47-530: The Hyde Park Barracks are in Knightsbridge in central London , on the southern edge of Hyde Park . They were often known as Knightsbridge Barracks and this name is still sometimes used informally. The barracks are 3 ⁄ 4 mile (1.2 km) from Buckingham Palace , enabling the officers and soldiers of the Household Cavalry to be available to respond speedily to any emergency at
94-617: A 16,000 ft two-storey penthouse in One Hyde Park sold for £140 million. Land in Knightsbridge is for the most part identified by City of Westminster (and by the RBKC , where former Brompton parts are included) as strengthened planning law -governed Conservation Areas : 'Albert Gate', 'Belgravia', 'Knightsbridge' and 'Knightsbridge Green'. Properties must be offered here by developers as refurbished flats or houses meeting
141-610: A 2001 population of 1,525,000. The sub-region was replaced in 2008 with a new structure which amalgamated inner and outer boroughs together. This was altered in 2011 when a new Central London sub-region was created, now including the City of London and excluding Wandsworth. The 1901 Census defined Central London as the City of London and the metropolitan boroughs (subdivisions that existed from 1900 to 1965) of Bermondsey , Bethnal Green , Finsbury , Holborn , Shoreditch , Southwark , Stepney , St Marylebone and Westminster . During
188-581: A 94-year lease. Fourteen of Britain's two hundred most expensive streets are in the neighbourhood, as defined by The Times . In February 2007, the world's most expensive apartment at One Hyde Park , sold off plan for £100 million, bought by a Qatari prince, and another apartment at the same place in February 2009, at almost the same price, was bought by a Qatari prince. Apartments of this secure, optimum specification, address equate to in excess of £4,000 per square foot (£43,000 per square metre). In 2014,
235-540: A high-density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally, nationally and internationally significant organisations and facilities. Road distances to London are traditionally measured from a central point at Charing Cross (in the City of Westminster ), which is marked by the statue of King Charles I at the junction of the Strand , Whitehall and Cockspur Street , just south of Trafalgar Square . The central area
282-515: A mimsy-pimsy building', Spence is reported as saying. 'It is for soldiers. On horses. In armour'. He also felt that a tower would cut out less light to the park than a slab block, and would block fewer upper-storey views of the Royal Park from buildings to the south. In 2015 the C20 charity which campaigns for the preservation of architectural heritage applied to have the building listed . Their bid
329-583: A non-tabloid paper in 2008. The underlying landowners of the few streets making up, without any dispute, Knightsbridge are the Duke of Westminster , Lord Cadogan and the Wellcome Trust with a minority of the freeholds to houses in each street sold to others . Red-brick Queen Anne revival buildings form most of the Cadogan Estates , whereas white stucco-fronted houses are mostly found on
376-595: A robbery worth £60 million. In 2005, 22-year-old beautician Clare Bernal was gunned down by her ex -boyfriend Michal Pech on the shopfloor of Harvey Nichols in front of colleagues and shoppers before Pech fatally turned the gun on himself. The case attracted extensive coverage in the media, and Clare's mother Patricia has since led a campaign to address flaws in the system, which allowed her daughter's murder to happen. Many residential buildings are heavily covered by CCTV and are staffed by security guards, and railings or bars on lower floor windows are commonplace. To
423-480: A short break with the Horses Trust, all were due to return to ceremonial duty. On 1 July 2024, three horses bolted from their riders with one of the horses receiving minor injuries. None of the horses were involved in the previous April 2024 incident. The building has been described by the magazine, Country Life , as "dramatically modern and uncompromising", but many people have viewed it less favourably; it
470-472: Is "bridge of the young men or retainers," from the Old English cniht (genitive case plural –a) and brycg . Cniht , in pre-Norman days, did not have the later meaning of a warrior on horseback, but simply meant a youth. The allusion may be to a place where cnihtas congregated: bridges and wells seem always to have been favourite gathering places of young people, and the original bridge was where one of
517-790: Is distinguished, according to the Royal Commission , by the inclusion within its boundaries of Parliament and the Royal Palaces, the headquarters of Government, the Law Courts , the head offices of a very large number of commercial and industrial firms, as well as institutions of great influence in the intellectual life of the nation such as the British Museum , the National Gallery , the Tate Gallery ,
