This sounds good. The only slight caveat is the traffic along Kings Road which is almost continuous but if it is set back and has recently been done up you might have double glazing to block the noise. Apart from this there is a lot going on in the area and it should be fun. You are close to the Royal Hospital where they have concerts although quite the wrong season for the Flower Show. I only know the area as a visitor so don't know what it is like to live there.

By comparison your South Hampstead option would be a more domesticated environment.

Defining an area like Chelsea is quite difficult, I tend to think of Cheyne Walk and the Thames I think locals would say this was Sloane Square/Kings Road but yes part of Chelsea in the broader sense. This is true of all locations, locals define things more precisely

"<i>yes, it does have central heating so I hope dampness won't be an issue. </i>"

Not that the place is damp -- but don't assume "central heat" means forced air central heating like you may be used to. Most often it will be radiators.

That would be a <u>fabulous</u> location if it fits in your budget. Close to Sloan Sq tube, close to Peter Jones ( a terrific department store for just about anything), the Chelsea Hospital (not a "hospital"), lots of shops/restaurants.

Thanks for the details. We don't have forced air in our home, janis; we have radiators so we're used to that kind of heat. I think it's a fabulous location too, so I hope it works out for us! I've looked at the Google arial photos (which are lots of fun) and have 'driven' up and down Kings Road and I've seen the Peter Jones department store. If I have figured this out correctly, I think the flat might be in the big red brick building that may actually be called Cheltenham Terrace. The row of shops fronting that building have terraces on top with the flats set back. The photo of the terrace shows a round table that would seat 6 and still have a fair bit of room around it.

(Oh, I meant the landlord's photo of the terrace, not Google's.)

:(( Wah! The Chelsea apartment has fallen through! The owners have decided to rent it through an agency and they'll be raising the price and asking for a longer let. Boo hoo! Oh well, I knew it was too good to be true.

Back to the drawing board! At least I have some other irons in the fire.