Ah, Chelsea! Sitting close enough to central London to be convenient, but far enough away as to be peaceful. Chelsea has always drawn crowds from across the world. Visitors flock here due to the fact that it personifies English culture and heritage with its fine assortment of independent cafes and bars.
At Find London Apartments we have put together this handy guide to see you through your travels and to give you a few things to do in Chelsea.
- Things to do in Chelsea during the day
- Things to do in Chelsea in the early evening
- Partying in Chelsea
- Accommodation in Chelsea
Things to do during the day
Parks in Chelsea
Kensington and Chelsea are renowned for the lush green pockets that can be found in between bustling city streets. The borough is also home to two of the most spectacular gardens in London: Holland Park and Kensington Gardens.
Holland Park
Sitting just up the road from Kensington High Street and within walking distance of Chelsea, Holland Park is a must-see.
The park is spread across 54 acres of land with lush greens, larger-than-life trees and gorgeous flower beds; Holland Park is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The park used to be the grounds of Cope Castle which was the former home of Sir Walter Cope – a former chancellor of the exchequer during King James I’s reign.
Holland park is home to a multitude of beautiful ‘mini-gardens’, such as the Kyoto Japanese Gardens which have some wonderful greenery and waterfalls (pictured).
Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens are world famous and for good reason. With neat, uniform avenues lined with trees and carefully designed flower beds, Kensington Gardens is another must-see park while you are visiting Chelsea.
The park covers a colossal 275 acres of prime London real-estate and features Italian Gardens, a Peter Pan Statue, the Albert Memorial and even a cafe for that hard-earned coffee at the end of the day!
Kensington Gardens also has numerous play areas which are perfect for you if you need to keep the kids entertained during your visit.
Chelsea Physic Garden
One of London’s secret gems is located in Chelsea. Chelsea Physic Garden is a fantastic escape from the hustle and bustle of Chelsea life.
Inside there are around 5,000 different plants, most of which can be described as edible, medicinal or historical. According to chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk, the garden has its own microclimate which allows many endangered and rare plants to flourish.
If you are looking for things to do in Chelsea, the garden is truly something not to be missed, tickets are £9.90 for adults, £6.60 for students and free for under-5s.
The Best Shops to Visit
Chelsea is one of the most affluent areas in the world and this is reflected with some of the fantastic shops from high-end brands that it has to offer. The area acts like a magnet for the world’s finest clothing brands and jewellers, with brands such as Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci and Dior just a few of the brands that can be found. Here’s our rundown of the areas to visit!
Sloane Street, Chelsea
Sloane Street is definitely the main attraction when it comes to shopping in Chelsea and is the glittery home of brands such as Dior, Cartier and Bulgari.
On top of this, the iconic department store Harvey Nichols resides on Sloane Street where you can get your hands on all manner of luxury clothing and other goods.
Whilst shopping here, be ready to see an array of super cars. Lamborghinis and Ferraris are becoming commonplace as the super-rich flock to the area in search of the next expensive addition to their wardrobe.
Kings Road, Chelsea
Kings Road isn’t quite as upmarket as Sloane Street, but there are definitely some great independent shops to be found hidden away and that will give you plenty of things to do in Chelsea.
You will also usually find a variety of pop-up shops on Kings Road (shops that open for a short period of time and that are not permanent fixtures of the street).
These shops can be fantastic for one-off pieces.
Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street is definitely worth a look, but features mainly chain-stores which you will see in most city centre high streets. The High Street is home to quite a few shoe shops such as Dune, Russell & Bromley and Kurt Geiger.
Chelsea Market
One of the jewels in Chelsea’s crown, the Chelsea Farmers Market is a fashionable and quirky retreat situated just off Kings Road.
Inside there are independent shops, restaurants, bars and coffee shops which make the market very popular with local, bohemian types! We’d definitely recommend visiting the Chelsea Farmers Market while you are there, just to see a different side of Chelsea life.
