The Insider’s Guide to Knightsbridge

We love Knightsbridge – indeed, what’s not to love? World class shopping, fabulous restaurants and bars, but also surprisingly rich with cultural and family-friendly green spots to stop, relax and watch the glitterati go by. Grab a day and enjoy our guide to Knightsbridge’s finest treasures…

8am Start the day in style with a leisurely breakfast fit for a future King (well, Kate Middleton was a former local, so you never know…) at Colbert in Sloane Square. Highly recommended by Marcus Wareing, we reckon Eggs Benedict is possibly the finest way to set yourself up for the day, although you can take your pick from The Full English or delicious croissants that simply melt in the mouth.

Colbert, 50-52 Sloane Square, Chelsea SW1W 8AX, tel: 020 7730 2804

10am Quite possibly the most famous of all stores, you can’t do Knightsbridge without doing Harrods. A little-known fact is that the shop actually began its existence in Borough High Street in 1824, when Charles Henry Harrod established his business. In 1851, he moved to the current Brompton Road site to capitalise on trade at the Great Exhibition in nearby Hyde Park, and over time Harrods attracted a stellar customer list including Oscar Wilde, Lillie Langtry, Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, AA Milne and Sigmund Freud. Today, Harrods is a mecca for stars, tourists and locals alike. Fashion and beauty concessions are paired with a truly awesome food hall that is as amazing for its traditional décor as its array of delicious delicacies. Lose yourself for an hour or two and explore it floor by floor. Of course Harrods is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to shopping in Knightsbridge. Alongside high street favourites, Harvey Nichols gives Harrods a run for its money and is equally well bestowed with a bevvy of chic fashion labels. But don’t forget to take in nearby Beauchamp Place (pronounced Beecham – don’t be mistaken for a tourist!) with its multiplicity of designers and jewellers – a favourite of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, this fashionable street is synonymous with exclusivity.

Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL
Harvey Nichols, 109 – 125 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RJ
Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1RE

1pm After all that retail therapy, we guarantee your feet will thank you for a sit-down. Now you could choose some of the area’s finest eateries, such as Knightsbridge stalwart San Lorenzo –which is often frequented by ex-pat Italians, a true sign of its authenticity – or Maroush with its amazing Lebanese dishes, but tucked away in Walton Street is one of the area’s best-kept secrets, Jak’s, which serves a delicious Mediterranean-inspired, home cooked, organic menu.

San Lorenzo, 22 Beauchamp Place, London SW3 1RE, tel: 020 7584 1074
Maroush II, 38 Beauchamp Place, London SW3 1NU, tel: 020 7581 5434
Jak’s, 77 Walton Street, London SW3 2HT, tel: 020 7584 3441

3pm Take in a little afternoon culture, firstly with a wander by St Luke’s & Christ Church with its wonderfully manicured lawns where families sit and chat while their children play – an idyllic slice of village life, city style.

Then take a gentle walk to the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum, part of Albertopolis, named after, of course, Prince Albert. A beautiful building in its own right, if you are in marital mode or just love a good wedding, don’t miss the Wedding Dresses exhibition with gowns from Norman Hartnell, Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang.

St Luke’s & Christ Church, Sydney Street, London SW3 6NH, tel: 020 7351 7365
Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL, tel: 020 7942 2000

6pm How about a pre-dinner drink? (well, it would be rude not to)… We love The Grenadier, which has a history as rich as the colour of its façade – its patriotic red, white and blue matches the sentry box outside. The building was built in 1720 as the home of the Foot Guards Regiment and was even frequented by King George IV. However, its notoriety belongs to a young grenadier who was caught cheating in a game of cards and was beaten to death in 1818 – Cedric, as this unfortunate fellow is known, is said to haunt The Grenadier so look out for unusual happenings and things that go bump in the night when you pay a visit.

The Grenadier, 18 Wilton Row, London SW1X 7NR, tel: 020 7235 3074

8pm Time to eat! For a slice of gastronomy, head to the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park where Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant Dinner offers a menu that features 16^th century dishes which have been given the kitchen maestro’s modern spin.

Alternatively try one of Gordon Ramsay’s many culinary hotspots, Petrus, which has a menu as elegant and sophisticated as its stylish and contemporary setting. Signature dishes include Cornish lemon sole with clams, girolles, rock samphire and farfalle pasta. Bet your mouth is watering already!

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA, tel: 020 7235 2000
Petrus, 1 Kinnerton Street, London SW1X 8EA, tel: 020 7592 1609

If our Knightsbridge guide has tempted you, and you’d like to make your stay a permanent one, contact Benham & Reeves Residential Lettings’ Knightsbridge Office Manager Lisa-Jane Stratton on 020 3468 2005, email knight@brlets.co.uk. She’d love to help you discover the cosmopolitan area of London that really has it all.