Off the beaten track: hidden gems of London’s Earls Court

Most famous for the art deco epicness of the exhibition centre that bears its name, the Earls Court district of West London is, in other ways, defined by its proximity to tourist attractions in neighbouring districts, such as Kensington Palace and the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington. In many ways then, it’s somewhere to pass through rather than properly spend time in. But, that said, there are things to see and do in Earls Court itself too – not least hunting down some true hidden gems that are just ripe for the discovering…

60 Colehearne Court

(SW5 0DL)

Famed as the address at which Princess Diana – back when she was merely Lady Diana Spencer – lived with three other flatmates prior to her (fatefully, as it turned out) marriage Prince Charles in 1981, the flat itself is private, obviously, but you can at least espy it from the outside, standing as it does in a very elegant block of terraced flats. Perfect for a Royal-themed short-break spent seeing Central London sights and perhaps spent at the likes of Marble Arch suites London.

Troubadour café

(265 Old Brompton Road SW5 9JA)

Something of a cultural centre in the Earls Court area, the Troubadour boasts many things to its bow, indeed, being not just a café but also a deli, a club and an art gallery. Ideal for pit-stop point for a high-quality coffee or a lunch snack during your day out in the area, you’ll be able to soak in the atmos sense the ghosts of legendary musical performers past, including Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Costello.

Brompton Cemetery

(Fulham Road SW10 9UG)

Brompton Cemetery

Lying pretty much on the boarder of Earls Court, Brompton Cemetery’s a rather epic, rather gothic burial ground and, rightly, often referred to as one of the ‘magnificent seven’ of the capital’s Victorian graveyards. And, you may not be surprised to learn, it’s not without its famous names who, down through history, have been laid to rest within its verdant environs. Historical enthusiasts then may well be up for walking through its 16.5 hectares in search for the grave of legendary suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, while the grave of Samuel Sotheby, founder the nearby globally-famous auction house, can also be found here.

 Garden Lodge

(1 Logan Place W8 6QN)

An eternal shrine for Queen fans, this gated and walled-off address comprises the mansion in which the iconic band’s frontman Freddie Mercury spent his final years, fighting the AIDS disease, before succumbing and dying well before his time in 1991. His friend Mary Austin still calls it home.

The blue police box

(Earls Court Road SW5 9AD)

Once a common sight on the streets of the UK, a blue police box such as the one you’ll find on Earls Court Road had a very practical use – way before the era of walkie-talkies or mobile phones, it operated as a phone box specifically for ‘bobbies’ on the beat. Nowadays, of course, it’s synonymous for the appearance of the ship ‘Time and Relative Dimensions in Space’ (TARDIS) used by the lead character in legendary TV show Doctor Who.

 67 Eardley Gardens

(Eardley Crescent SW5 9JT)

London’s Earls Court Square Garden

Finally, to stroll past this elegant townhouse is to pass the former home of yet another famous name; that is, one of the UK’s best loved comedy actors of yesteryear, the Carry On film series’ Hattie Jacques. She lived at this address for much of her life.

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