Motorists are facing major disruption in west London this afternoon after police closed a busy stretch of Kensington High Street to traffic.
The westbound carriageway has been shut while officers deal with an ongoing incident. The closure affects the A315 between Palace Avenue and Kensington Court, and long queues are already building on the surrounding road network.
Traffic is tailing back towards Queen’s Gate and the Royal Albert Hall, while drivers heading for Holland Park are also caught up in the congestion. Anyone travelling through the area is being urged to avoid it if possible and to allow plenty of extra time for their journey.
The shutdown has hit one of west London’s most important corridors. Kensington High Street is a major shopping destination and a key route connecting central London with Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and the western suburbs. Lined with department stores, restaurants, hotels and offices, it carries a constant flow of buses, black cabs and delivery vehicles throughout the day, which means any closure here quickly spills over onto neighbouring streets.
Kensington is among the capital’s most recognisable districts, home to Kensington Palace, the Design Museum and the grand Victorian terraces around Kensington Gardens. The High Street sits at the heart of it all, drawing shoppers, workers and visitors from across London and beyond. When the road closes, the impact reaches far beyond drivers: high-street businesses lose passing trade, hotel guests struggle to reach their doors, and anyone heading to the area’s embassies, museums and cultural venues faces a longer, slower trip.
Drivers heading west are advised to consider Holland Park Avenue to the north or Cromwell Road and the A4 to the south as alternatives, depending on their destination. Those bound for Hammersmith can also travel via Notting Hill Gate and Shepherd’s Bush. Bus passengers should check TfL for the latest information, as services that normally run along the High Street are likely to be diverted or stopped short of the closure. Anyone making for the Royal Albert Hall or the museums of South Kensington this evening should allow extra time and consider taking the Tube instead. High Street Kensington on the Circle and District lines and Notting Hill Gate on the Central line both serve the area, while nearby Gloucester Road offers Piccadilly line connections.
Public transport in the area has had its own troubles lately, with a fault at Gloucester Road causing severe delays across three Tube lines, so passengers should check before they travel.
Pedestrians should also expect disruption around the police cordon and follow any directions given by officers at the scene.
West London’s roads have already had a difficult run, with drivers in Hammersmith and Fulham facing peak-time roadworks and charges. Motorists are advised to check traffic reports before setting out and to use sat-nav apps that reflect live closures, as conditions around Kensington are changing quickly.
It is not yet clear what prompted the police response or how long the road will remain shut. Incidents of this kind can be resolved quickly once officers have finished their work, but with queues already stretching back towards Queen’s Gate, delays are likely to linger into the evening rush hour even after the carriageway reopens.
The capital has seen a series of disruptive police responses on its transport network in recent weeks, including a police incident at Victoria station that caused major disruption.
This is a developing story. Follow our live updates below for the latest on the closure, the traffic situation and when the road is expected to reopen.
