Chelsea

The affluent area of Chelsea in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in central London runs along the River Thames to the north. Its name allegedly comes from the Old English term for “landing place for chalk or limestone”. The area originally served London to the east as a market garden until the 19th century development boom.

One of the area’s best known buildings is the Chelsea Royal Hospital for old Soldiers opened in 1694 and designed by Christopher Wren. It now hosts the annual and world renowned Chelsea Flower Show every May, which includes ground breaking show gardens designed by big names.

Foodies head straight to Chelsea Farmers’ Market, an attractive square off the King’s Road on Sydney Street featuring independent shops and restaurants with outdoor seating. While there are no actual farmers in sight, it is a nice spot for lunch following by browsing around the shops.

Chelsea’s other main landmark the King’s Road rose to fame during the “Swinging Sixties” due to its fashion boutiques, while the area became home to starts such as The Beatles, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The area is still a shopping hotspot with many of the big name brands having retail outlets in the area interspersed with vibrant cafés and restaurants.