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#1732786861063564-465: Is located in Knightsbridge. The district and the road itself, which is the only definitive place within it, is small, which assists its cachet: more than half of the zone closest to its tube station (and nearer to no others) is Knightsbridge Underground station . Knightsbridge had in its park side, east and west gold-coloured blocks of exceptional wealth in philanthropist Charles Booth 's late Victorian Poverty Map , formerly excluding Brompton Road to
611-508: Is referenced in the Rolling Stones song " Play with Fire ", released in 1965. Knightsbridge is used as an indicator of a character's affluence, as opposed to the more working class Stepney . According to season 3 episode 'Happy New Year,' Knightsbridge is the setting of the television series " Absolutely Fabulous ." St. Columba's Church in Knightsbridge is the setting of a wedding in the 1996 episode 'The Last Shout.' Knightsbridge
658-449: Is referenced in the story book Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman as a place the protagonists need to cross to go to the next floating market. "The Knightsbridge" is used as metaphor for the night and its dangers they need to pass through. In the 2017 film The Foreigner , Knightsbridge is the location of a detonated bomb that sets the plot in motion. On his 2017 mixtape Working on Dying Swedish rapper Bladee references Knightsbridge in
705-617: The A315 road . West of Rutland Gardens, the road becomes Kensington Road . It is served by Knightsbridge station on the Piccadilly line , and Sloane Square station on the District and Circle lines . Brompton Road station closed in 1934. Eric Coates uses Knightsbridge as the setting of a march for the 3rd movement of his London Suite (1933). It gained popularity through the radio show In Town Tonight (1933–1960). Knightsbridge
752-466: The Grosvenor Estate , designed by architect Thomas Cubitt . The Brompton Oratory , a place of Catholic worship, marks one of the transitions into Kensington , but Belgravia and Brompton have competing mapped neighbourhood status in the east and south of the neighbourhood, and as they have no eponymously named tube stations or historic parish boundaries, their limits are arbitrary and
799-769: The Herbert Commission and the subsequent passage of the London Government Bill , three unsuccessful attempts were made to define an area that would form a central London borough . The first two were detailed in the 1959 Memorandum of Evidence of the Greater London Group of the London School of Economics . "Scheme A" envisaged a central London borough, one of 25, consisting of the City of London, Westminster, Holborn, Finsbury and
846-586: 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. 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
893-581: The University of London , the headquarters of the national ballet and opera, together with the headquarters of many national associations, the great professions, the trade unions, the trade associations, social service societies, as well as shopping centres and centres of entertainment which attract people from the whole of Greater London and farther afield. In many other respects the central area differs from areas farther out in London. The rateable value of
940-671: The Walton's Restaurant bombing . In 1980, the Iranian Embassy siege took place, lasting several days. It ended when the Special Air Service stormed the building, which was on live television. In 1983, three Christmas shoppers and three Metropolitan Police officers were killed by an IRA car bomb outside Harrods . In 1987, the Knightsbridge Security Deposit centre was the target of
987-660: The West End . Knightsbridge is also the name of the roadway which runs near the south side of Hyde Park from Hyde Park Corner . Knightsbridge is an affluent district in London with a rich history and high property prices. The name has Old English origins, meaning "bridge of the young men or retainers." The area was initially divided between local authorities and has been home to several parishes. Knightsbridge has been associated with exclusive shops including Harrod’s and Harvey Nichols , banks catering to wealthy individuals, renowned restaurants, and high-end salons. Property prices in
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#17327868610631034-518: The British monarch. The regiment also mounts the King's Life Guard at Horse Guards , which consists of one squadron from each regiment. In April 2024, horses belonging to the barracks escaped, bolting after being spooked by construction noises. The horses collided with pedestrians and vehicles. Two of the horses reached as far as Limehouse . The horses involved recovered from their injuries and, after
1081-500: The City of London, most of Westminster and the inner parts of Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth. It is described as "a unique cluster of vitally important activities including central government offices, headquarters and embassies, the largest concentration of London's financial and business services sector and the offices of trade, professional bodies, institutions, associations, communications, publishing, advertising and
