Pay a visit to Pimlico in central south-west London and enter one of London’s hidden gems.

 

Its iconic standing as a self-sufficient pocket of London, outstandingly portrayed in the Ealing comedy, Passport to Pimlico, has always seemed unchangeable, and without a doubt, Pimlico is a rarity - a diverse residential area in the heart of central London.

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The neighbourhood is a very well-located and safe locality, with many long-standing residents that create a village environment.

 

Pimlico is very busy during the day (for the most part), with government employees from the close at hand governmental ministries, and now with plentiful tourists visiting, its energetic street life goes on well into the evening with restaurants, cafés, and pubs in profusion. There is something for everyone looking for a drink, something to eat, or to visit one one of London's many theatres, several of which are in the SW1 area.

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There are plenty of schools too, and Pimlico has its own brand-new academy with the local library built-in. 

Also available to the residents of Pimlico are a few private schools, such as the famous Hill House, a short walk away in Chelsea, and Westminster School near Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Under School on Vincent Square. 

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Pimlico has a wealth of bars and restaurants, but those in nearby Chelsea also appeal to Pimlico’s residents. Just five minutes away is one of London’s most romantic restaurants, Poule au Pot in Ebury Street, bringing a hint of France to the area. 

 

The shops of Sloane Square, King’s Road, and Knightsbridge are a short walk or bus ride away - for when you want to purchase the more hard to find or exclusive items.

 

However, closer to home on Victoria Street, you will find a Waitrose, Army and Navy Stores, Zara, Mango, Boots the Chemist, several banks, Jayems (Tobacconists), Thomas Exchange Global (Bureaux de Change), The Carphone Warehouse, McDonald's Restaurant, Clarks (Shoe Shops), Curry's Digital and many more high street shops.

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Only two minutes from Victoria station, Cardinal Place is open 7 days a week for eating, drinking and shopping. In fact, the ideal place for living and working! There's an Art Gallery - SW1 Gallery, Waggamama, Marks & Spencer, La Tasca, Costa, Hawes and Curtis, Molton Brown, L'Occitane, Thornton's, Nando's, Zizzi. Boots, Hobbs, Specsavers, Goldsmiths, Monsoon, Top Shop, Jones, etc.

 

Sainsbury’s “Market at Pimlico” is within easy walking and carrying distance (with a large car park below the market) on Wilton Road.

 

On Warwick Way, Tachbrook Street, Lupus Street, and Rochester Row there are specialist bakeries, butchers, and delicatessen of several nationalities, including Rippon cheese stores in Upper Tachbrook Street with hundreds of cheeses at the peak of readiness, and many more food shops again just on the other side of Victoria Station in Elizabeth Street, Ebury Street, and Belgravia. There is also a farmers market at the top of Ebury Street, which compliments Tachbrook Street market very well. 

 

Pimlico Road SW1, which links Pimlico with Chelsea, has been nicknamed the new King’s Road, after its chic shops, antique dealers, and lively bars and pubs.

 

Mercifully, for its residents at least, Pimlico is quiet at night, and extremely quiet on Sundays and Bank Holidays. It has a regular presence of neighbourhood police on foot, car, and horse patrols (Scotland Yard is just around the corner on Millbank), and good local services. 

 

In our minds, Pimlico is one of the best places to live in London!

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Our special thanks to John and Maureen Glen for providing us with information and photos about Pimlico's rich history for this page and the pages to follow