SW1W 8NH Kensington and Chelsea
Live postcode, introduced January 1980. Ward: Royal Hospital. Region: London.
Streets
- Holbein Place, Chelsea: 30 addresses
House prices and rents in Kensington and Chelsea
A typical home in Kensington and Chelsea cost £1,204,072 in August 2026, 13.8% less than a year before. That is 23% less than five years earlier and 8% less than ten years earlier.
| Home | Typical price, Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Detached | £4,344,621 |
| Semi-detached | £2,995,521 |
| Terraced | £2,385,591 |
| Flat or maisonette | £947,855 |
| Bought by a first-time buyer | £1,020,436 |
Private renters in Kensington and Chelsea paid £3,739 a month on average in September 2026, 3% more than a year before. That is 44% more than five years earlier.
| Home | Average rent a month, Sep 2026 |
|---|---|
| One bedroom | £2,674 |
| Two bedrooms | £3,475 |
| Three bedrooms | £4,130 |
| Four or more bedrooms | £5,728 |
Council tax
What each band costs in Kensington and Chelsea in 2026-27: Band D £1,667 a year on average, including the police, fire and any county and parish charges.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,111 | £1,296 | £1,481 | £1,667 | £2,037 | £2,407 | £2,778 | £3,333 |
Homes by band in the neighbourhood around this postcode: most are in band G (44% of about 1,220 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: no postcode centre in this postcode is in one.
- Listed buildings within 100 m of this postcode: none.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): Article 4 - No 100.
- Tree preservation orders: 1 protected tree within 100 m of this postcode.
- Green belt: no.
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Development Site Bounded By Ebury Street, Pimlico Road, Avery Farm Row, Ebury Square And Cundy Street, London, pending decision (340 m)
- 48-56 Ebury Bridge Road SW1, not permissioned (390 m)
- 48-56 Ebury Bridge Road SW1, not permissioned (390 m)
- Ebury Square Johnson House, not permissioned (400 m (0.2 miles))
- Ebury Square Johnson House, not permissioned (400 m (0.2 miles))
- Development Site At Chelsea Barracks Chelsea Bridge Road London, permissioned (400 m (0.2 miles))
- Ebury Bridge House 10 Ebury Bridge Road London SW1W 8PZ, permissioned (400 m (0.2 miles))
- Ebury Bridge Estate Ebury Bridge Road London SW1W 8PX, permissioned (470 m (0.3 miles))
Energy projects nearby
No wind turbine or waste plant within 5 km (3.1 miles), and no solar farm, battery site or other project of 1 MW or more within 2 km (1.2 miles), of the postcode, operating or planned.
Flood risk
No address in this postcode is in an area at high, medium or low risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. The rest are in areas at very low risk: less than a 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance a year.
Rivers and the sea alone: no home is in an area at risk.
High: 3.3% (1 in 30) or more chance of flooding a year. Medium: 1% to 3.3%. Low: 0.1% to 1%. Very low: under 0.1%. The rivers and sea figures allow for flood defences. Counts cover whole postcodes, which can include other streets.
Flood zone for planning: the postcode centre is in flood zone 3. Zone 3 is a 1% (1 in 100) or greater annual chance of flooding from rivers, or 0.5% from the sea, ignoring defences.
Recorded floods
No recorded flood covers the centre of this postcode.
Recorded floods are where floodwater was seen or surveyed after a flood. Many floods were never mapped, an outline over a postcode's centre does not mean every home in it flooded, and homes outside one may have. Ask the seller whether the home itself has flooded.
Coastal erosion
No projected coastal erosion zone is within 1 km (0.6 miles) of the postcode.
Storm overflows
4 storm overflows within 1 km (0.6 miles) of the postcode spilled 9 times, for 9 hours in all, in 2025. They discharge into R.thames ( Tidal ), Thames Tidal.
| Overflow | Into | Spills | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranelagh Cso Thames Water | R.thames ( Tidal ) | 1 | 4 | 640 m (0.4 miles) |
| Smith Street Sr Cso Thames Water | Thames Tidal | 0 | 0 | 640 m (0.4 miles) |
| Smith Street Main Line Cso Thames Water | R.thames ( Tidal ) | 6 | 5 | 650 m (0.4 miles) |
| Queen Street Cso Thames Water | R.thames ( Tidal ) | 2 | 0 | 940 m (0.6 miles) |
A storm overflow lets sewage diluted with rainwater into a river, stream or the sea when heavy rain overwhelms the sewers, so the spills here affect the water they run into, not homes. A spill is counted the regulators' way: a first 12 hours, then each 24 hours it goes on.
Coal mining
No postcode centre here is in a coalfield: the Mining Remediation Authority records no coal mining risk here.
Radon
The postcode is in a 1 km square in the lowest band of radon potential: fewer than 1 home in 100 is estimated to be at or above the Action Level. It is not a radon Affected Area.
