Exhibition Road