Page 203 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

CHELSEA  201

6 Chelsea Physic
Garden
66 Royal Hospital Rd SW3.
Map 19 C4. Tel 020 7352 5646.
1 Sloane Square. Open Apr–Oct:
11am–6pm Tue–Fri & Sun; Nov–Mar:
9:30am–4pm Mon–Fri. Café and shop
closed winter, occasional late openings
summer. & 7 call in advance.
8 - = Gardening school.
∑ chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Established by the Society of
Apothecaries in 1673 to study
plants for medicinal use, this
garden was saved from closure
in 1722 by a gift from Sir Hans
Sloane, whose statue adorns it. Falling leaves in Chelsea Physic Garden
New varieties have been nur­
tured in its glasshouses, including from Christopher Wren in London. Now, however, it is
cotton sent to the plantations 1682 as a retirement home firmly established in Chelsea at
of the southern United States. for old or wounded soldiers, the Duke of York’s headquarters
Visitors to London’s oldest who have been known as building, which dates from
botanic garden can see ancient Chelsea Pensioners ever since. 1801. Saatchi is perhaps best
trees and one of Britain’s first The hospital opened ten years known for his espousal, in the
rock gardens, installed in 1772. later and is still home to 1980s and 1990s, of the Young
about 330 retired soldiers, British Artists movement led by
whose distinctive uniforms Damien Hirst. Today the range
7 National Army of scarlet coats and tricorn of temporary exhibitions of
Museum hats date from the 17th contemporary art is wide­
century. Flanking the ranging and international in
Royal Hospital Rd SW3. northern entrance are scope, covering everything from
Map 19 C4. Tel 020 7730 0717. Wren’s two main public new Chinese artists to fashion
1 Sloane Square. Open rooms: the chapel, illustration and Pop Art.
Closed for refurbishment; notable for its wonder­
due to reopen 2017, check ful simplicity, and the
website for updates. 7 - =
∑ nam.ac.uk panelled Great Hall, still
used as the dining room.
Adjoining the Royal Hospital A small museum covers
Chelsea is the official the history of
museum of the A Chelsea Pensioner the Pensioners.
British Army, with a in uniform A statue of
collection that spans Charles II by Grinling
its 600­year history, including Gibbons is to be found on the
many uniforms, paintings and terrace outside, from where
portraits. It has been under going there is a fine view of Battersea Sloane Square fountain
a renovation and opens again to Power Station across the river.
the public in 2017. 0 Sloane Square
9 Saatchi Gallery SW1. Map 20 D2. 1 Sloane Square.
8 Royal Hospital Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road SW3. This pleasant small square
Chelsea Map 19 C2. 1 Sloane Square. (rectangle to be precise) has a
Open 10am–6pm daily during paved centre with a flower stall
Royal Hospital Rd SW3. Map 20 D3. exhibitions (last adm: 4:30pm). and a fountain depicting Venus.
Tel 020 7881 5516. 1 Sloane Square. Closed for private events. 7 call in Laid out in the late 18th century,
Open Museum, Chapel and Great advance 020 7811 3085. = - it was named after Sir Hans
Hall: 10am–4pm (no access to Hall ∑ saatchigallery.com Sloane, the wealthy physician
noon–2pm) Mon–Fri. Closed 23 and collector who bought the
Dec–6 Jan, public hols, functions Set up by advertising mogul manor of Chelsea in 1712.
(call to check). 8 10am & 1:30pm
Mon–Fri, book in advance. = Charles Saatchi in order to Opposite Peter Jones, the 1936
∑ chelsea-pensioners.co.uk showcase his impressive department store on the square’s
contemporary art acquisitions, west side, is the Royal Court
This graceful complex was the Saatchi Gallery has moved Theatre, which for over a century
commissioned by Charles II location several times in has fostered new drama.

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