1128-480: The City of London, the whole of Finsbury and Holborn, most of Westminster and Southwark, parts of St Pancras, St Marylebone, Paddington and a small part of Kensington. The area had an estimated population of 400,000 and occupied 8,000 acres (32 km ). During the passage of the London Government Bill an amendment was put forward to create a central borough corresponding to the definition used at
1175-668: The Palace, practice drills at Horse Guards Parade or beyond and conduct other more ceremonial duties. Its first buildings were constructed for the Horse Guards in 1795, and a riding school and stables designed by Philip Hardwick were added in 1857. These were replaced with new ones designed by Thomas Henry Wyatt on which construction started in 1878 and was completed in May 1880. These were in turn demolished to make way for modernist buildings by Sir Basil Spence , completed in 1970. It
1222-794: The Walton's Restaurant bombing, and the Knightsbridge Security Deposit robbery. It is served by the Knightsbridge station on the Piccadilly line and the Sloane Square station on the District and Circle lines. Knightsbridge is an ancient name, spelt in a variety of ways in Saxon and Old English, such as Cnihtebricge (c. 1050); Knichtebrig (1235); Cnichtebrugge (13th century); and Knyghtesbrugg (1364). The meaning
1269-577: 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 been a target of several high-profile crimes. In September and October 1975, the Spaghetti House siege happened. In November 1975, two civilians were killed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) in
1316-719: The base for the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment , which is horsed and carries out mounted (and some dismounted) ceremonial duties on state and royal occasions in London. These duties include the provision of a Sovereign's Escort, most commonly seen at the Sovereign's Birthday Parade ( Trooping the Colour ) in June each year. Other occasions include important ceremonies that take place during state visits by visiting heads of state , or whenever required by
1363-557: The central area is exceptionally high. Its day population is very much larger than its night population. Its traffic problems reach an intensity not encountered anywhere else in the Metropolis or in any provincial city, and the enormous office developments which have taken place recently constitute a totally new phenomenon. Starting in 2004, the London Plan defined a 'Central Activities Zone' policy area, which as of 2008 comprised
1410-486: The district are among the highest in the world, with the most expensive apartment at One Hyde Park selling for £100 million in 2007. Knightsbridge is located between Exhibition Road and Sloane Street, with its southern border along Brompton Road , Beauchamp Place, and the western section of Pont Street. The district has been a target for high-profile crimes throughout history, including the Spaghetti House siege,
1457-652: The district fades into Chelsea while Belgravia lies to the east and South Kensington to the west. 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 to wealthy individuals. Some of London's most renowned restaurants are here, as well as many exclusive hair and beauty salons, antiques and antiquities dealers, and chic bars and clubs. One of Bonhams auction houses
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1504-507: The enhanced architectural demands in the local Conservation Areas policy of the Local Plan. Within each many buildings are covered by the similar but separate requirements of being listed . Growing demand has since 2000 persuaded the authority to revise its planning policies to permit roof terraces and basement extensions, for residential facilities from leisure suites to private nightclubs, a degree of economic liberalisation documented by
1551-640: The exhibition, which is said to have inspired him to write The Mikado . When the Mikado requests of Ko-Ko the address of his son (Nanki-Poo) after Ko-Ko tells the Mikado that Nanki-Poo has "gone abroad", Ko-Ko replies that Nanki-Poo has gone to Knightsbridge. Knightsbridge is east of Exhibition Road and west of Sloane Street . Brompton Road , Beauchamp Place and the western section of Pont Street serve roughly as its southern border together with their adjacent gardens and squares such as Ovington Square , Lennox Gardens and Cadogan Square . South of this area,
1598-515: The four London buildings of Hill House School are located here at Cadogan Gardens and Hans Place . Knightsbridge takes its name from the road that 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
