One of London’s most coveted property spots, Chelsea is renowned for the many white stucco-fronted townhouses, private garden squares and handsome redbrick family, all of which add to the already strong appeal from British, European, and North American buyers. Famous spots include Kings Road, which has re-established itself as arguably one of the best high streets in London and Pavilion Road, the little mews street that had a big reboot in 2016 as Chelsea’s gourmet quarter. Adding a Christmas twist, local advisor, Ashley Wilsdon takes us on a stroll around the beloved Chelsea.
Situated on the grounds of the secluded and picturesque Royal Hospital, Garden House educates children from the age of three to eleven. One string to their bow is their prominent Parents Association, which prioritises the line of communication between student and parent by having each class parent act as a Class Representative for each school grade. Sister schools, Christ Church Chelsea and Holy Trinity Sloane Square sit in the heart of Chelsea and are served by four churches and two parishes and uphold Christian values which underpin the schools’ ethos. Park Walk Primary promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral and social development well and enriches pupils’ experiences through visits to many of London’s museums, theatres and other cultural institutions.
Chelsea is a world famous shopping destination with a local feel and a culinary scene that has seen a strong resurgence in recent years. The Parisian-inspired neighbourhood restaurant, Colbert, is a particularly inviting hub on Sloane Square. The all-day café features secluded, cosy, quiet booths, transporting customers to a chic French setting with a sense of laissez-faire eccentricity. For a lazy Sunday, The Surprise sits is in the heart of Chelsea, a stone’s throw from the river Thames – festive pub-goers can enjoy a typical turkey feast with all the trimmings in the Hamilton Room, renowned for its ‘squiggle’ wallpaper. One of Middleton’s morning hotspots is Amar Café which arguably has the best tasting coffee in SW3. Known as ‘The Flat Iron’ due to its shape and as a nod to a notable building in downtown Manhattan, Chelsea Green is considered a village within a city. Home to a collection of independent shops, including Fifi Wilson, Jane Asher’s cake shop and an old-fashioned toy shop. Similar to the revival of Kings Road, the not-so-secret redevelopment of Pavilion Road has pivoted the usual crowd and brought in a younger demographic back to Chelsea, even giving Notting Hill a run for its money.
Each year, Chelsea Flower Show brings in swaths of garden enthusiasts to Royal Hospital Gardens to bask in award-winning spaces and enjoy a glass of fizz. Past notable mentions include cutting-edge designer Cleve West who won the silver award last year, and Darren Hawkes, who brings awareness to charities, like Samaritans Listening. The area is certainly not short of farmers’ markets with one dotted on nearly every corner. Duke of York Square is not your typical farmers market as it includes sushi makers, Aki Maki and inventive Kold Cocktails, for party-starters on the go. For a more traditional experience, Pimlico Green offers customary and rustic shopfronts, such as Salt Pig and Olivier’s Bakery. During the festive period, enjoy all the hits at Cadogan Hall’s annual candlelit carol service – beforehand head to Ottolenghi on Pavilion Road for their famed mince pies.
Ranging from new developments to classic red-brick, to white-stucco-fronted townhouses – there is something for everyone. Although the area is very house dominant, there is a handful of addresses which provide lateral apartments, such as Cadogan Square and Flood Street. Houses tend to rarely have large gardens, but this doesn’t hold prospective buyers back as there are plenty of private garden squares. Offering convenient living with an in-house spa and cinema, the Chelsea Barracks holds the title of being SW1’s first new development and houses just shy of 500 units. A quirkier spot, for the more creative types, can be found just south of Kings Road – Chelsea is one of the few areas in London that has a high number of old artist studios, now converted to modern, bright spaces.
Given our offices are in the heart of Chelsea, we have grown quite fond of it, but it is also a hotspot for our clients. Its range of property types and lifestyle options give the area magic and it’s no surprise it’s world-famous. If you’re interested in purchasing in the area, speak to our advisor Ashley Wilsdon.