London’s Villages: Hyde Park Corner

You can’t get much closer to royalty than Hyde Park Corner. Buckingham Palace and its 39 acres of grounds – the largest private garden in London – lie just behind the boundary wall on Grosvenor Place.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

As well as Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park Corner is home to some of London’s most famous landmarks, such as Wellington Arch and Apsley House. Yet, despite its grandeur, there are some quietly charming residential streets and elegant crescents making up east Belgravia and Knightsbridge.

“This area offers a huge amount of variety, ranging from substantial townhouses found on Wilton Crescent, to the smaller mews houses found in Wilton Row and Grosvenor Crescent Mews,” says Matthew Armstrong, head of sales in Knight Frank’s Belgravia office.

“Residents enjoy the quiet and private nature of these addresses while also enjoying the cosmopolitan lifestyle of Knightsbridge and Mayfair, which are just a short
walk away.”

Jeremy Gee, managing director at Beauchamp Estates notes the area’s ‘‘genuine village-like feel”. The Grenadier pub in Belgrave Square is a hidden local gem, and Elizabeth Street is brimming with boutique shops and bustling cafes. The area is home to many embassies and top-flight hotels, including the Goring, the Berkeley and the Carlton Tower Jumeirah.

The long-awaited Peninsula London hotel is also set to open soon. “The area around Hyde Park has enjoyed a huge amount of investment recently with the development of Grosvenor Crescent, and the new Peninsula hotel,” notes Armstrong.

A DAY OUT

9AM

Wildlife spotting

Formerly a royal hunting preserve and home to the Royal Exhibition of 1851, Hyde Park has become a venue of national celebration and wildlife. With the impending coronation, enjoy a stroll through the capital’s largest park, where you can see wildfowl, Egyptian geese and even a black swan if you’re lucky.

11AM

Regency residence

Visit one of the most central addresses in London, Apsley House only open on weekends. It was once known as ‘Number One London’ and was the home of the first Duke of Wellington. A stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, this historic gem features an expansive art collection, from Velazquez to Rubens.

1.30PM

Seasonal dining

New to London’s culinary scene, Pavyllon London from Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno will open in early summer in the Four Seasons Park Lane on Hamilton Place. The cuisine will pair British produce with modern French dining based on Alléno’s food philosophy that ‘every great classic is avant garde’.

3PM

Saddle up

Take an equestrian route through the park with Hyde Park Stables, on Bathurst Mews. Trot along sandy Rotten Row, passing by The Serpentine Lake. Hyde Park has a long tradition of horsemanship spanning 300 years. As one of the last remaining mews stables in central London, it’s a unique way to see the capital.

5PM

New in the area

Joining the well-heeled corner is the much-anticipated opening of The Peninsula on Grosvenor Place, opposite Wellington Arch. The hotel will offer 190 stylishly designed guest rooms, designed by Peter Marino, and a rooftop restaurant helmed by Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi. A celebration of British artisans, it’ll feature the work of more than 40 artists from The Royal Drawing School.

ASK A LOCAL: ANNA MASON

Anna Mason, designer and founder of Anna Mason: “Opening my showroom and atelier in a Grade II listed former stable block down a romantic cobbled mews in Grosvenor Crescent has been the culmination of a lifelong dream as a fashion designer. The area is so glorious and aesthetically pleasing, with its cream stucco buildings and green parks.

It’s as inspiring for me as it is for the customers who visit us. My team love to walk over to Hyde Park for lunch at the cafe.

We’ve made friends in the area, many of whom are masters of their crafts, such as Rachel Vosper and Alexandra Llewellyn.

A wonderful end to the week is a visit to The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s for a glass of Champagne and dinner at the new super-chic Socca on South Audley Street.” annamasonlondon.co.uk

HYDE PARK CORNER: FOOD AND DRINK

MUSE

38 Groom Place

This former Georgian townhouse has been converted into a 23-cover restaurant and is home to a menu that draws upon founder Tom Aikens’ culinary career and travels. The seasonally-driven menu is influenced by Aikens’ parents, who were instrumental in his career, from baking with his mother to his father’s wine business.

