Grosvenor Gardens to Knightsbridge: Exploring the Exclusive Side of London

London Wlogger

Welcome one and all to another walk across London! This week I’ll be visiting the exclusive and wealthy side of the capital, as my journey begins in Grosvenor Gardens. From there I go via upmarket Belgravia to Sloane Square before finishing at one of the world’s most famous department stores, Harrods in Knightsbridge. So let’s grab the walking boots and go!

map1
Grosvenor Gardens to Knightsbridge

My walk starts in Upper Grosvenor Gardens which has only been open to the public recently, and with its plants and benches is the perfect place to relax. The name Grosvenor derives from the Grosvenor family who were landowners in the area.

IMG_0368.JPG
Grosvenor Gardens

One of the distinctive features within the garden is a sculpture of a Lioness chasing a Lesser Kudu. It was created by the famous animal sculptor Jonathan Kenworthy, and has been there since 2000 to mark the opening of the gardens to the people of Westminster. It certainly is an eye-catching aspect of the gardens which you don’t miss!

IMG_0372.JPG
Lioness and Lesser Kudu Sculpture

At one of the entrances also stands this war memorial with poppy wreaths laid in remembrance.

img_0375
War Memorial

Whenever you’re in a garden you normally only take in the plants, grass area and sculptures, however, the outer fencing has this really unique and stylish design!

IMG_0379.JPG
Fence on the Outside of the Gardens

It’s time to move onto my next location on today’s walk as I head for affluent Belgravia and Eaton Square. Now if you thought living in London was expensive, you’ve not seen anything yet! In December Eaton Square was given the honour of being the most expensive place to buy a home in the UK. The average home in this area costs a staggering £17 million! Some properties in the area have been on the market for as much as over £50 million! Looking at the size of the houses you can see why!

IMG_0389.JPG
Eaton Square
IMG_0392.JPG
Eaton Square

Opposite the houses sits some beautiful gardens too, which are private to the residents of the mansions!

IMG_0390.JPG
Eaton Square
IMG_0398.JPG
Eaton Square

I must say walking through all these expensive and fancy mansions is actually quite fun to get a glimpse of the high life! Though I’ll never be able to afford them, or you never know if this blog takes off and makes me a millionaire I might…. but for now strolling past them will have to do!

IMG_0396.JPG
Eaton Square

I leave the well-heeled Belgravia mansions to go onto my next stop, Sloane Square! Located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the square used to be called ‘Hans Town’ after Sir Hans Sloane whose estates owned the land at the time. The square was laid out in 1771 by architects Henry Holland Snr and Henry Holland Jnr.

img_0407
Sloane Square
IMG_0409.JPG
Sloane Square

Within the square sits The Venus Fountain which was sculptured in 1953 by  Gilbert Ledward. The life-sized bronze Venus is seen kneeling on top of a large vase whilst pouring water into a pool lined with light blue ceramic tiles. The Venus is sitting on a relief of King Charles II and his mistress, Nell Gywnn.

IMG_0416.JPG
The Venus Fountain
IMG_0418.JPG
The Venus Fountain

At the opposite end of The Venus Fountain you find a Royal Naval Air Service memorial which again has poppy wreaths laid out on it in remembrance.

IMG_0410.JPG
Royal Naval Air Service

Next to Sloane Square you’ll find the picturesque Parish Church of Holy Trinity Sloane Square which is an Anglican parish church built between 1888-1890, and designed by architect John Dando Sedding.

IMG_0421.JPG
The Parish Church of Holy Trinity Sloane Square

A walk along Sloane Street takes you to one of London’s secret hidden gems at Cadogan Place Gardens. Once known as the London Botanic Gardens, they were laid out at the end of the 18th century by William Sailsbury. Walking through the gardens feels like you’re in one of London’s Royal Parks or the countryside, not a small pretty garden near Knightsbridge. Within the gardens sits lawns, plants, hedges and sculptures, everything you’d expect from a beautiful garden! The more you walk through it, you discover lots of picturesque surprises!

img_0428

img_0433

img_0437

img_0442

img_0444

img_0445

img_0446

img_0448

img_0452

It’s time to move onto my final location in Knightsbridge, Harrods. To get there I pass many high-end brands from Gucci to Chanel and many other brands I don’t normally buy from!

IMG_0456.JPG
Street in Knightsbridge

One of Knightsbridge’s most recognisable stores is Harrods which was founded in 1834 by Charles Henry Harrod. The store is 20,000 m2  with 330 departments that covers 90,000 m2 of retail space. Harrods’ motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique, which means “all things for all people, everywhere” in Latin! From clothing to electronics to jewellery to toys to furniture, it’s all there for you! I do love the distinctive green colouring of the branding and with its unique products makes it a huge tourist hot spot!

img_0465
Harrods
img_0464
Harrods
img_0459-1
Harrods

My walk has taken me through some of London’s richest and most exclusive areas, whether it’s the mansions of Belgravia to the gardens near Knightsbridge, it has been a trip through the capital’s upmarket side! Hope you’ve enjoyed reading my walk, and you can catch me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and don’t forget to sign up to my blog too!

Until next time, have a great week, and see you soon!

Sources: (not the food sauces)

All photos taken by London Wlogger. © Copyright 2017

Information on Grosvenor Gardens – London is Cool

Information on Grosvenor Gardens – Secret London

Information on Grosvenor Gardens – My Parks Westminster

Information on Sloane Square – The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

London’s Most Beautiful Fountains – Londonist

About The Parish Church of Holy Trinity Sloane Square – Holy Trinity Sloane Square

Information about Cadogan Place Gardens – London Gardens Trust

History of Harrods – Harrods

42 thoughts on “Grosvenor Gardens to Knightsbridge: Exploring the Exclusive Side of London”

  1. If you have to ask the price… I was just reading a Recency romance set in Grosvenor Square. Times haven’t changed much for the wealthy. I have been to Harrods, the obligatory pilgrimage to the Food Hall. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. I used to live near Grosvenor Gardens, in Lupus Street, Pimlico. It wasn’t very posh though. In actual fact, our cockroaches left due to the squalor and we used to wipe our feet on the way OUT!
    Another enjoyable stroll through our mighty capital. Well played! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  6. Always look forward to your walks, and the hidden gems you uncover. Today you covered the “Rich Areas”. Someone had the gall on a blog yesterday to call this Country poor – really. The UK has always been Rich, perhaps money in the wrong hands, better not get political.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Thank you for a very enjoyable walk, it was great! I think the mansions at Eaton Square look more like government buildings than homes. While luxurious I don’t think I’d want to live there.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. I know this area of London a little better given that when in London I stay in this area. Many of those mansions are usually just a pied a terre and no one seems to be living there permanently. As for Harrod’s I remember the food halls before 1996 which were delightful, it changed quite a bit afterwards and is not as nice nowadays.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. ah … this is my part of the world… I worked in Holy Trinity Church for 8 years running their Sunday school and as church secretary until 2015. They have a new priest now who dislike …… and 10 Grosvenor gardens was one of my first jobs in London- lived round the corner (40 years ago).

    beautiful photographs and excellent guide to London x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Brian Cancel reply