Gas and electricity use
Homes with gas used 4,632 kWh of it on average in 2024, 68% less than the district's 14,270 kWh, and 1,805 kWh of electricity, 66% less than the district's 5,363 kWh. There are gas meters for about 100% of the homes.
These are all the homes on the postcode, whatever their size and however many live in them, so they show the kind of homes and heating here rather than what any one home uses. The typical figure is the median: half the homes used less. The district is SW1W.
Historic landfill
No historic landfill site is within 500 m (0.3 miles) of the postcode.
Height above sea level
The postcode's addresses are about 6 m above sea level.
Broadband
Superfast 100%, ultrafast 100%, gigabit 100% of premises; 0% cannot get 10 Mbit/s. Ofcom Connected Nations, data as at January 2026.
Getting around
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Railway stations | London Victoria 54 million journeys in 2024–25 | 1 km (0.6 miles) |
| Battersea Park 2.2 million journeys in 2024–25 | 1.6 km (1 mile) | |
| Queenstown Road (Battersea) 806,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 1.8 km (1.1 miles) | |
| Underground, metro or tram | Sloane Square Underground Station | 210 m |
| Victoria Underground Station | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) | |
| Knightsbridge Underground Station | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) | |
| Bus stops | 20 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 61 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Royal Hospital Road Chelsea | 60 m |
| Bus or coach station | Victoria Station | 1 km (0.6 miles) |
| Ferry terminal | Battersea Power Station Pier | 1 km (0.6 miles) |
| Car parks | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Apex Parking - Victoria | 480 m (0.3 miles) |
| EV charging points | 62 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Shell Recharge | 130 m |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London City Airport LCY | 14.8 km (9.2 miles) |
| Nearest large airport | London Heathrow Airport LHR | 21.2 km (13 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 9 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Belgrave Medical Centre Good Jun 2026 | 330 m |
| Pharmacies | 25 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Boots | 320 m |
| NHS dentists | 21 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest The No8 Partnership | 200 m |
| Hospital | Lister Hospital Outstanding Mar 2024 | 580 m (0.4 miles) |
| Care homes | 1 home within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Albert Suites at Battersea Place Good Nov 2025 | 1.6 km (1 mile) |
| Police station | Police.uk | 490 m (0.3 miles) |
| Cash machines | 2 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Cashpoint® 33-33A Kings Road Lloyds Bank | 360 m |
Nurseries and childcare
The ten nearest nurseries, pre-schools and clubs are all within 730 m (0.5 miles); the nearest is 220 m from the postcode's centre.
| Provider | Kind | Places | Latest inspection | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LondonSMP Belgravia School SW1W 8JF | Out-of-school day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 220 m | |
| KIDS Chelsea Adventure Playground SW3 4SR | Out-of-school day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 340 m | |
| Bright Horizons Chelsea Day Nursery and Preschool SW1W 8QN | Full day care | 49 | Good (Oct 2022, overall grade under the previous framework) | 580 m (0.4 miles) |
| Venture @ Wiltshire Close Adventure Playground SW3 2NS | Full day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 630 m (0.4 miles) | |
| Miss Daisy's Nursery School, Knightsbridge SW3 2QF | Sessional day care | 65 | Good (Nov 2024, overall grade under the previous framework) | 650 m (0.4 miles) |
| NWG Academy SW3 3AP | Out-of-school day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 730 m (0.5 miles) | |
| Marlborough Day Care SW3 3AP | Full day care | 27 | Apr 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas | 730 m (0.5 miles) |
| Chelsea Chinese Language School Branch Marlborough SW3 3AP | Out-of-school day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 730 m (0.5 miles) | |
| Marlborough Primary School Little House of Science SW3 3AP | Full day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 730 m (0.5 miles) | |
| Znaniye Russian Classes SW3 3AP | Out-of-school day care (over fives) | Not inspected yet | 730 m (0.5 miles) |
Ofsted also registers 15 childminders and 24 home childcarers (nannies) in Kensington and Chelsea. It does not publish their addresses, so they cannot be shown here; the council's family information service lists those taking children.
