CHELSEA AREA GUIDE
Chelsea is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Sitting along the banks of the Thames, bordered by Pimlico, South Kensington, Belgravia and Fulham. Being so close to other popular areas of London makes it super easy to wander in and out of Chelsea’s borders.
HISTORY OF CHELSEA
Chelsea was originally a rural area and produced market goods for the rest of London, but by as early as the 1500’s it was already considered a haven for the noble and luxurious.
Known as the ‘village of palaces’, King Henry VII acquired a number of mansions in the district, and eventually becoming a permanent residence for Queen Elizabeth I.
Chelsea’s fame rose during the 60’s when it became the heart of the ‘Swinging London’ cultural movement, with historic bands such as The Beatles and Rolling Stones filming videos around Chelsea’s landscapes.
The end of the 1980s, however, saw the departure of Chelsea’s more counter-cultural aspects, as its prime period homes and attractive squares became some of the country’s most sought-after real estate. What were once bohemian markets on the King’s Road have been replaced by high-end stores.
WHAT TO DO IN CHELSEA
One of the main attractions which draws families to Chelsea is the top quality schools. Families’ move-into homes in Belgravia, Cadogan Square to gain access to outstanding schools, under Ofsteds rating. These include: St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Marlborough Primary School, The Hampshire School and Christ Church CofE Primary School.
With the abundance of families moving to Chelsea, it’s lucky that Chelsea is blessed with a number of green spaces, including Battersea Bridge Gardens and Chelsea Embankment Gardens, and not to forget the famous Chelsea Physic Garden, London’s oldest botanical garden. Chelsea Physic Garden, a botanical haven dedicated to cultivating medicinal, herbal, edible and useful plant life since 1673. The delightful Chelsea Physic Garden is located steps away from the River Thames and is blessed with four acres of perfectly manicures flowers with over 5,000 plant species from all over the world.
Chelsea has kept its historical green roots with annual events including the famous annual Chelsea Flower Show- the world’s most prestigious flower show. For over 100 years, the Chelsea Flower Show has been world’s greatest horticulturists to Chelsea, showcasing the best in garden design with innovative displays. The Royal Hospital’s grounds come alive with exhibitors, gardeners and blooms of every colour competing for the coveted gold awards.
Being home to culture and the arts, Chelsea also boasts numerous galleries, one of the most well-known of these being The Saatchi Gallery, a Grade 11 listed gallery known for its continuous rotation of cutting edge artists. The Saatchi gallery is becoming one of the largest free-contemporary art museums in the world.
Much of the attraction In Chelsea is centered on Sloane Street and the King’s Road, with their many glittering boutiques including, Tiffany, Prada, Dior and Cartier- Chelsea has a name for High end shopping. To pair with the shopping, Chelsea is home to some of London’s finest eateries. Among many brasseries and fancy restaurants, Bluebird remains a favorite for all-day dining. The restaurant opens onto a large courtyard that comes into its own in the summer months. At the top of the list is The Phene, an ultra- stylish bar and excellent eatery. This cozy pub has a roaring fire and sofas, boasting its own invention: ‘British Tapas’.
My personal favorite place to get food in Chelsea is from the Duke of York Food Market which is on every weekend. From here you can find anything from fresh baked goods, to a Spanish paella- definitely a place to take out of –town friends.
PROPERTY IN CHELSEA
Green spaces, riverside eateries, period properties and a flourishing foodie scene all come together to provide Chelsea residents with a decidedly elegant lifestyle. Walk down the streets and you will see buildings with beautifully designed architecture and pristine exteriors. There is so much diversity in the property in Chelsea, with its exclusive gated garden squares, white stucco crescents, red-brick mansion houses, and streets of pristine Georgian terraces and colorful Victorian cottages, Chelsea boasts an array of period property gems. In the Royal Borough, you’ll find plenty of Blue Plaque-adorned properties in Chelsea- showcasing some of Chelsea’s rich history.
With its rich history, every square foot of Chelsea is in high demand. Nowadays, the area attracts an interesting mix of buyers from all corners of the globe in search of a prestigious address.‘Old Chelsea’ addresses such as Church Street and Paultons Square are always very popular, as are prime locations such as Chelsea Square.
Most new contemporary developments in the area, such as The Glebe and Chelsea Barracks are architect-designed and aimed at the luxury bracket. In stark contrast to this, Chelsea is also home to The seven brick towers of World’s End Estate, which was originally built on the site of a Victorian slum and is one main representation of an abrupt border to the area and are one of the city’s best examples of brutalist architecture.
If you are looking to explore, and appreciate all that Chelsea has to offer over the summer months, we have the perfect short stay for you. Redcliffe Gardens is located just minutes from Kings Cross, and Sloane Square. From studios to 2 beds, these properties range from £1000.00 per week, which is a small price when considering all Chelsea has to offer.
