Kensington enjoys the best of all worlds: big views, quiet and walkable neighborhoods easy access to freeways and public transportation. One of the East Bay’s best kept secrets, the unincorporated community of Kensington is located just north of Berkeley also shares borders with El Cerrito. Unlike a city, public services (libraries, schools, planning zoning) in Kensington are handled by Contra Costa County. Kensington Police Protection and Community Services District (KPPCSD) and the Kensington Fire Protection District (KFPD) were created by special district to service the community. So, although Kensington is not a city, in some important ways, it operates as one. It has only one primary school, the coveted Kensington Hilltop Elementary, considered one of the best in the state! Kensington enjoys many tree-line streets, with a small suburban-feel community and easy access to Marin (and points further North), San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley as well as points to the east. One look at this neighborhood of large homes in the hilly streets above Berkeley, its commanding views of the Bay Area, and sunny terraced yards will explain why this community is one of the most sought after in the East Bay. Shingle siding, rustic construction, and bright expansive vistas are the hallmark of the homes in Kensington. Famed architect Bernard Maybeck had a home on Purdue Street. The homes he designed here at the turn of last century have became an informal blueprint for the signature homes in Berkeley. These well-proportioned homes are designed for family life and dinner parties. Tilden Park provides the boundary to the east and is a popular place for hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and those simply looking for a quiet place to spend an afternoon. Miles of biking and hiking trails, a miniature steam train, exhibition farm, merry go-round, and the naturally landscaped swimming hole at Lake Anza make Tilden a popular destination for families.
