My list of ten things to do in Chelsea, London, includes art, horticulture, shopping and dining. Fans of contemporary art can browse exciting exhibitions at the Saatchi Gallery. Horticulture enthusiasts will love wandering around the Chelsea Physic Garden and RHS Chelsea Flower Show. You can soak up the sun at Chelsea Harbour on a pleasant day. Antique lovers will enjoy bidding at Lots Road Auctions or browsing the fabulous Furniture and Arts Building. With excellent eateries and plenty of pubs, you can enjoy drinking and dining Chelsea has much to offer tourists and Londoners alike.
10 Things To Do In Chelsea List
1. Immerse yourself in contemporary art at the Saatchi Gallery
2. Discover apothecary wonders at the Chelsea Physic Garden
3. Visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and local Garden Centres
4. Feel like you’re in the Riviera at Chelsea Harbour
5. Bid on antiques at the Lots Road Auctions
6. Browse the beautiful Chelsea shopping streets
7. Eat delicious food at one of the excellent Chelsea eateries
8. Escape the traffic at the Duke of York Square
9. Hang out at Chelsea Farmers Market, which isn’t a farmers’ market
10. Watch a play at The Royal Court or a movie at Everyman
My Favourite Ten Things To Do In Chelsea
1. Immerse yourself in contemporary art at the Saatchi Gallery. The registered charity provides a platform for contemporary art and culture. The address is Duke of York’s HQ, Kings Road, London SW3 4RY.
2. Discover apothecary wonders at the Chelsea Physic Garden. It was established in 1673 as the Apothecaries’ Garden by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries to grow plants for medicinal purposes. It is now a registered charity open to the general public since 1983. The four-acre physic garden boasts Europe’s oldest rock garden dedicated to alpine plants and Britain’s largest fruiting olive tree. I visited in September 2020 and thought it was a magical place. I can recommend the café which has mouthwatering cakes. It is open Sunday to Friday from 11 am until 5 pm. The address is 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS.
3. Visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and local Garden Centres. Chelsea has a long-standing reputation with horticulture thanks to the annual RHS Chelsea Flower Show hosted at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea in May. If this inspires you to flex your green fingers, go to The Chelsea Gardener or World’s End Nursery.
4. Feel like you’re in the Riviera at Chelsea Harbour. Stroll along the Thames Towpath and stop to admire the picturesque harbour. If you like shopping, pop into the Design Centre, it’s full of super stylish interior design showrooms.
5. Bid on antiques at the Lots Road Auctions. Whether after an Eames recliner, fancy figurines, crystal glass collections or a kilim rug, you’ll find something worth buying at this famous auction house. Auctions run every Sunday from 11 am on the first floor. The address is 71 Lots Road, London SW10 0RN. Also worth mentioning is the Furniture and Arts Building is nearby, with plenty of antique dealers under one roof. The address is 533 Kings Road London SW10 0TZ.
6. Browse the beautiful Chelsea shopping streets. The best places for shopping are King’s Road (fashion and furniture stores), Sloane Street (designer fashion brands), Duke of York Square (beauty and fashion), Lots Road (antiques) and Chelsea Harbour (interiors).
7. Eat delicious food at one of the excellent Chelsea eateries. The area has some fine restaurants, including The Ivy, Ivy Asia, Bluebird Restaurant, Medlar, Manicomio, Polpo, Stanley’s and Rabbit. Casual dining spots for breakfast, brunch and lunch include The Botanist, Bluebird Cafe, L’eto, The Black Penny, Vardo, Granger and Co, Charlotte’s Cloud, Han’s Bar and Grill, and many others. Let’s not forget the gastro pubs from The Cross Keys to The Fox and Pheasant and The Cadogan Arms.
8. Escape the traffic at the Duke of York Square. You’ll find fabulous fashion boutiques (Free People, All Saints, Joseph), beauty stores (Aesop, Dermalogica), eateries (Vardo, The Black Penny, Polpo), Partridge’s premium food shop and an open-air Fine Food Market hosted by Partridges every Saturday from 10 am until 4 pm.
9. Hang out at Chelsea Farmers Market, which isn’t a farmers’ market! It’s a collection of shops and cafes just off Kings Road. You’ll find The Chelsea Gardener Shop and Café, Chelsea Beach Hair and Beauty, Pet Pavilion, Here Organic Warehouse and others. The address is Sydney Street, London SW3 6NR.
10. Watch a play at The Royal Court or a movie at Everyman. The Royal Court commits to helping launch new writers, so you can expect to see contemporary plays from emerging talent. At the Chelsea Theatre, you can join community events such as singing in a choir or a dance class. Book tickets to see your favourite films at the Chelsea Everyman.
Watch My Ten Things To Do in Chelsea Video
Helpful Information About Chelsea London
You can walk around Chelsea and soak up the atmosphere even on a budget. For instance, if you stroll along Chelsea Embankment, you’ll get excellent views of Battersea Power Station. While sauntering down Kings Road, you’ll come across private garden squares and rows of pastel-painted houses.
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.