1645-707: The impressive Brompton Oratory (Catholic church, Brompton Road) and the CoE Holy Trinity Church behind it, a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Exhibition Road, the Russian Orthodox Church in Ennismore Gardens, St Columba's Church of Scotland, Pont Street , and Deutsche Evangelische Christuskirche . The former St Saviour's church, designed by George Basevi , is now a private home. Notably, two of
1692-507: The inner parts of St Marylebone, St Pancras, Chelsea, Southwark and Lambeth. The boundary deviated from existing lines to include all central London railway stations , the Tower of London and the museums, such that it included small parts of Kensington, Shoreditch, Stepney and Bermondsey. It had an estimated population of 350,000 and occupied 7,000 acres (28 km ). "Scheme B" delineated central London, as one of 7 boroughs, including most of
1739-486: The media". For strategic planning, since 2011 there has been a Central London sub-region comprising the boroughs of Camden , Islington , Kensington and Chelsea , Lambeth , Southwark , Westminster and the City of London . From 2004 to 2008, the London Plan included a sub-region called Central London comprising Camden, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth and Westminster. It had
1786-595: 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 . The Embassy of Libya is located at 15 Knightsbridge, the Embassy of France at no 58 and the Embassy of Kuwait at 2 Albert Gate, just off Knightsbridge. On the religious side it contains
1833-401: The old roads to the west crossed the River Westbourne . However, there is possibly a more specific reference to the important cnihtengild ('guild of cnihtas ‘) in 11th-century London and to the limits of its jurisdiction (certainly Knightsbridge was one of the limits of the commercial jurisdiction of the City of London in the 12th century). Knightsbridge was a hamlet located primarily in
1880-517: The parish of St Margaret (detached) and partly in St Martin in the Fields (the part that later became St George Hanover Square ). It also extended into the parishes of Kensington and Chelsea . It was therefore divided between local authorities from a very early time. In the time of Edward I , the manor of Knightsbridge appertained to the abbey of Westminster. It was named after a crossing of
1927-652: The title and lyrics of a song. Bars, clubs and restaurants of Knightsbridge frequently feature in the Channel4 's reality tv show Made in Chelsea . Central London Central London is the innermost part of London , in England , spanning the City of London and several boroughs . Over time, a number of definitions have been used to define the scope of Central London for statistics, urban planning and local government. Its characteristics are understood to include
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1974-598: The triangular salient of Brompton, administratively in Kensington, as part of South Kensington , once coloured mid-wealth by Charles Booth, is now blurred with 'Knightsbridge', into which it long projected. Brompton is only used when the postcode and/or Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is being emphasised, rather than the modern Central London 'district' definitions, which suggest Knightsbridge or South Kensington, either tube station , being at most 350 m away and thus can be easily found on all maps. For centuries,
2021-510: The west but extending well into Piccadilly, St James's to the east. Knightsbridge is home to many of the world's richest people and has some of the highest property prices in the world. In 2014 a terrace of 427m sold for £ 15,950,000, a home in Montpelier Square . The average asking price for all the properties in slightly wider SW7 was £4,348,911 (as at Autumn 2014). On-street parking spaces have sold for as much as £300,000 for
2068-474: Was built to accommodate 23 officers, 60 warrant officers and non-commissioned officers, 431 rank and file, and 273 horses. The most prominent feature is a 33-storey, 94-metre (308 ft) residential tower, which is one of the two most prominent modern buildings as seen from Hyde Park along with the London Hilton on Park Lane . It was built by Sir Robert McAlpine between 1967 and 1970. The barracks are
2115-400: Was endorsed by Historic England , but was rejected by Culture minister Tracey Crouch . The following notable unit is based at Hyde Park Barracks. Household Cavalry Knightsbridge Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London , south of Hyde Park . It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside
2162-531: 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
2209-631: Was voted number eight in a Country Life poll of Britain's "top ten eyesores". Lord St John of Fawsley remarked that "Basil Spence's barracks in Hyde Park ruined that park; in fact, he has the distinction of having ruined two parks, because of his Home Office building , which towers above St. James's Park ". Critic A. A. Gill described the Barracks as the ugliest building in London, and said that Spence "managed to construct vertical bomb damage out of horizontal bomb damage." 'I did not want this to be
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