The Christmas season is one of the most exciting in London. The streets, shopfronts, doors and buildings take on a festive air. I love wandering in different areas in London to look at the way Londoners decorate their homes and offices. This year, I chose to explore Belgravia, a quiet part of the UK capital with a few shops I admire for their ability to surprise us when it comes to seasonal decorations.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invits you to discover Belgravia, one of the prettiest (and wealthiest!) area in London.

Belgravia, London

Belgravia takes its name from one of the Duke of Westminster’s subsidiary titles, Viscount Belgrave, which is in turn derived from Belgrave, Cheshire, a village on land belonging to the Duke.
Belgravia is ideally located, which makes it easy to plan a walk there wherever you are staying in London.
Belgravia lies east of Chelsea, south of Hyde Park, southwest of the gardens of Buckingham Palace and northeast of Pimlico.
With its elegant stucco terraces and lush garden squares, Belgravia is now an attractive part of London, where artists and rich people have made their home. You will find many “blue plaques” while wandering in Belgravia because of this high popularity amongst famous people over the centuries.

Belgravia architecture

Belgravia was developed in the early 19th Century, and has since maintained its status as one of London’s most prestigious residential areas.
Much of Belgravia was built by the master builder Thomas Cubitt in the 1820s with a coherent layout and a pleasing sense of unity in the architecture.
Belgravia is characterised by rows of white townhouses and garden squares.
It is mainly a residential area, even though the make-up of Belgravia changed after the World War II, with a few embassies and institutions setting up there. Belgrave Square, in particular, is now a home for embassies.
Wilton Crescent is an architectural curiosity, which reminds me of The Royal Crescent I visited in Bath lately.
Like most of Belgravia, Wilton Crescent offers grand terraces with lavish white houses which are built in a crescent shape, many of them with stuccoed balconies.

Elizabeth Street

If you are running short of time and just want to soak up the Christmas spirit in Belgravia, this is the street you have to go to.
Elizabeth Street is just a quick walk from the Sloane square tube station, near Eaton Square Gardens.
At number 36 you will find Peggy Porschen, famous for her collection of festive cakes. There is a tiny and cosy tea room, where you can sip a warm drink (especially at this time of year, it is just perfect!) and try one of the mouthwatering desserts Peggy Porschen has to offer (I can’t resist bringing a few macarons back home whenever I go there…). I made a yummy review here !
This shopfront is maybe the most popular on Instagram! It is always an excitment to discover what new design is laid out each season or on certain occasions (like St Valentine’s day).
Nearby, at number 17, is Dominique Ansel Bakery. Certainly as famous and delicious …
Indeed another amazing address for fans of pastries and other sweet delicacies, renowned for its unique creation called Cronuts (understand a “a croissant-doughnut hybrid”), which flavor changes every month. I also made a delicious review here!
I love the creativity of the shopfront designs, which adapts to every seasons with a usual yellow-orange tone, consistent with the brand identity.
This Flower shop, Moyses Stevens, is certainly one of my favorites in London.
The floral designs are always so colorful and delicately displayed outside the shop that I always marvel at every detail.
There are many other shops in Elizabeth Street. All take Christmas very seriously and their facades are quite amazing to look at …
Wether you are interested in Food of course (there are many lovely restaurants and grocery stores), Fashion, Health and Beauty, you will find just the right thing for you!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to explore Belgravia soon, please share your experience and opinion here!

To go further:
London Blue Plaques website, to prepare your visit in London, following the steps of the most popular Londoners.
Elizabeth Street website, to prepare your shopping list !
Peggy Porschen: 116 Ebury Street, Belgravia, SW1W 9QQ
Website
Dominique Ansel Bakery: 17-21 Elizabeth St, Belgravia, SW1W 9RP, Website
Moyses Stevens: Moyses Stevens Flowers, 53 Elizabeth St, Belgravia, SW1W 9PP Website