Simply Abu Dhabi XXXIV

1 8 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T here are few areas in the world that can rival the historically rich, culturally iconic, and architecturally stunning residential area that is Chelsea. Bordered to the south by the River Thames, the area runs alongside the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour, then stretches east to Sloane Square before moving north west towards Kensington. It is in Chelsea where one can find some of the most beautiful homes in London, with a mixture of terraced rows, detached homes and purpose-built flats in period mansions, and new high-end apartment developments. Chelsea is a key area in London and globally, for visitors and residents alike. A destination in its own right due to its reputation as a cultural quarter, Chelsea is a pocket of London that infuses an eclectic collaboration between history, arts and culture and attracts visitors to The Design Centre, The Saatchi Gallery and The King’s Road. To live in Chelsea means to immerse yourself in the history of the area. The exclusive neighbourhood grew to prominence in the 19th century, when Chelsea became a Victorian artists’ colony and established itself as a prosperous quarter. Since then, the neighbourhood has experienced several revivals and is considered as one of the most sought-after areas to own property in London, if not all of England. Chelsea provides a world of cutting-edge fashion, art and culture, with its centre piece, The King’s Road, exemplifying this. The King’s Road was a private road until 1830, and has since become a major attraction for shoppers, food enthusiasts and wellness advocates alike. It can trace its history back to 1845, when privileged Londoners headed out of town to Viscount Cremorne’s Pleasure Gardens at the westerly end of the King’s Road, where they were treated to fireworks, galas and performances. In later years, The King’s Road became a symbol of mod culture, regarded as a centre for counterculture in the 1960s and 70s, and became home to some of the most well-known designers of the modern day, fromMary Quant to Stella McCartney and Vivienne Westwood, the iconic designer who set up shop on the King’s Road in 1971, inspiring the punk culture with her tartan designs that dominated at the time. In the current day, The King’s Road serves as Chelsea’s high street and has the reputation for being one of London’s most fashionable shopping streets. It is not uncommon to spot a famous face around Chelsea, which has historically been home to world-renowned musicians, artists and bohemians including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Freddie Mercury. Many current celebrities, artists and footballers have also made Chelsea their home, due to the appeal of having the rest of London on your doorstep whilst being able to enjoy a lifestyle that blends total luxury with tranquil living. Withinminutes of the vibrant King’s Road shopping hub, Chelsea Creek, by St George, offers a characteristically European mode of waterside living in the neighbourhood, providing luxurious riverside apartments, top-of-the-range onsite residents’ facilities and easy access to surrounding retail and leisure amenities.