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 16 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Ranelagh Gardens 5.7 ha | 240 m |
| Play area | 6 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 400 m² | 470 m (0.3 miles) |
| Playing field | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 1.6 ha | 360 m |
| Allotments | Unnamed 760 m² | 2.2 km (1.3 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 16 parks and gardens, 15 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Duke of York's Headquarters, a listed building (Grade II*), 190 m west. 451 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 11 of them Grade I and 45 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the postcode's centre |
|---|---|---|
| Duke of York's Headquarters | Listed building, Grade II* | 190 m west |
| Church of St Mary | Listed building, Grade II* | 230 m north-east |
| The Royal Hospital North East Range | Listed building, Grade II* | 260 m south |
| 180, Ebury Street Sw1 | Listed building, Grade I | 270 m north-east |
| ROYAL HOSPITAL, CHELSEA and RANELAGH GARDENS | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 360 m south |
| The Grosvenor Estate: Eaton Square | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 680 m (0.4 miles) north-east |
| Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church | World Heritage Site | 2.3 km (1.4 miles) north-east |
| Name | What it is | From the postcode's centre |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea Reach | Tidal water | 880 m (0.5 miles) south |
| Fountain Lake | Lake or reservoir | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) south |
| Duck Pond | Lake or reservoir | 1.2 km (0.8 miles) south |
| Ladies Pond | Lake or reservoir | 1.3 km (0.8 miles) south |
| Ransome's Dock | Lake or reservoir | 1.4 km (0.9 miles) south-west |
| Paddington Green | Wood | 3.6 km (2.2 miles) north |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 24.7 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 9.7 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 16.4 | 40 | 15 |
All three are within the UK legal limits; all three are above the WHO guideline, as in most towns and cities.
Road, rail and aircraft noise
| Level | Road traffic | Railways | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 55 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
None of the postcode's 30 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, railways or aircraft.
Road safety
50 collisions in which someone was hurt were reported around the postcode in 2021 to 2025: 0 fatal, 11 serious and 39 slight, in which 11 people were seriously hurt. 14 involved a pedestrian; 24 involved a cyclist; 9 involved a motorcyclist; 2 involved a child under 16. 26% happened in the dark, and 24% on a wet or icy road. Most were on roads with a 20 mph limit.
| Year | Collisions | Fatal or serious |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 1 |
| 2022 | 15 | 2 |
| 2023 | 8 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 | 3 |
| 2025 | 13 | 3 |
| Date | Severity | Who was hurt | Road | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Dec 2025 16:05 | Slight | 1 person: 1 pedestrian | A3214, 20 mph | Dark, street lights on, wet road |
| 25 Nov 2025 18:32 | Slight | 1 person: 1 cyclist | A3216, 20 mph | Dark, street lights on, wet road |
| 9 Oct 2025 16:17 | Slight | 1 person: 1 cyclist, 1 child | A3217, 20 mph | Daylight |
| 7 Oct 2025 22:15 | Serious | 1 person: 1 pedestrian | A3216, 20 mph | Dark, street lights off |
| 22 Sep 2025 11:45 | Slight | 1 person: 1 cyclist | A3216, 20 mph | Daylight |
| 11 Sep 2025 17:00 | Slight | 1 person: 1 cyclist | A3214, 20 mph | Daylight |
| 19 Jun 2025 17:30 | Serious | 1 person: 1 cyclist | Minor road, 20 mph | Daylight |
| 13 Jun 2025 08:55 | Slight | 1 person: 1 pedestrian, 1 child | Minor road, 20 mph | Daylight |
| 20 May 2025 17:35 | Slight | 1 person: 1 cyclist | A3214, 20 mph | Daylight |
| 15 May 2025 15:13 | Slight | 1 person: 1 cyclist | A3216, 20 mph | Daylight |
Only collisions in which someone was hurt and which the police were told about are here: damage-only collisions and near misses are not, and some injuries are never reported. Positions are recorded by the police, usually to within a few metres. Each year's figures are published the following September.
Traffic on nearby roads
The busiest counted road within 500 m (0.3 miles) is the A3217 between A3216 and LA Boundary, with 16,650 motor vehicles a day on average in 2025, 300 m from the postcode.
| Road | Between | Vehicles a day | Lorries | Ten years before | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3216 | B302 to A3217 | 11,422 counted 2025 | 2% | -15% since 2015 | 100 m |
| A3216 | LA Boundary to B302 | 9,482 estimated; counted 2021 | 4% | -18% since 2015 | 220 m |
| A3217 | A3216 to LA Boundary | 16,650 counted 2025 | 1% | -15% since 2015 | 300 m |
Each figure is the annual average daily flow: the motor vehicles passing the count point, both ways, on an average day of the year. A point is counted by hand on a weekday every few years and estimated from the trend on similar roads in between. Lorries are heavy goods vehicles, as a share of all motor vehicles.
Climate, daylight and earthquakes
Monthly temperatures and rainfall, sunrise and sunset through the year, and earthquakes recorded nearby since 1970 are much the same across the area, so they are worked out once for Kensington and Chelsea: see them on the Kensington and Chelsea page.
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 7% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 4% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 3% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 1% | 1% |
| Social rented | 84% | 17% |
| Private rented | 11% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 46% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 8% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 24% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | 15% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 42% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 13% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 15% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 22% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 20% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 85% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 0% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 46% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 22% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 4% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 83% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 0% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this postcode is in decile 6 of 10 on the English Indices of Deprivation 2025, where 1 is the most deprived tenth of England's 33,755 neighbourhoods and 10 the least.
The full dossier for this postcode's main street is on Holbein Place.