A beautifully renovated flat in the heart of Chelsea offered lively cafes, posh boutiques and chic weekend markets.
As one of the largest cities in the world, London can be overwhelming. Not only is it huge, it’s expensive – the cost of lodging can also put a damper on things. That’s why we were thrilled to have a week-long opportunity to housesit in Chelsea, a charming neighborhood in West London.
The flat itself is a dream. Natural hues and a minimalist decor offer a calm, serene vibe. The owner, an avid traveller, has a collection of items gathered from various parts of the world. We loved the fact that each of these items on display holds a story from some past adventure.
Chelsea, one of London’s 32 boroughs, first became famous during the Swinging Sixties. It was the hotspot for a youth-driven cultural revolution of artists, punks and hippies. Popular bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones made it a regular haunt. Today, its famed Bohemian vibe is a distant memory among the impeccable pastel townhomes and chic boutiques lining the streets.
As one of London’s most sought-after neighborhoods, Chelsea has so much to offer, you could easily spend all of your time here.
Steps from our tranquil flat, activities abound. We enjoyed breakfast at London artisan eatery, GAIL’s Bakery and perused the Saturday Market at Duke of York Square. We window shopped on King’s Road then joined the locals for a pint at popular pub, The Duke of Clarence.
One of the neighborhood highlights is the exquisite Brompton Cemetery. Home to over 35,000 gravestones and monuments, we found the cemetery to be especially beautiful against a backdrop of spectacular old trees and their bright, yellow leaves.
Of course, we did eventually venture outside of Chelsea. Our action-packed week included exploring other notable boroughs of London: Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Picadilly Circus, Westminster and South Bank, to name a few. But coming back to Chelsea was always a treat. A welcome respite in the hustle and bustle of England’s thriving capital city.
