My Chelsea London Guide is super helpful for anyone exploring this chic and charming part of West London. I’ll delve into the best things to do in Chelsea, covering the Chelsea Physic Garden, Saatchi Gallery and a walk around Chelsea Harbour. You’ll be spoilt for choice with shops selling exquisite antiques, contemporary furniture and fabulous fashion. The same goes for food with fine dining, casual cafes and everything in between. In the past, Chelsea has been famous for the Chelsea Pensioners, the swinging sixties era, the punk heyday and Sloane Rangers, amongst other things. Today it’s more about art, antiques, and plenty of places to eat. It’s a lovely area to explore by foot, where you can wander down streets with pastel-painted houses or peep through the railings of a private garden. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll have fun!
Best Things To Do In Chelsea
You won’t get bored in Chelsea, that’s for sure, because there are so many lovely things to do. Let’s start with horticulture, as the area is synonymous with the RHS Chelsea Flower Show hosted at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea in May. If this inspires you to potter around your garden, visit The Chelsea Gardener or World’s End Nurseries.
If gardening is your thing, you’ll enjoy discovering apothecary wonders at the Chelsea Physic Garden. The Apothecaries’ Garden was initially established in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow plants for medicinal purposes. Today it is open to the public, who can enjoy four acres of beautiful gardens, including Europe’s oldest rock garden featuring alpine plants and Britain’s largest fruiting olive tree. With an on-site café serving lunch and cakes, it makes for a beautiful day out. Opening times are open Sunday to Friday from 11 am until 5 pm. The address is 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS.
Art lovers will enjoy browsing notable art exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery, a registered charity providing a platform for contemporary art and culture. The address is Duke of York’s HQ, Kings Road, London SW3 4RY. Or perhaps visiting the National Army Museum or a tour of Chelsea Football Stadium is more your thing.
Watch a play at the Royal Court Theatre, where you discover new writers and watch contemporary plays from emerging talent. If you prefer to watch a film, check out the latest movie release at Everyman.
Check what’s on at the Chelsea Old Town Hall for exhibitions, shows and sample sales. Take time to admire this neo-classical Building which contains historic frescoes.
One of my favourite things is walking around Chelsea and admiring the pretty private gardens, pastel-painted houses and river views. You will enjoy strolling along Chelsea Embankment with excellent views of Battersea Power Station or admiring the yachts at Chelsea Harbour.
Best Places To Shop In Chelsea
Chelsea has an abundance of antique shops, interiors showrooms and fashion boutiques. The best places for shopping are Lots Road (antiques), Chelsea Harbour (interiors), King’s Road (fashion and furniture stores), Sloane Street (designer fashion brands) and Duke of York Square (beauty and fashion).
Antique hunters will want to bid on antiques at the Lots Road Auctions every Sunday from 11 am. The address is 71 Lots Road, London SW10 0RN.
Look out for the green-painted Furniture and Arts Building, where you’ll find plenty of antique dealers under one roof. The address is 533 Kings Road London SW10 0TZ.
If you prefer contemporary furniture and home accessories, you’ll want to explore the Design Centre, full of luxury interior design showrooms.
King’s Road has excellent furniture, decorating and textiles shops, including William Yeoward, Camerich, Timothy Oulton, Go Modern, Ligne Roset, Soho Home and Designers Guild.
Fashion stores include Muse, Ba&sh, Anthropologie, Maje, Zadig and Voltaire and many more. Walk to the World’s End area to visit the Vivienne Westwood shop.
A quiet, pedestrianised area is the Duke of York Square. Fashion stores include Free People, All Saints and Joseph, and for beauty products, try Aesop or Dermalogica. The Partridge’s luxury food store is also worth visiting, and if you are there on Saturday, you may like the open-air Fine Food Market hosted by Partridges from 10 am until 4 pm.
Best Places To Eat In Chelsea
Chelsea offers various dining experiences, from upmarket restaurants to cafes and gastro pubs.
Special occasion restaurants include The Ivy, Ivy Asia, Medlar, Manicomio, Polpo, Stanley’s, Rabbit and the Bluebird Restaurant.
For a laid-back breakfast, brunch, and lunch, try The Botanist, Bluebird Cafe, L’eto, The Black Penny, Vardo, Granger and Co, Charlotte’s Cloud, and Han’s Bar and Grill. Or a pub that serves great food like The Cross Keys, The Fox and Pheasant, Beaufort House, The King’s Arms, The Chelsea Potter and The Cadogan Arms.
For afternoon tea or cute cupcakes, it has to be the adorable Peggy Porschen.
If you want to escape the traffic, you will find eateries at Duke of York Square, including Polpo, Manicomio, The Black Penny and Vardo. Granger and Co, Han’s Bar and Grill, and Wulf and Lamb are along Pavilion Road. Head to Chelsea Farmers Market for the rustic Chelsea Gardener Café or Market Place Restaurant. At The Courtyard, 151 Sydney Street, is Phat Phuc Noodle Bar and the romantic Stanleys restaurant.
Watch My Ten Things To Do in Chelsea Video
Helpful Information About Chelsea London
Chelsea is in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea with postcodes SW1, SW3 and SW10. The area borders the River Thames, Fulham, Earls Court, South Kensington and Pimlico. For more information on Chelsea and the famous Kings Road, you may find these resources helpful: Kings Road Website, Kings Road Chelsea Website, Kings Road Wikipedia Page and Chelsea London Wikipedia Page.
While you are in the area, you may find these articles of interest:
Ten Reasons To Visit Kings Road
Ten Reasons To Visit Pavilion Road
Ten Reasons To Visit Duke Of York Square
Bluebird Café Kings Road Review
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Please check that the places I referenced in this article are still in business before you visit to avoid disappointment.
