Travel

Discover the charms of Knightsbridge

Although Knightsbridge has the reputation for exclusive luxury but there’s plenty for all to enjoy, free to discover this summer offering an enriching day out for both adults and children.

Must-see highlights include:

New largescale Hair Comb Sculpture by artist Josephine Chime at Knightsbridge Station

As a very near neighbour, Knightsbridge is enjoying its first foray into the prestigious Kensington + Chelsea Art Week this summer with a quirky largescale installation.  ‘Detangling the MBS’ is a mixed media sculpture by artist Josephine Chime and takes the form of a huge, engraved hair comb topped with a deep red bulbous knot. The piece depicts the concept of freeing the MBS (mind, body and soul) from life’s constraining knots - and unleashing opportunities for positive self-reflection.  Open 24/7, Detangling the MBS will be in situ until August 30.

Address: One Hoopers Court, by Knightsbridge Tube Station

Website: www.kcaw.co.uk

Art in the Park at the largest of London’s Royal Parks – Hyde Park

For an easy, nature-flanked encounter, Hyde Park offers an alternative artistic respite from the bustle of Knightsbridge. Aptly luring visitors into the park is the Pan Statue  or Rush of Green. Located by Edinburgh Gate on the south side of Hyde Park (very close to the tube station), this largescale bronze statue depicts a family and their dog rushing eagerly towards the park, urged on by Pan who is playing pipes.

Among other several celebrated sculptures also within easy distance of Knightsbridge are The Huntress Fountain and the Boy and Dolphin(both located in The Rose Garden), and the Queen Caroline Memorial Urn. An important patron of the arts, from 1726-1730 Queen Caroline (wife of King George II) was instrumental in creating the Serpentine in Hyde Park.

Website: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/

Photo credit: Peter Flude

The Serpentine Galleries where contemporary rules 

Known for championing new ideas in modern art, the latest interpretation at the Serpentine Gallery’s Pavilion focuses on sustainability and sharing resources. Each year, the Pavilion – one of the three galleries that make up the Serpentine, is recreated in a new guise. For 2023, the mantel has been handed to French Lebanese architect Lina Ghotmeh, whose inclusive design does not disappoint. Dubbed à table, the installation invites strangers to sit beside each other – and perhaps even start a conversation. In addition to the Pavilion, the Serpentine also comprises the main (original) site within the former tea pavilion which opened in 1970 and the newer Serpentine Sackler Gallery, housed in a converted gunpowder store.  Each site hosts about three exhibitions per year offering a contemporary showcase of art, design, architecture, performance, and community projects.

Website: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/

Hyde Park’s Ghost Great Exhibition and the legacy of the V&A

Another must see in on the south side of Hyde Park is the ‘ghost’ structure of Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations of 1851. Organised by Prince Albert, the event lasted only five and a half months but during that time it showcased the industrial and cultural advances that characterised Victoria's reign and welcomed over six million visitors. The exhibition and its exhibits were housed in an enormous temporary glass structure which became known as the “Crystal Palace” (it was ultimately dismantled and relocated to South London).

Thanks to technology, it is now possible to walk inside the Crystal Palace, marvel at its true scale in an augmented reality experience and discover fascinating stories about what happened within it. One of the more interesting facts is that the resulting profits from the venture are still being enjoyed today. They were used to create a cultural district in South Kensington, which include the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Royal Albert Hall, establishing a permanent hub for British design and culture in the city and all within walking distance of Knightsbridge.

Website: https://www.royalparks.org.uk/whats-on/the-great-exhibition-virtual-tour, www.vam.ac.uk and https://www.royalalberthall.com/

Get ‘phygital’ at The ARX Gallery and view the latest artist-in-residence exhibition by Australian trailblazer Ella Baudinet

Beyond its blank canvas façade, The ARX on Brompton Road is a huge visionary space bringing together the worlds of art, design, craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. Set over four expansive floors in the Smallbone Luxury Pavilion, the gallery hosts a diverse revolving programme of multi-sensory solo and collaborative exhibitions from up-and-coming contemporary artists to established names, including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin. The gallery also has an atelier space, with artist in residence opportunities for emerging creatives. One such artist who enjoyed a recent sojourn is Australian Ella Baudinet. Her Embodied Visions exhibition is on show this summer featuring works with a wonderful abstract-surreal quality. 

ARX is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00am - 6:00pm, or by private appointment at other times.

