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Belgravia is the grandest and most serene of central London’s districts, a set-piece of cream-white mansions, garden squares and hushed, moneyed calm just behind Buckingham Palace. It rewards a quiet wander for its architecture, its embassies and its handful of pretty village streets.
Where is Belgravia and how to get there
Belgravia lies between Hyde Park Corner, Victoria and Sloane Square, wrapped around some of London’s most exclusive addresses. It is bordered by Knightsbridge and Chelsea and is easily reached from Victoria or Hyde Park Corner stations, or on foot from the palace.
Squares, streets and grandeur
The district was laid out in the nineteenth century around the immense stuccoed terraces of Belgrave Square and Eaton Square, many now home to embassies. For all its grandeur, Belgravia has two engaging village streets: Elizabeth Street, lined with independent boutiques and bakeries, and Motcomb Street, with its smart shops and cafes. This is an area to admire slowly rather than to tick off sights.
Eating and drinking
Belgravia does refined dining and, famously, afternoon tea: The Goring, a family-run luxury hotel with royal connections, serves one of the city’s most celebrated sittings, covered in our guide to afternoon tea in London. Elizabeth Street is the place for a smart coffee or a pastry.
Good to know
What is Belgravia known for?
Belgravia is known for its grand white-stucco mansions and garden squares, its embassies, and its position as one of London’s wealthiest and most elegant districts. Visitors come for the architecture, the quiet grandeur and the boutiques and afternoon tea around Elizabeth Street and nearby hotels.
Where to go next
Walk on to Knightsbridge, Pimlico or Victoria, or browse all our London neighbourhood guides.
