Home to many of London’s richest inhabitants as well as the city’s most opulent department store, Harrods, Knightsbridge is a glamorous and glittering area. Although home to the flashy One Hyde Park apartment blocks and a wealth of luxury hotels, it’s not simply a neighbourhood that is all about modern steel and glass. Knightsbridge also contains striking Regency architecture, neat little cobbled mews and several of the city’s finest squares with one of London’s Royal Parks, Hyde Park, bordering the area to the north. Many of the typical Knightsbridge townhouses are currently used by national embassies, particularly around Belgrave Square. While the main road through the area boasts many of the stores you’d expect to find on a typical high street, Knightsbridge is also home to plenty of unique, independent stores selling everything from art to designer fashions.
Photos by @urbanpixxels. Dutch expat + photographer + travel blogger living in London. Bit of a foodie and coffee addict.
Jacintha Verdegaal, Urban Pixxels
Knightsbridge is a popular shopping destination and home to England’s most famous department store, Harrods. Apart from Britain’s most iconic shop, the bustling and stylish area also offers adventurous, sophisticated dining spots and unique experiences. It has a restaurant for every occasion, from family-friendly Italian restaurants, through to Michelin-starred British and French fine dining and modern Japanese restaurants and oyster bars.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel is inspired by historic British gastronomy. The menu contains creative and innovative dishes, such as Meat Fruit, mandarin and chicken liver parfait, served with grilled bread and Savoury Porridge, frog’s legs with chanterelles, garlic, parsley and fennel. The surprising flavour and texture combinations don’t stop at the main menu, with brown bread ice cream making an appearance in the desserts menu, served with salted butter caramel and pear, drizzled with malted yeast syrup.
WebsitePetrus by Gordon Ramsay is a Michelin starred fine dining restaurant offering modern French dishes. The stylish menu can be enjoyed in the main restaurant surrounding the centrepiece glass-encased wine cellar, or at the interactive Chef’s Table at the lively kitchen. The clean and elegant dishes offer an intense taste and can be matched to rare and fine vintage wines.
WebsiteBibendum Oyster Bar is the place to visit for oyster and seafood lovers and those who enjoy a glass of champagne with half a dozen oysters at an informal setting. Shellfish are the main event, however you will also find other seafood dishes, terrines and salads in the all-day menu. Plateau de fruits de mer is the star of the menu, including oysters, crab, brown shrimps, langoustines, fresh Atlantic prawns, winkles and whelks.
WebsiteContemporary Japanese restaurant Zuma delivers flavours of the east in a sophisticated twist on the traditional Japanese izakaya style. The beautifully presented menu focuses on intense and authentic flavours, with the exotic dishes created to be enjoyed on the izakaya style of informal eating and drinking. The sushi and sashimi selection of fish and seafood rolls are complemented by the dishes from the robata grill.
WebsiteFood and drink courtesy of @mulia Italian foodie in London – Blogger – Baker – Coffee lover, Photographer & Traveller
Giulia Mulè, Mondo Mulia
Knightsbridge is an exclusive area of Central London situated just south of the Royal Park, Hyde Park. Renowned as a residential and retail district it has a select offering for keeping fit and indulging in relaxing experiences. Discover high-end spas and fitness facilities located in top London hotels or relax and unwind in one of the area’s beautiful outdoor spaces.
The Berkeley Health Club and Spa brings the calm of the countryside to the heart of the city, with views overlooking Hyde Park from your treadmill or lounger. The fitness suite has everything you need to stay in shape, with the option to hire Personal Trainers. Added to this is the rooftop pool – found beyond the Hotel’s Secret Garden.
WebsiteHyde Park is one of the eight Royal Parks in London. The park is relatively flat, covering 350 acres, but makes up for it with sheer space and variety of scenery. Hyde Park boasts a boating lake, horse track, open water swimming, boating, cycling and tennis, meaning there’s something for everyone. If none of those take your fancy, just find a spot and watch the world go by!
WebsiteBased in Hyde Park, BMF offers 16 classes a week in addition to two run clubs, Power Bag and Box Fit classes. With an ex Royal Marines instructor, be prepared to be put through your paces. You’ll work as a team with other class participants from all walks of life, level of fitness and experience – whatever the weather!
WebsiteLocated in Hyde Park, this lido has been a part of London for over 100 years. A great chance to try out open water swimming or just relax on the edge of the water. Open weekends through May, then seven days a week in June-mid September, it’s the perfect place to take family or friends. They’re also home to The Serpentine Swimming Club, the oldest swimming club in Britain.
WebsiteEscape to serenity with a day spa, fitness centre and swimming pool. The fitness suite is fully equipped with state of the art machines and if you’re looking to get away from the buzz of Knightsbridge, book in for a treatment, which comes with a complimentary consultation to ensure it’s tailored to you and your needs!
