Knightsbridge & Local Area
Knightsbridge Station is a Zone 1 tube station within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in the super swanky, super posh and super expensive district of Knightsbridge. Located No.1 Brompton Road, the station is serviced by the Piccadilly line between South Kensington and Hyde Park Corner stations.
Knightsbridge station's southern exit leads to an area underneath the road heading towards the world famous Harrods department store for which the district is best known for. Located just south-west of the station on Brompton Road, Harrods has been in the area selling to the rich, the famous and royalty since it first opened as a grocery store in the 1849; however these days it is more notable as being owned by the al-Fayed family who took over in 1980, refurbished store and created 4.5 acres of luxurious brands and products. Not to be overshadowed by Harrods is the younger and more fashionable Harvey Nichols (AKA Harvey Nicks), another famous department store which faces the tube station, located on the corner of Sloane Street, and has food hall that absolutely has to be explored.
Sloane Street runs south of the station and it is here where you need to shop if your wallet allows for high-class designer shopping including Dolce & Gabana at No.175, Armani, Dior, Prada, Versace and the rest of the gang. Further on is Sloane Square tube station, King's Road and Chelsea. By heading south-west of the station down Brompton Road to Cromwell Road, you will find the district of South Kensington and its cluster of fabulous and free museums including the V & A, Science and Natural History museums.
Directly to the west of Knightsbridge Station is the magnificent Royal Albert Hall, which resides alongside Kensington Gardens, and the district of Kensington where you can find slightly less expensive high street shopping on High Street Kensington. To the north-west is Kensington Gardens and to the north are Hyde Park, Marble Arch and Edgware Road.
Proximity to the West End
London's West End begins just to the north-east of the station and here is where you will find the district of Mayfair (including more designer shopping on New Bond Street), Oxford Street, Soho, Piccadilly & Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Green Park and The Ritz Hotel. Just to the east of the station is Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben; and for Victoria Train/Tube Station and Victoria Coach Station head south-east from Knightsbridge and Tate Britain is a little further on from here alongside the River Thames.
Using the Knightsbridge Tube Station
Most of London's underground and train stations have disabled access via lifts, and when you hear the recorded voice on every train platform advising you to ´mind the gap´, this really is advice that should be taken seriously. It is also a universal fact that busy underground train stations and crowded city areas are a haven for pick-pockets, so just be a little street wise with your belongings. And as for underground entertainment, there are now over 300 legal buskers singing their hearts out or playing instruments for travellers and commuters throughout the majority of underground stations. Busking within the passageways and in ticket areas became a legalised and sponsored scheme in 2003 and all entertainers have auditioned for the right to perform. However, they are not paid by the sponsor or by the London Underground so if you like what you hear, support the cause. They're certainly far more entertaining then the mice and the pigeons that call the LU home (and use the train service), but just as friendly! And grab yourself a tube map; an essential item for travelling on the LU.
Adjacent Areas
Knightsbridge hotels too expensive for you?
In that case you should consider South Kensington just to the west of Knightsbridge. This upmarket area known as "SW7" is a property boom area where city workers unload their mega bonuses which consequently forces up the house prices considerably. For the tourist and business traveller, South Kensington is a great option offering a good selection of 3 and 4 star hotels, many good bars and restaurants, the Royal Albert Hall and several major museums.
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Just to the north is Park Lane in Mayfair. Generally accepted to be the most upmarket London district, Mayfair has the highest density of deluxe hotels throughout the UK. Almost all the hotels are 5 star standard and these include the famous Dorchester and Grosvenor Hotels.
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