Chelsea Overview
Image courtesy of D Williams
Bordered by the West End’s other cosmopolitan neighbourhoods and across the River Thames from leafy Battersea, Chelsea has always been the ‘It spot’ in London. It is bustling kind of place, thanks to its many shops, bars and restaurants. The shopping experience is unmatched and the views from Chelsea Embankment are dreamy.
So if you’re looking for a place which is filled with fun, then Chelsea is the place to be!
Travel information
Chelsea is served by a number of transport options. Both a London Underground and Overground station are in the area, the Underground station is Sloane Square and the Overground station is Imperial Wharf which also serves as a National Rail station. These two stations can take you to location such as Wimbledon, Victoria and Clapham Junction.
There is also many bus routes which serve the area. Some of these bus routes include the numbers 22, 211 and C3 which takes you to places such as Oxford Circus, Waterloo and Earl’s Court.
History
The name of Chelsea (also formerly Chelceth, Chelchith, or Chelsey, originates from an Old English term for “landing place [on the river] for chalk or limestone” (Cealc-hyð: chalk-wharf, in Anglo-Saxon). Chelsea hosted the Synod of Chelsea in 787 AD. The first record of the Manor of Chelsea precedes the Domesday Book and records the fact that Thurstan, governor of the King’s Palace during the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042–1066), gave the land to the Abbot and Convent of Westminster. Abbot Gervace subsequently assigned the manor to his mother, and it passed into private ownership. By 1086 the Domesday Book records that Chelsea was in the hundred of Ossulstone in Middlesex, with Edward of Salisbury as tenant-in-chief.
Chelsea throughout the years has had a number of notable people who were from/have lived in the area. Some of these people include:
• Sylvia Pankhurst
• Oscar Wilde
• Mick Jagger
• J. R. R. Tolkien
• Agatha Christie
Local attractions
From art galleries to football, Chelsea is filled with a wide range of things to do in order to keep you entertained!
Chelsea F.C. – Stamford Bridge
Image courtesy of Ben Sutherland
Are you a Chelsea fan or are you simply interested in seeing football from one of the best leagues in the world? Then Stamford Bridge is the place to be!
For more information, click here
Duke of York Square
Image courtesy of Patrick Mackie
If you’re looking for a place that offers fashion, beauty, food and culture, then you should visit Duke of York Square in the heart of Chelsea. The Square has over 30 chic stores, both established brands and unique boutiques, along with six restaurants offering extensive al fresco dining. Its glamorous beauty offer includes the flagships for Richard Ward and Dermalogica. Also home to one of London’s best artisan food markets and the iconic Saatchi Gallery.
For more information, click here
Saatchi Gallery
Image courtesy of Jack Gavigan
This gallery is Charles Saatchi’s private art collection. If you’re really interested in forward-thinking art then you should definitely visit! Entry is free and it is in a great location at the top of King’s Road which makes it a perfect spot to get away for a couple of hours.
For more information, click here
Scarlet Tour
Image courtesy of Tim Parker
If you’d love to learn about the fascinating history of the Royal Hospital Chelsea then you should go on the Scarlet guided walking tour! You get to follow one of the scarlet-uniformed army veterans and discover beautiful buildings designed by the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren, and hear the incredible stories of the Royal Hospital’s past and present inhabitants.
For more information, click here
Accommodation
Chelsea Residence – Click Here
The residence is located just off the famous Kings Road in Chelsea which effortlessly blends luxury with style. From eclectic, fashionable boutiques to globally recognised brands, cafes and restaurants; world-class cultural spaces and renowned interior designers, the best of the everyday mixing easily with the most fascinating and the extraordinary. It has always been a colourful place, so unsurprisingly the mile stretch draws a crowd from far and wide. It is also the site of the first UK branch of Starbucks which opened back in 1999.
