52 travelandleisureindia.in
COURTESY OF 11 CADOGAN GARDENSHolidays
Hallmark
London has turned on the lights and it is officially the happiest
time of the year. We, too, get into the Christmas spirit at
Chelsea’s exclusive 11 Cadogan Gardens. By Radhika Sikaria
BEYOND
Festive Spirit
t’s that time of the year
when giant lanterns will be
fashioned as Santa and his
reindeers at Chiswick House
and Gardens, the shops on
King’s Road will spread
Christmas cheer with their
shining displays, and the Duke
of York Square will light up the
neighbourhood. Close to all the
action, a boutique hotel hidden
in plain sight will indulge its
guests like it once did the lord
of the manor.
The four townhouses that make
11 Cadogan Gardens were built by
Lord Chelsea in the 19th century as
part of his estate. Even today, the
interiors romanticise the Victorian
era and whisper the tales of its
yesteryear occupants. Walking
in here, it’s hard not to imagine
debutantes gliding down the spiral
staircase and the ladies and lords
writing letters in the dark wood-
panelled library. The high ceilings,
fireplaces, corridor and hallways,
and floral furnishings set the scene
of a bygone era. If you’re looking
for back-in-the-day luxury, stay
at the resplendent 1,292-square-
foot Sloane Suite. Decorated
in shades of black, cream, and
golden, it has an undisguised
imperial charm, with a canopied
four-poster bed, antique furniture,
and panoramic views of the
gardens from the window.
Even in the busiest time of the
year, the two Golden Keys concierge
can help you get insider access to
the city, whether it is dining at an
exclusive restaurant or last minute
shopping at a luxury department
store. After a long day of Christmas
shopping, relax with a glass of wineI
The façade of 11 Cadogan
Gardens, London.54 travelandleisureindia.in