PETRUS BY GORDON RAMSAY

1 Kinnerton Street

The Michelin-starred restaurant serves exceptional modern French cuisine in spectacular surroundings. Named after one of the world’s finest wines (Château Pétrus), guests can expect no less than the best. Try the discovery menu, where dishes include smoked eel with oscietra caviar and native lobster with Anjou pear.

MARCUS WAREING

Wilton Place

One of Britain’s most acclaimed chefs, Marcus Wareing works with head chef Craig Johnston and senior sous chef Jack Hazell to create innovative modern British dishes. The Michelin-starred menu has many options, with flexible five- or seven-course menus using only the most exceptional ingredients, with a sommelier’s selection.

THE LANESBOROUGH

Hyde Park Corner

The legendary Lanesborough has continued to impress all those who visit since its 1991 opening. Recently famed for its thematic and colourful afternoon teas, with a new concept arriving this summer, The Lanesborough’s Sunday lunch is also a must-try with all the British trimmings and a pianist to set the mood.

ALEX WEBB ON PARK LANE

1 Hamilton Place

Go on a gastronomic journey as curated by Alex Webb, winner of MasterChef: The Professionals. Choose from three courses up to a seven-course menu, which brings together nostalgic flavours and seasonal British produce, including foraged flowers and herbs. Opt for masterful wine pairings which bring out the flavours, and make  room for the dessert list, which includes the incomparable banana souffle.

SCHOOLS

Such is the wealth of good nurseries and preps around Hyde Park Corner, that girls in smart straw boaters and boys in peaked caps are a daily sight, walking hand in hand to an outing in the city. Young families have plenty of choice. Miss Daisy’s Nursery on Eccleston Street caters for children aged two to five, and offers a strong sense of community for new arrivals to the area.

Eaton Square Prep School, will be bringing the sciences to life for children aged four to 11 with the launch of its STEAM learning centre in September. Interactive features will include a two-storey space rocket.

Its new nursery, The Nest, opens in Pimlico in September. For boys, outstanding preps include Sussex House (for ages eight to 13), and Eaton House Prep (ages two to 11). Senior girls can choose from More House School  on Pont Street and Francis Holland  on Sloane Square, while Knightsbridge School  is a co-ed.

HYDE PARK: ON THE MARKET

ASK AN AGENT: JAMES WAIGHT, REGIONAL DIRECTOR AT JOHN D. WOOD & CO

”Despite being in the heart of London, Hyde Park Corner has a village-like feel, thanks to its leafy streets and charming architecture. Demand for property is consistently high, given its prime location and exclusive reputation.

A combination of East Belgravia and East Knightsbridge, it stretches down to Buckingham Palace Road, and is known for Georgian townhouses and charming garden squares. These properties command premium prices, with one-bedroom apartments starting at around £1.25m and rising steeply from there.

Hyde Park Corner is one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Buyers tend to be HNWI, international investors, and wealthy families. Despite the prices, demand shows no signs of slowing down, making it a sought-after location for those with the means to live there.”

EATON MEWS SOUTH

This beautifully finished two-bedroom, two-bathroom mews home at this prestigious address is set over four floors with lift access through-out, an integrated garage and large private roof terrace. £7.5m.
Agent: beauchamp.com

ECCLESTON MEWS

A private patio is a rare asset to this three-bedroom mews house, located between Eaton and Belgrave squares. It comes with an open-plan reception and separate study. £4.25m Agent: knightfrank.co.uk

PONT STREET

One-bedroom apartment in a handsome redbrick Grade II listed Victorian conversion overlooking Pont Street Mews and Harrods. Property comes with caretaker. £1.175m.

 Agent: johndwood.co.uk