Address: 197-205 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW3 1LB

Website: www.thearx.com/

Live Tunes, Art and Cultural Musings at The Lanesborough Hotel

Championing all forms of culture, The Lanesborough Hotel has an active programme of events. Providing guests with a musical backdrop in the Library Bar and the Grill Restaurant there are weekly Live nights performances by the hotel’s resident pianists and guest singers. While for an arty fix there is an exhibition of English artists in the glorious Regency Dining Room plus a rolling programme of art and design talks.

Address: Hyde Park Corner, London, SW1X 7TA

Website: www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough

Take in some L.S. Lowry classics and Modern British finds at gallery stalwart Crane Kalman

This bijoux gallery has been standing on Brompton Road since 1957, when art dealer Andras Kalman relocated his Manchester gallery. Free to enter, with modern art the main focus, including works by British artists such as L.S Lowry (who supported the gallery from its early days), but there are also plenty of artworks, sculptures and pieces by American and European artists too.

Address: 178 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW3 1HQ

Website: www.cranekalman.com

Embrace a musical interlude with a free performance at St Paul’s Knightsbridge and the London Oratory

The cultural allure of music transcends religion, which is why, regardless of faith, a musical interlude at one of Knightsbridge’s many churches is a must. With its flamboyant interior (inspired by the Oxford Movement), impressive St Paul’s Knightsbridge features a ‘great hall’ design, timber beams, beautifully decorated tiles and colourful hues that pour through the stained-glass windows. Here, as well as regular services, the church is a venue for free bi-monthly live music performances by classically trained artists under the Songhaven live concert series. The brainchild of mezzo-soprano and event producer Vivien Conacher, Songhaven offers a space where people living with dementia (including carers and companions) can come together and enjoy professional afternoon concerts in a joyous and welcoming atmosphere. For the latest programme visit: https://songhaven.co.uk/liveconcerts/ The venue also stages regular ticketed lunch time and evening musical performances featuring everything from Mozart to Cole Porter.

Two other Knightsbridge churches, both of which feature an extensive team of talented resident musicians,  are the Roman Catholic ‘Brompton’ Oratory (the subject of an eponymous song by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) and the older Anglican Holy Trinity Brompton. Sharing the same lovely grounds, full of flowers and trees, as well as marvelling at the architecture, all visitors are welcome to attend the services, which feature wonderful musical recitals and choral performances – the Brompton Oratory even publishes a monthly what’s on music list https://www.bromptonoratory.co.uk/monthly-music-list-1

Address: London Oratory, Brompton Road, London, SW7 2RP and St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, 32A Wilton Place, London, SW1X 8SH

Website:  www.bromptonoratory.co.uk; www.htb.org and www.stpaulsknightsbridge.org

You may need a refresher after all that culture and thanks to a series of new outside terrace openings, Knightsbridge is set to be the place for sunshine drinks and bites this summer. Some of the destination’s loveliest alfresco spots include:

Overlooking the Knightsbridge rooftops, the Fifth Floor Café and Terrace at Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge, is experienced a floral makeover this May with the Alice + Olivia Secret Garden takeover. Inspired by the American fashion brand’s new Spring/Summer ‘23 collection (and with a nod to the Chelsea Flower Show), the terrace space is decked in horticulture heaven. Conjuring up a taste of the season, guests can sip from a menu of flower-infused cocktails and mocktails by Grey Goose Essences. 

With a delicious and varied all-day dining menu, the Fifth Floor Café and Terrace is ideal for brunch and afternoon tea through to cocktails and dinner and is open daily from 10am until 9pm Monday to Wednesday; 10am to 10pm Thursday to Saturday and 11am until 6pm on Sunday.  To book, visit: https://www.harveynichols.com/restaurant/knightsbridge-dining/cafe-and-terrace/

Visitors will be hard pressed to find a more summery spot than the quintessentially British garden surrounds of the new summer space at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. Designed to blend into its natural parkland backdrop, the Hyde Park Gardenprovides a perfect setting for lunches, a summer spritz or an early evening snack under the shade of the surrounding trees. English sparkling wines take centre stage, while the cocktails feature a unique spin on classic spritzes, including the ‘Rose Garden’ and ‘Rosemary Margarita’. The menu, devised by the team from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, includes botanicals indigenous to the UK, with dishes such as Pea & Ham Hock Salad with mustard and mint, and a wonderful British Ploughmans – which also features on the ‘bubbles and boards’ menu. Even the tablescaping and staff attire salutes summertime and British brands, with Hackett Saville Row and Lock & Co. Hatters supplying the staff uniform designs and N.Peal providing cashmere shawls to keep evening chills at bay. Plus, ceramicist and designer Reiko Kaneko has incorporated prints inspired from Hyde Park flowers, with more indigenous wildflowers and herbs adorning the tables.

