Kensington and Chelsea Borough

Kensington

Kensington is in the heart of the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the main road in the area is the A315 and the nearest underground tube station is High Street Kensington on the Circle and District lines and the nearest railway station is at Kensington (Olympia) in West Kensington.

Kensington and Chelsea are both mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book and were originally Saxon settlements. They became a joint borough in 1965.

Kensington and the Kensington area is one of the most expensive places to live in the UK . Kensington Palace Gardens is nicknamed Billionaires Row.

Kensington Gardens is 275 acres in size and contains Kensington Palace , where Queen Victoria was born in 1819 and lived there until she became Queen at the age of 18. The Albert Memorial, dedicated to Prince Albert , Queen Victoria 's husband, is a stunning gold plated statue that attracts many visitors and is situated close to The Royal Albert Hall.

Other attractions in the Kensington area are the museums; namely National History Museum, Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), Royal College of Art, to name but a few.

Notable people past and present from Kensington and the Kensington area include, Queen Victoria, John Profumo, politician of the Profumo scandal fame of the 1960's, and Simon Cowell, record executive and television personality, who lives in nearby Holland Park.

Chelsea

Chelsea began life as a fishing village. Henry VIII had a riverside residence here in Tudor times. Chelsea was later frequented by Bohemian' residents such as Whistler and Oscar Wilde; Chelsea achieved colourful notoriety in Victorian times.

In the heart of the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it is one of London 's most affluent areas. Close to the River Thames the A3217 (Kings Road) runs through it, famous for Saatchi Gallery and of course shopping, when it came to fame in the 1960s with Mary Quant's shop Bazaar selling revolutionary mini skirts. Sloane Square is at the end of Kings Road.

Chelsea Football Club founded in 1905 have their ground at Stamford Bridge on the A304, Fulham Road . Another London football club nearby is Fulham FC who have their ground at Craven Cottage, Stevenage Road .

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, situated on the A308 Fulham Road, is a modern hospital opened in 1993.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is home to the Chelsea Pensioners. It is a Grade I listed building and was founded by Charles II in 1682 for war veterans to come and rest and recuperate. The Chelsea Pensioners are easily recognisable in their red jackets and black three corner hats.

Many famous people live/have lived in Chelsea and the Chelsea area; such as flamboyant playwright, Oscar Wilde, historian Thomas Carlyle, actor Sir Laurence Olivier, singer Freddie Mercury, front man with Queen.

Chelsea is still considered to be one of London 's most exclusive residential areas and 1st Associated carry out independent building surveys in Chelsea and the surrounding area.