Knightsbridge

The elite shopping and residential district of Knightsbridge south of Hyde Park in central London is best known for major names such as Harrods and Harvey Nichols as well as flagship stores to a number of international brands. It is hard to believe that an area where a two storey penthouse recently sold for £140 million was originally a hamlet and was named after a crossing of the River Westbourne, now an underground river.   

Food and drink lives up to the area’s exclusive reputation with well known restaurants such as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Petrus, Koffmann’s and Marcus, while those after afternoon tea should check out Pont St at Belgraves Hotel, The Rosebery at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London, Jumeirah Carlton Hotel or the Knightsbridge Lounge.

Impressive buildings in the area include the Hyde Park Barracks of the Household Cavalry with a 33 storey tower by Sir Basil Spence, the Brompton Oratory, the Holy Trinity Church and the Russian Orthodox Church.