Throughout the summer, Hyde Park Garden will host Summer Sessions: a series of exclusive events including a Meet The Makers English wine event and a Lobster & Chips Feast with Rathfinny Wine Estate.

Hyde Park Garden is open daily from noon until 21.00 with lunch served from 12 – 15.00, followed by drinks and light bites from 16.00 – 21.00. To book https://www.mandarinoriental.com/en/london/hyde-park/dine/hyde-park-garden

Dining destination Harrods is offering two exciting outside terrace experiences for those warmer days and nights. Studio Frantzén, by renowned Swedish chef Björn Frantzén, occupies the iconic department store’s prime roof terrace spot, while Chai Wu, the celebrated Asian restaurant on the fifth floor, has opened a fabulous sister restaurant and cocktail bar. The Dim Sum Terrace offers an inviting outside space on the fourth floor and is suitable for both walk-ins and late-night revellers.

Custom built for Harrods, Studio Frantzén comprises a 150-seat restaurant and roof terrace bar. Serving an à la carte menu that balances delicate and unique Nordic-Japanese flavours, highlights include the ‘Sweden vs Japan’ braised beef brisket, grilled Japanese Wagyu, lemongrass jus and Japanese mustard, also the grilled lobster with curry and brown-butter hollandaise, mirin-infused pomegranate, dried cloudberries, ginger and coriander butter. The cocktail menu is equally dynamic, with wonderful roof terrace views adding to the experience.  Open 12.30pm until 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and until 10.30pm on Sunday.  To book, call 0207 225 6800 www.harrods.com/en-gb/restaurants/studio-frantzen

Guests at Chai Wu’s Dim Sum Terrace will be able to enjoy a tantalising menu of dim sum and cocktails alongside views over Knightsbridge from a heated terrace. Made fresh each morning, delicate steamed dumplings are reimagined with innovative designs and luxury ingredients including saffron king crab, fermented chilli and Dover sole. Equally as tempting are steamed buns and baked and deep-fried delights such as Wagyu and taro croquettes, duck spring rolls and – waiter-recommended – perfectly crispy kataifi scallops topped with salmon roe. All this with a mouth-watering menu of cocktails (try the lychee, grapefruit and fresh ginger Martinis) – plus fragrant teas and fine wines. Open 11.30am to 9pm Monday to Wednesday; 11.30am to 11pm Thursday to Saturday and from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday.  To book, call 0207 225 6800 https://www.harrods.com/en-gb/restaurants/dim-sum-terrace

Described as the new old fashioned, The Berkeley Bar and Terrace offers a comfortingly hip inside-outside space. A celebration of craftmanship, inside the carved plasterwork, coral tones and curved edges set an elegant scene, with wooden accents that were hewn from a single tree. While for those balmy evenings, the alfresco Terrace is the perfect insider’s outpost.

Every item on the carefully curated menu has been selected for its one-of-a-kind character. From a vintage Champagne tucked away in a French cellar to the single malt secrets poured down through generations, each drink has a tale to tell. Open 11am to 1am Monday to Saturday and from 11am to 12am on Sunday the bar has a no reservation policy. https://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/restaurants-bars/the-berkeley-bar-and-terrace/

A hidden oasis tucked away from the bustle of Hyde Park Corner, The Lanesborough’s Garden Room is one of Knightsbridge’s best kept secrets. Surrounded by greenery, the outdoor covered terrace comes into its own in the summer. Alongside an impressive selection of Cuban and pre-Castro cigars presented in the celebrated walk-in humidor, the Garden Room offers cocktails, spirits, fine wines and Champagnes with light dishes served until late and cigar masterclasses. Cognac lovers will appreciate The Lanesborough Paradis – a collection of some of the rarest and finest Cognacs and Armagnacs in the world, some dating back to the 18^th century. The Garden Room is open Monday to Wednesday 6pm to 2am; Thursday to Saturday 4pm to 2am and until midnight on Sundays. To book, call 020 7259 5599 https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/the-lanesborough/restaurants-bars/the-garden-room/

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