Chauffeur Service in Chelsea

Chelsea runs from Sloane Square west along the King's Road towards World's End, with the river holding its southern edge along Cheyne Walk and Chelsea Embankment. It is more relaxed than Knightsbridge and more residential than Mayfair: gallery openings, long lunches, school runs and the Physic Garden all inside one postcode. Duke of York Square and Pavilion Road have given the eastern end a second wind. Our passengers are typically residents, or visitors staying nearby who move between here, the West End and the river.

The King's Road carries bus lanes and limited waiting for much of its length, so we set down on the side streets — Bywater Street, Markham Street, Sydney Street — or around Duke of York Square where the layout allows. Cheyne Walk is a fast one-way run and awkward to stop on; the Embankment behind it is easier. Chelsea sits outside the congestion charge zone. The bridges matter here too: Albert Bridge carries a weight limit that rules out heavier vehicles, so larger cars cross at Chelsea or Battersea instead.

The shopping is spread rather than concentrated — the King's Road end to end, the independents on Pavilion Road, the antique and interiors dealers towards World's End. The Royal Hospital grounds host the flower show in late May, which transforms the traffic for a week and has to be planned around. Chelsea Harbour and the design showrooms sit at the far western end, awkward on foot and easy by car. Evenings tend to run towards the restaurants around Sloane Square and the river.

Heathrow from Chelsea is typically 40 to 70 minutes, joining the A4 near Earl's Court or taking the Cromwell Road. Gatwick is usually 60 to 95 minutes over Chelsea or Battersea Bridge and down the A23. London City runs 45 to 70 minutes along the Embankment. For Ascot, Windsor or a Sunday in the country the M4 is a short hop west, and we would usually leave before the King's Road properly wakes up.