SW3 5RD Kensington and Chelsea
Live postcode, introduced January 1980. Ward: Chelsea Riverside. Region: London.
Streets
- Chelsea Embankment, Chelsea: 1 address
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 (38% of about 780 homes).
Planning and heritage
- Conservation area: yes, Cheyne (council page). Extensions, demolition, some windows and doors, and work on trees need consent.
- Listed buildings within 100 m of this postcode: 17.
- Article 4 direction (removing permitted development rights): Article 4 - No 100.
- Tree preservation orders: in a protected area: 28.
- Green belt: no.
Listed buildings
- 15, CHEYNE WALK SW3, grade II*
- FORECOURT RAILINGS, PIERS AND GATE TO NUMBER 15 AND NUMBER 16, grade II*
- QUEENS HOUSE, grade II*
- 11, CHEYNE WALK SW3, grade II
- 17 AND 18, CHEYNE WALK SW3, grade II
- 19-26,20A, CHEYNE WALK SW3, grade II
- 27-30, CHEYNE WALK SW3, grade II
- Chelsea Embankment Cabmen's Shelter, grade II
- DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI MEMORIAL, EMBANKMENT GARDENS, grade II
- FORECOURT RAILINGS AND GATE TO NUMBERS 20, 20A AND 21-25 (CONSECUTIVE), grade II
- FORECOURT RAILINGS AND PIERS AT NUMBER 19, grade II
- FORECOURT RAILINGS AND PIERS TO NUMBER 17, grade II
- FRANCIS DERWENT WOOD MEMORIAL, EMBANKMENT GARDENS, grade II
- K2 TELEPHONE KIOSK BY ALBERT BRIDGE, grade II
- LAMP STANDARD IN GARDEN EAST OF ALBERT BRIDGE, grade II
- THE EMBANKMENT FROM BATTERSEA BRIDGE TO A POINT OPPOSITE THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF THE ROYAL HOSPITAL GROUNDS, grade II
- WALL TO SOUTH WEST AND FORMING BOUNDARY TO GARDEN OF NUMBER 25, grade II
Brownfield land registered for housing within 1 km (0.6 miles)
- Emmanuel Kaye, King's Road: up to 10 homes, not permissioned (460 m (0.3 miles))
- Former Domus Tiles site, 31-33 Parkgate Road/Elcho Street (27-33 Parkgate Road & 2-42 Elcho Street): up to 118 homes, permissioned (500 m (0.3 miles))
- Chelsea Delivery Office, 232 King's Road and 18-20 Chelsea Manor Street, London SW3 3UH: up to 23 homes, permissioned (500 m (0.3 miles))
- 196 to 222 King's Road: up to 39 homes, permissioned (510 m (0.3 miles))
- 196 to 222 King's Road: up to 20 homes, permissioned (510 m (0.3 miles))
- Chelsea Farmers' Market - Sydney Street: up to 59 homes, not permissioned (510 m (0.3 miles))
- Chelsea Farmers' Market - Sydney Street: up to 59 homes, permissioned (510 m (0.3 miles))
- 2 Dovehouse Street (Thamesbrook): up to 55 homes, pending decision (520 m (0.3 miles))
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.