Things to do in the early evening
The Best Restaurants in Chelsea
As an area, when it comes to things to do in Chelsea it’s about shopping all day, getting some great food and then partying until the sun goes down (and rises again). Below, we have recommended three restaurants which we think you should make a part of your stay…
1. Chutney Mary
535 Kings Road, London SW10 0SZ
The Chutney Mary is one of the most fashionable Indian restaurants that you will ever find.
Located on Kings Road, Chelsea, this restaurant is perfectly located for those of you who have spent the day shopping and are ready to delve straight into a filling, tasty meal.
The restaurant features seductive lighting, traditional Indian decor and food that’s second-to-none.
2.  Cheyne Walk Brasserie
50 Cheyne Walk, London SW3 5LR
The Cheyne Walk Brasserie has some of the most exceptional views across the Thames and the Albert Bridge that you could wish for.
Add to this the fact that this chic restaurant serves up some of the tastiest dishes in London and you’ll begin to see why this is such a popular haunt amongst visitors and patriots of Chelsea alike.
The restaurant gets a lot of natural light and is as popular during the day as it is at night.
The food is renowned around Chelsea.
3. Tom’s Kitchen
27 Cale Street, London SW3 3QP
If you’re looking for a more relaxed/casual bit of dinner, Tom’s Kitchen is ideal for you.
The airy, chilled out restaurant serves some fantastic, mouth-wateringly good food, but doesn’t have the air of pretence that some Chelsea restaurants are guilty of.
This restaurant is very popular throughout the day due to it’s casual ‘drop-in-when-you-like’ welcoming atmosphere.
Partying in the Evening and Chelsea Nightlife
The Bars That You Have to Visit While You’re in Chelsea
1. The Jam Tree
541 Kings Road, London SW6 2EB
The Jam Tree is a gastro pub and garden located on the prime real-estate of Kings Road. With a good drinks selection and some fantastic food (we highly recommend the chilli squid), you can’t go wrong.
2. JuJu
316-318 King’s Road, London SW3 5UH
JuJu is a regular feature on the hit TV show ‘Made in Chelsea’ and the stars of the show are regularly seen in the club in real-life. JuJu features a fantastic selection of drinks and a stylishly designed interior, making for the perfect venue to spend your evening in.
3. The Phene
9 Phene Street, London SW3 5NY
The Phene is a traditional pub with a Chelsea twist. As well as offering beer and comfy sofas, The Phene has a deli with fresh sandwiches made to order through the day. The Phene is a hotspot in Chelsea and is perfect for a more laid back drink in comfortable surroundings.
Bedtime
The Best Holiday Apartments Chelsea Has to Offer
If you are thinking of visiting Chelsea, you may as well stay there too! Chelsea is definitely one of London’s more opulent areas and that is what makes it so popular amongst tourists that are looking for serviced accommodation. There are plenty of things to do in Chelsea and that is what makes it so popular. Here are some of our favourite Chelsea Apartments:
Hans Road Apartments, Chelsea
The Hans Road apartments are located a couple of minutes away from Sloane Street and within easy walking distance of South Kensington Tube Station.
The Hans Road Apartments fit in perfectly with the luxurious surroundings of Chelsea, with each room decorated to a supremely high standard.
When it comes to serviced apartments in Chelsea, these apartments are at the top of the list!
Click here to get more information
Draycott Place, Chelsea
If you’d like to be right amongst the main action of Kings Road in Chelsea then the Draycott Place Apartments are for you.
Basically as soon as you step out of the door you will be on Kings Road, making these apartments ideal for those that want to shop until they drop!
As with all of our Chelsea apartments, the Draycott Place apartments are decorated to a high specification and offer comfortable surroundings for your stay.
Cheval Phoenix House Apartments, Chelsea
Sloane Street is right on the doorstep of these glorious apartments, making them hugely popular amongst those looking for holiday apartments in London.
Sloane Street is one of the premier attractions when it comes to a visit to Chelsea and so the location of these apartments is a real luxury!
Decorated to a high standard with comfort a priority, these apartments are perfect for a short stay.
We hope that you enjoyed our guide and, if you’re a Londoner, we’d love to hear your thoughts too!