Albertopolis – London’s Prestigious Cultural Quarter, SW7
One of London’s most iconic buildings The Royal Albert Hall holds court on Kensington Gore, looking over Queen's Gate, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park on the borders of South Kensington and Knightsbridge.
While the Albert Hall itself and the various National Museums and Societies that surround it are extremely well known, you may not know that the area it sits on – once the 18C, Gore House and its grounds - has its own name: Albertopolis. The name was widely used in the 1850s when the Prince Consort, Albert had held the hugely successful Grand Exhibition of 1851 and advised the Royal Commission to buy the land with the Exhibition’s profits to be turned into a cultural quarter.
The area became home to some of London’s most celebrated institutions, such as the V&A, Natural History Museum and Science Museum Imperial College, Royal College of Art, Royal Albert Hall, Royal College of Music, The Royal Geographical Society and not forgetting The Royal College of Mines (yes there is one, who knew?!).
Albertopolis, now officially known as South Kensington, is split between the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster. This area is a favourite of international dignitaries, domestic and international, politicians and the highest movers and shakers in music, arts and sciences.
The Albert Hall itself was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 and has since hosted the world's leading artists from classical to pop, with the famous 'Proms' concerts, held there every summer since 1941.
Originally destined to be called the Central Hall of Arts and Sciences, part of Albertopolis, the name was changed to the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences by Queen Victoria in memory of her husband, Prince Albert, who had died six years earlier.
Together with the Albert Memorial directly to the north in Kensington Gardens, it was Victoria’s ultimate mark of devotion to her beloved husband.
Kensington Gore, a wedge-shaped piece of land has been known from Anglo-Saxon times as The Gore, but today’s buildings were largely built in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Since 1892, Albertopolis also been home to The Gore Hotel on Queen's Gate, opened by sisters Miss Ada and Ms Cooke, descendants of Captain James Cook. Its 50 or so very luxurious bedrooms have featured in music videos and photo shoots, such as for Beggars Banquet by The Rolling Stones.
While Kensington Gore is at its heart, it also includes other interesting roads such as Jay Mews. The area is flanked by Queen's Gate, Exhibition Road, Cromwell Road and Kensington Gore.
While most of the buildings in this enclave are taken up by the aforementioned institutions, high commissions, embassies, colleges and businesses, there are a few highly prized residential properties, principally the spacious, opulent and luxuriously decorated 19C Mansion blocks, Albert Hall Mansions and Princes Gate Court. Purpose built for the highest echelons of society, many of the “flats” in these sought-after buildings are the size of large houses in most people’s books.
Albert Hall Mansions were designed by architect Richard Norman Shaw, who received the commission in 1878. They were a bit of a gamble, but also the beginning of a new era in city architecture. Up to this point, apartment buildings were generally viewed as housing for the poor.
But with more people heading to the city at this time of huge industrial change in Britain, and following the extensive building in the Georgian era, land for development was scarce, so some clever and more speculative builders and architects took a punt to develop flats for the luxury sector… and the Mansion House was born.
These were hugely risky developments at the time but now, these iconic red brick Victorian mansion buildings are highly sought after and rarely change hands, owing to their central location, ornate facades, spacious, lateral living accommodation with period features and high ceilings. Many of these original Victorian and Edwardian blocks are still portered and very well maintained, making them perfect as both all permanent homes and occasional pied-a-terres.
If you’re looking for the ultimate mix of culture, history and luxurious city dwelling, then this area has to be it.
Albert Hall Mansions
We currently have a fabulous three bedroom flat for sale in Albert Hall Mansions, SW7. Situated on the second floor of this prestigious Grade II listed mansion building next to The Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park.
The property is richly decorated with high ceilings and very generous living accommodation, with an interconnecting reception room and dining room, both with French doors opening onto a south facing balcony, with views to the Royal Albert Hall.
Find out more or take the virtual tour on the listing: https://www.onthemarket.com/details/9720832/
If you’re looking for spacious Victorian Mansion style in the Kensington area, but want something a bit bigger, then we also have a spectacular 6-bedroom mansion flat in Roxburghe Mansions on Kensington Court.
Find out more or take the virtual tour on the listing: https://www.onthemarket.com/details/9764197/
Please call for details.