Overview: With the Thames to the south, and South Kensington and Knightsbridge to the north, Chelsea's location is impeccable. At various points in its history, dating back to the eighteenth century, it has had an avant garde reputation. Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain are two former residents and it was once the home of street cool when the Kings Road was the epicentre of swinging sixties London. Today Chelsea is more sedate and far more expensive, and this is reflected in the style of accommodation. Wealthy expatriates and Chelsea locals ducking into Waitrose have replaced the Kings Road punk rockers and Porsches and Mercedes have replaced the open top Cadillacs of the 60s and 70s. Chelsea Green retains a village like atmosphere with its local and often family owned shops and cafés. Watch out for the Chelsea Pensioners in bright red uniforms whose attire is in stark contrast to that of the expatriate bankers, the lawyers and other professionals who settle in Chelsea. Unlike South Kensington to the north, Chelsea is also home to many locals, several of whom still live here and retain homes in the country. Notting Hill has eclipsed Chelsea as the home of cool and young arty types have given way to older money and the more sober professional types who now live here.
Property: Some of London's oldest properties are to be found here: large family houses around elegant and fashionable garden squares; a wide selection of smaller and medium size family houses; mansion buildings offering a superbly located pied-a-terre or occasionally, more substantial accommodation. Some houses have been converted into flats although far less extensively than in neighbouring South Kensington and Fulham.
Underground: Sloane Square (District and Circle Lines)
