KNIGHTSBRIDGE IS FAMOUS across the world for its wide and elegant streets, its cosmopolitan bustle, its fabulous homes – and, of course, for Harrods, the London landmark and luxury retailer par excellence.

The name Knightsbridge derives from the Saxon Kyngesburig, meaning a bridge where young men, then known as knights, congregated. The 1746 Rocque map of London (opposite and overleaf) depicts Knights Bridge as a rural community – at the time, the area was not considered central at all, and was, in fact, a gateway for highwaymen, who roamed in its Five Fields district targeting travellers taking the Knights Bridge road that ran west from Hyde Park.

The construction wave of the first half of the 19th century gave Knightsbridge some of its most beautiful streets, such as Montpelier Square, which came into being in the 1820s. St George’s Hospital, the landmark classical-style building at Hyde Park Corner, was put up in 1829 (today it’s renowned as the white-stucco opulence that is the Lanesborough hotel). Meanwhile, an emphasis on architectural grandeur which began in the late 1850s produced the Italianate terraces of Princes Gate.

As trends and tastes shifted towards the end of the century, Cadogan Square – laid out between 1877 and 1888 – was built in red brick. And such a diverse change in aesthetics is a clear marker of how Knightsbridge has always moved with the fashions. Certainly, the area has some of the most notable and distinctive buildings of the 20th and 21st centuries – not least the Hyde Park Barracks and the One Hyde Park apartment block.

The transformation of Knightsbridge to include such a rich portfolio of properties – from townhouses and lateral apartments to flats in august mansion blocks – is what underpinned its evolution into the elite residential neighbourhood it is today. Cadogan Square, Egerton Crescent, Ennismore Gardens, Montpelier Square, Rutland Gate and Trevor Square are at the top of the list of London’s most desirable addresses. They are some of the smartest places to live… anywhere. And as well as the prime central location, people are also opting for homes here for the unique local community feel. But residents are also drawn by the area’s other attractions, such as the green spaces of Hyde Park and the museums of nearby South Kensington. Education is another compelling reason to relocate to London SW1: there are great schools, not least the illustrious Imperial College.

A stylish three-bedroom mews house with 24-hour concierge and parking facilities is available for £4,250,000 on Montpelier Mews, while a classic four-bedroom townhouse on Moore Street with lift and air-conditioning has a guide price of 8,500.000. If spectacular views over London’s skyline are on your wish list, a duplex penthouse on Trevor Square with two huge roof terraces, perfect for entertaining al-fresco, could be yours for £17,950,000

The average flat in the area sells for £2,051,991, while terraced properties fetch an average of £4,263,804. These prices are below the 2104 peak – which is why Knightsbridge is regarded by many as good value, despite the challenges facing the property market. Sterling’s weakness against the dollar has opened up opportunities for those overseas, too.

Then, of course, there is the proximity to London’s most famous store, whose own history reflects the social mobility of the area. Harrods started life as a small grocery shop in 1849 on Brompton Road and, in line with the upwards march of Knightsbridge, expanded over the years to become the vast emporium it is today – complete with the distinctive architecture that captures the aesthetic essence of Queen Anne Revival in red-brown Doulton terracotta tiles, giving the Grade II*-listed building its trademark look.

As the Harrods expansion gathered steam, one newspaper observed that its reputation “which at one time was a purely local one, is now worldwide”. That’s something that is even more true today – and only amplifies the Knightsbridge effect.

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