WHY I LOVE BELGRAVIA

WHY I LOVE BELGRAVIA

Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London that have earned a special place in his heart.

Love to look at 

Belgravia is one of the most exclusive districts in London – so synonymous with quality, luxury and the high life that an address here is coveted by the global elite. Former residents give a clear endorsement of Belgravia’s calibre and the greatest luminaries have occupied the famous crescents and squares, from Mozart to Margaret Thatcher.  

As you would expect, handsomeness is around every corner, including the former home of master builder Thomas Cubitt – now transformed and brimming full of luxury interior designs – while the swathes of charming properties managed by the Grosvenor Estate are architectural eye candy of the highest order. As for prime London interiors, follow my lead and walk around Eaton Square, Ebury Street, Chester Square and Wilton Crescent for a lesson in how to style a London home.

Love to shop 

Belgravia is very much boutique and bespoke, starting with the world-renowned milliner, Philip Treacy. His studio on Elizabeth Street is the place to order custom-made hats for special occasions – weddings, Ascot or even a knighthood accolade. In fact, Elizabeth Street features a veritable feast of upscale outfitters, including Mungo & Maud – purveyors of dog and cat garments for when ‘matchy matchy’ is a must. Don’t miss the groaning humidors at Tomtom Cigars and the couture letterheads at The Grosvenor Stationery Company. Pantechnicon on Motcomb Street, however, is a ‘must visit’ for everyday shopping. Not only can you dine in one of five different areas, there’s a curated studio and market full of Nordic & Japanese treasures, including some stunning items for the designer house interior. 

Love to eat 

Belgravia is blessed with cobbled streets and hidden courtyards that create the perfect backdrop for a sophisticated café culture. If I’m in this part of town, I’ll do my best to nab an outside table at The Buttery at the Lime Tree Hotel. My guilty pleasure? The menu’s buttery bacon butty with a breakfast tea! Belgravia isn’t short of gastronomic big hitters though – I’m talking Petrus by Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing, among many others. If your Instagram feed is looking a little lacklustre, no Belgravia visit is complete without a stop at legendary bakery Peggy Porschen, where the shop’s floral displays are as sweet as the cakes.