Sights · Our pick in London
The Royal Hospital Chelsea
Home of the Chelsea Pensioners
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Camster2 · CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout The Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded by King Charles II in 1682 as a home for veterans of the British Army, and about 300 Chelsea Pensioners still live here, known for their scarlet coats. Its buildings by Sir Christopher Wren look south over gardens to the Thames, and the grounds host the RHS Chelsea Flower Show each May. Visitors can join guided tours; see the website for tour dates. Sloane Square station is about ten minutes’ walk.
Why it's on our list
- Founded 1682
- Wren buildings
- Chelsea Pensioners
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Royal Hospital Chelsea before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to The Royal Hospital Chelsea, as the crow flies.
- The Cadogan, A Belmond Hotel0.6 mi13 min walk
- The Goring0.9 mi18 min walk
- The Ampersand Hotel0.9 mi19 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from The Royal Hospital Chelsea are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- Sloane SquareDistrictCircle0.3 mi7 min walk
- Battersea ParkWindrush lineNational Rail0.8 mi16 min walk
- Battersea Power StationNorthern0.8 mi16 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Sopwith Way0.6 mi11 min walk
- Taxi rank, Circus Road West0.6 mi12 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- Harrods0.9 miWalk 17 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Buckingham Palace1.1 miWalk 22 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Westminster Abbey1.5 miWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Trafalgar Square1.9 miWalk 38 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- London Eye1.9 miWalk 39 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Leicester Square2.0 miWalk 40 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Covent Garden2.2 miWalk 45 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 20 min
- The British Museum2.6 miCycle 16 minCar or taxi 22 min
- The Shard3.3 miCycle 21 minCar or taxi 27 min
- Tower of London3.8 miCycle 24 minCar or taxi 31 min
Main rail terminals
- Victoria0.9 miWalk 17 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Charing Cross1.9 miWalk 39 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Paddington2.1 miWalk 42 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Waterloo2.1 miWalk 43 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Euston3.0 miCycle 19 minCar or taxi 25 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras3.3 miCycle 21 minCar or taxi 28 min
- London Bridge3.3 miCycle 21 minCar or taxi 28 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)3.3 miCycle 22 minCar or taxi 28 min
- Liverpool Street3.8 miCycle 25 minCar or taxi 31 min