Knightsbridge

For other places with the same name, see Knightsbridge (disambiguation).

Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge  Knightsbridge shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ275797
London borough	Westminster
	Kensington & Chelsea
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SW1X, SW3, SW7
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Cities of London and Westminster
London Assembly	West Central
List of places: UK • England • London

Knightsbridge is a road which gives its name to an exclusive district in central London. The road runs along the south side of Hyde Park, west from Hyde Park Corner, spanning the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Up to Brompton Road, it is a part of the A4 arterial road, while the remainder is part of the A315 road.

The eponymous district comprises the area south of Hyde Park, east of the South Kensington museums area and west of Sloane Street. Beauchamp Place and the western section of Pont Street serve roughly as its southern border though adjacent gardens and squares such as Lennox Gardens and Cadogan Square can be considered parts of Knightsbridge. South of this area, the district fades into Brompton and Chelsea while Belgravia lies to the East.

Knightsbridge is notable as an ultra-expensive residential area, and for the density of its upmarket retail outlets. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two "international centres" in London, alongside the West End.

History

Knightsbridge was originally a small hamlet or locality outside the City of London, between the villages of Chelsea (Chelsey), Kensington (Kensing town) and Charing. In the time of Edward I, the manor of Knightsbridge appertained to the abbey of Westminster. It was named after a crossing of the River Westbourne, which is now an underground river. It is recorded that the citizens of London met Matilda of England at the Knight's Bridge in 1141.^{[citation needed]}

From 1885 to 1887, as a result of the opening of trade between Britain and the Far East, Humphreys' Hall in Knightsbridge hosted an exhibition of Japanese culture in a setting built to resemble a traditional Japanese village. The exhibition was very popular, with over 250,000 visitors during its early months. Japanese artisans illustrated "the manners, customs, and art-industries of their country, attired in their national and picturesque costumes. Magnificently decorated and illuminated Buddhist temple. Five o’clock tea in the Japanese tea-house. Japanese Musical and other Entertainments. Every-day Life as in Japan". W.S. Gilbert and his wife attended the exhibition, which is said to have inspired him to write The Mikado.^{[citation needed]}

Economy

Knightsbridge is home to many expensive shops, including the department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols, and flagship stores of many British and international fashion houses, including those of London-based shoe designers Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik, and two Prada stores. The district also has banks that cater for rich individuals (including Coutts, bankers to the Queen), some of London's most renowned restaurants are here, many exclusive hair and beauty salons, antiques and antiquities dealers, and chic bars and clubs.

Property

The district is leafy, especially considering its location at the heart of London. It is home to many of the world's richest people, and has some of the highest property prices in the world. In 2006, a four bedroomed apartment in Knightsbridge sold for over £25,000,000,^{[citation needed]} and on street car parking spaces sell for £300,000 on a 94 year lease.^{[citation needed]} In February 2007, the world's most expensive apartment at One Hyde Park, sold off plan for £100,000,000, and was bought by a Qatari Prince. The development is valued in excess of £4,000 per square foot (£43,000 per square metre). Fourteen of Britain's two hundred most expensive streets are in the district.

Knightsbridge is mostly made up of strictly controlled Conservation Areas and development land is difficult to find.^{[citation needed]} Most properties offered by developers are refurbished flats and houses. Many of these now have huge basement extensions, accommodating an eclectic range of facilities from swimming pools to private nightclubs.^{[citation needed]}

The principal landowners in the area are the Duke of Westminster and Earl Cadogan. The two areas of aristocratic landholdings can be distinguished: red-brick Queen Anne Revival buildings are mostly to be found on the Cadogan Estates, whereas white stucco-fronted houses are mostly found on the Grosvenor Estate, built by Thomas Cubitt.

The district is adjacent to Inner London's largest public park, Hyde Park.

Crime and terrorism

For centuries the area was renowned as the haunt of highwaymen, robbers and cutthroats targeting travellers on the western route out of London, but its fortunes were transformed in the 19th century.

However, the area has often been a target for high-profile crime. In 1980, the Iranian Embassy siege took place in Knightsbridge, lasting several days. It ended when the Special Air Service stormed the building on live television. In 1983, three Christmas shoppers and three Metropolitan Police officers, evacuating Harrods, were killed by an IRA car-bomb placed outside the store. In 1987, the Knightsbridge Security Deposit centre was the target of a robbery and the thieves left with a hoard worth £60 million. In 2005, 22-year-old beautician Clare Bernal was gunned down by her stalker and ex-boyfriend Michal Pech on the shopfloor of Harvey Nichols in front of colleagues and shoppers, before Pech fatally turned the gun on himself.

Many residential buildings are heavily covered by CCTV and are staffed by security guards, while railings or bars on lower floor windows are commonplace.

Buildings

To the north of the area, is the Hyde Park Barracks of the Household Cavalry, with a distinctive 33 storey tower by Sir Basil Spence. The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department is based in Walton Street.

Transport and locale

Nearest places

• Brompton
• Belgravia
• Chelsea
• South Kensington
• Mayfair
• Hyde Park

Nearest tube stations

The nearest London Underground station is Knightsbridge on the Piccadilly line. (The former Brompton Road tube station closed in 1934.)

See also

• Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge
• St Columba's Church of Scotland, Pont Street
• Caledonian Club

External links

• The Knightsbridge Association