WebsiteAquilla, a private gym and swimming pool, has everything you need to workout in stylish comfort. With a host of group fitness classes on the menu, you can work on your fitness with an aerobics class, crunch your core with Pilates, or try something new – like the De Rose method or Zumba! Also on offer are a range of spa and beauty treatments to treat yourself in your downtime.
WebsiteHealth and wellbeing courtesy of @keepitsimpElle. Health & Fitness blogger | Personal Trainer. Triathlete in the making!
Elle, Keep it simpElle
Knightsbridge has a wide range of must-see places waiting to be discovered, many of which often house a treasure trove of unique stories and experiences. Explore some of our top recommendations below and get the insiders’ take on Knightsbridge’s hidden gems.
There’s nothing particularly ‘hidden’ about Harrods, but tucked away behind the store’s shiny entrance doors is a tiny slice of Paris – the Ladurée tearooms. Whether you’re in search of a box of macaroons to take home for tea, or a leisurely lunch spot, Ladurée has you covered. In summer months, the tearooms spill outside, so you can watch the shoppers heading into Harrods and leaving laden with their signature green and gold bags.
WebsiteThe Brompton Oratory is an icon of Knightsbridge, but just behind it is another church, Holy Trinity Brompton. Down in its basement, beneath the church itself is a very cosy little coffee shop – the Brompton Café and a spiritual bookshop. Even if spiritual self-improvement may not appeal to all, the tasty-looking cakes here are hard to resist.
WebsiteWhile Topshop, Zara and Harrods line Knightsbridge’s main street, tucked away towards Chelsea and South Kensington lies Walton Street – an alternative shopping spot. Avoid the bustling hordes around the area’s busier spots and go for a more leisurely wander down here. The rainbow shop-fronts of this old terraced row contain galleries, cafés and restaurants, furniture shops, luxury swimwear boutiques and baby emporiums.
WebsitePart art gallery, part fashion studio, Egg is one of the London design world’s best kept secrets. This converted former dairy is located on quiet Kinnerton Street and the boutique interior has an ever-changing array of stock displayed on its whitewashed walls and shelves. Pop along to peruse perfectly-picked clothing, textiles, home-wares and accessories.
WebsiteKnightsbridge isn’t only home to vast Regency mansions; it’s also filled with picturesque cobbled mews, lined by candy-coloured homes. Properties in the mews will still easily surpass the £1million mark, but they make a pretty place to take a wander through this corner of the city. Check out Ennismore Gardens Mews and Princes Gate Mews for a perfect example of these little streets, then wander awhile to find some more.
WebsiteHidden gems courtesy of @AccidentalLDNr. Urban blogger. Londoner. Gin enthusiast.
Flora Tonking, The Accidental Londoner
If you’re after luxury shopping, then Knightsbridge is the place to shop. Most commonly known for being home to one of the world’s most famous department stores, Harrods, Knightsbridge is also where you’ll find a wealth of top designer stores. Even if you’re just window shopping along Sloane Street, the window displays are truly breathtaking. If luxury isn’t your thing, there are also plenty of high street shops to discover, including one of the larger Topshop stores, where Kate Middleton has been said to shop.
H&M is great place for picking up fashion bargains, however it can often be cramped when hitting the smaller or busier branches in places like Oxford Street. This is when the Knightsbridge branch is comes into its own. With over three floors of womenswear, menswear and young adult clothing and accessories, the store is much more spacious, giving you plenty of room to relax and find those perfect items.
WebsiteHarrods is London’s top luxury department stores and recognisable across the world. In store, you’ll find everything you could ever need, including numerous floors of designer fashion, a beauty hall, a dedicated home-ware and interiors floor and even an art gallery. There are plenty of restaurants and Godiva Chocolate Café is on the second floor, where you can enjoy numerous chocolate treats.
WebsiteInside Harvey Nichols you’ll discover over four floors of designer fashion, including women’s men’s and children’s wear. Check out the denim gallery for that perfect pair of jeans, or the stunning collection of footwear from designers like Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo. There’s also beauty and accessories on the ground floor and for the ultimate treat, why not have a blow-dry at the Daniel Hersheson salon.
WebsiteTopshop is located opposite Harrods on Brompton Road and is one of their bigger branches in London. It has a great selection of clothing and exclusive pieces to choose from, including the Topshop Unique range. If you’re after something special, or simply an update to your wardrobe for a new season, it’s well worth taking advantage of the in-store personal shopping experience.
WebsiteChanel’s window displays will have you in awe. This is the home to everything Chanel, including clothing, accessories and handbags, all under one roof. Situated on Sloane Street, it’s in the heart of designer fashion, with stores such as Tom Ford, Gucci and Roberto Cavalli just a stone’s throw away.
WebsiteShopping courtesy of @TheLDNDiaries your source of all things fashion, beauty, lifestyle, food and then some.
Paula Holmes, The LDN Diaries
Knightsbridge has a wide variety of companies lining its streets, from high-class interior designers to respected law firms. There are several large oil companies that have made their headquarters here, as well as a smattering of investment companies.
