Belgravia

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Belgravia
Coordinates: 51.4999° N 0.1621° W Image:Greater london outline map bw.png
OS grid reference	TQ275795
London borough	Westminster
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SW1
Dial code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
UK Parliament	Cities of London and Westminster
London Assembly	West Central
European Parliament	London
List of places: UK • England • London

Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster, situated to the south-west of Buckingham Palace. Belgravia is approximately bounded by Knightsbridge to the north (the street of that name, not the district), Grosvenor Place and Buckingham Palace Road to the east, Pimlico Road to the south, and Sloane Street to the west. The 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.

Most of the area was owned by Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster, who had it developed from the 1820s. Thomas Cubitt was the main contractor. 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. 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. Many embassies are located in the area, especially in Belgrave Square.

Notable residents have included prime minister Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947), prime minister Arthur Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), American philanthropist George Peabody (1795-1869), Polish composer Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), actress Dame Edith Evans (1888-1976), actress Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), novelist Ian Lancaster Fleming (1908-1964), Frankenstein author Mary Shelley (1797-1851), Lieutenant Colonel Philip Edward Hardwick (1875-1919) who was the son of the architect Philip Charles Hardwick, and the poet Lord Tennyson (1809-1892). Currently, the area's most famous residenta include UK's second richest man Roman Abramovich; the former prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher who lives in Chester Square; the actress and writer Joan Collins, singer-songwriter and actress Sarah Brightman, celebrity chef Nigella Lawson; and Lady Helen Taylor, the daughter of the Duke of Kent. It is also the birth place of actor Christopher Lee

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 (about US$19 million in 2006).

Nearby areas:

• Chelsea
• Hyde Park
• Knightsbridge
• Pimlico
• Westminster

Nearest stations:

• Hyde Park Corner tube station
• Knightsbridge tube station
• Sloane Square tube station
• Victoria station

Belgravia is also a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.

Wikipedia information about Belgravia This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Belgravia". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.