Belgravia
Belgravia
If you are thinking about finding a flat to let in Belgravia, be prepared to part with a handsome sum of quid. Belgravia is a district in Westminster to the south-west of Buckingham Palace. "Belgravia" is not and has never been an administrative area. The official boundaries of Belgravia have never been outlined, they are north of Knightsbridge (the street of that name, not the district); Grosvenor Place and a tad bit east of Buckingham Palace Road; Pimlico Road to the south; and Sloane Street to the west. The "unofficial" westernmost streets within this area are in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and can alternatively be considered to be in Knightsbridge and Chelsea, London.
Belgravia is characterised by grand terraces of white stucco houses, and is focused on the Belgrave Square and Eaton Square. It was one of London's most fashionable residential districts from the beginning, and remains so to this day. Belgravia has been the home to notorious characters such as Sir Stanley Baldwin, Mary Shelley, Alfred Tennyson, and Joan Collins. It is a relatively quiet district in the heart of London, contrasting with neighbouring districts which have far more busy shops, large modern office buildings, hotels, and entertainment venues. You will find many embassies located in the area, especially in Belgrave Square.
After World War II some of the largest houses ceased to be used as residences, but the new uses were restricted to certain categories, including embassies, charity headquarters and professional institutes. In the early 21st century some of these houses are being reconverted to residential use, as offices in old houses are no longer as desirable as they were in the post-war decades, while the number of super-rich in London is at a level not seen since at least 1939. Large houses in Belgravia are among the most expensive anywhere in the world, often costing more than £10 million (approximately $19 million in 2005).