Height above sea level
The postcode's address is about 5 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 | Imperial Wharf 2.9 million journeys in 2024–25 | 1.5 km (0.9 miles) |
| Battersea Park 2.2 million journeys in 2024–25 | 1.5 km (1 mile) | |
| Queenstown Road (Battersea) 806,000 journeys in 2024–25 | 1.7 km (1.1 miles) | |
| Underground, metro or tram | Sloane Square Underground Station | 1.2 km (0.7 miles) |
| South Kensington Underground Station | 1.2 km (0.8 miles) | |
| Gloucester Road Underground Station | 1.6 km (1 mile) | |
| Bus stops | 4 stops within 400 m (0.2 miles), 34 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Albert Bridge Chelsea | 60 m |
| Bus or coach station | Victoria Station | 2 km (1.2 miles) |
| Ferry terminal | Cadogan Pier Chelsea | 70 m |
| Car parks | 1 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest National Car Parks | 680 m (0.4 miles) |
| EV charging points | 59 within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest bp pulse Charging Station | 60 m |
| Airport with scheduled flights | London City Airport LCY | 15.6 km (9.7 miles) |
| Nearest large airport | London Heathrow Airport LHR | 20.4 km (13 miles) |
Local services
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| GP surgeries | 10 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Health Partners At Violet Melchett | 330 m |
| Pharmacies | 19 pharmacies within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest I.t. Lloyd | 440 m (0.3 miles) |
| NHS dentists | 23 practices within 1.6 km (1 mile); nearest Violet Melchett Clinic | 330 m |
| Hospital | Royal Brompton Hospital | 710 m (0.4 miles) |
| Police station | Chelsea Police Station | 910 m (0.6 miles) |
| Cash machines | 2 machines within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest M&S ATM | 580 m (0.4 miles) |
Parks and green space
| Nearest | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Park or garden | 10 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Chelsea Embankment Gardens 5,660 m² | 30 m |
| Largest park within 800 m (0.5 miles) | Battersea Park 80 ha | 310 m |
| Play area | 5 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 210 m² | 280 m |
| Playing field | 3 within 800 m (0.5 miles); nearest Unnamed 6.3 ha | 560 m (0.3 miles) |
| Allotments | Unnamed 760 m² | 1.9 km (1.2 miles) |
Within 800 m (0.5 miles): 10 parks and gardens, 85 hectares in all.
Landmarks
The nearest historic landmark is Queens House, a listed building (Grade II*), 50 m east. 281 listed buildings are within 1 km (0.6 miles), 5 of them Grade I and 34 of them Grade II*.
| Name | What it is | From the postcode's centre |
|---|---|---|
| Queens House | Listed building, Grade II* | 50 m east |
| 15, Cheyne Walk Sw3 | Listed building, Grade II* | 70 m east |
| Forecourt Railings, Piers and Gate to Number 15 and Number 16 | Listed building, Grade II* | 70 m east |
| 6, Cheyne Walk Sw3 | Listed building, Grade II* | 140 m east |
| Chelsea Physic Garden | Registered park or garden, Grade I | 320 m east |
| Roper's Garden | Registered park or garden, Grade II | 370 m west |
| Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church | World Heritage Site | 3.3 km (2 miles) north-east |
| Name | What it is | From the postcode's centre |
|---|---|---|
| Chelsea Reach | Tidal water | 410 m (0.3 miles) east |
| Ransome's Dock | Lake or reservoir | 420 m (0.3 miles) south |
| Fountain Lake | Lake or reservoir | 630 m (0.4 miles) south-east |
| Ladies Pond | Lake or reservoir | 1 km (0.6 miles) south-east |
| Duck Pond | Lake or reservoir | 1.1 km (0.7 miles) south-east |
| Holland Park | Wood | 3.4 km (2.1 miles) north-west |
Air quality
| Pollutant | Here | UK limit | WHO guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) | 21.7 | 40 | 10 |
| Fine particles (PM2.5) | 9.3 | 20 | 5 |
| Particles (PM10) | 15.5 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
None of the postcode's 1 addresses is modelled at 55 dB or more from road traffic, railways or aircraft.
People and work
Who lives here
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47 | 40 |
| Children under 15 | 11% | 17% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21% | 18% |
Homes
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Owned (outright or with a mortgage) | 52% | 61% |
| Owned outright | 31% | 33% |
| Shared ownership | 1% | 1% |
| Social rented | 2% | 17% |
| Private rented | 45% | 21% |
Work and commuting
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (16 and over) in work | 63% | 57% |
| Unemployment (of those working or looking for work) | 6% | 6% |
| Retired (of adults) | 12% | 22% |
| Long-term sick or disabled (of adults) | under 1% | 4% |
| Work mainly from home (of those in work) | 67% | 32% |
| Travel to work by car or van | 5% | 48% |
| By train, Underground, metro or tram | 10% | 4% |
| By any public transport, including bus | 13% | 8% |
| On foot or by bicycle | 10% | 10% |
| Work within 10 km (6 miles) of home (of those who travel to work) | 88% | 65% |
| Work 30 km (19 miles) or more away | 3% | 8% |
Education and languages
| Around this postcode | England | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree or other higher qualification, Level 4+ (of adults) | 73% | 34% |
| No qualifications | 8% | 18% |
| Apprenticeship as highest qualification | 1% | 5% |
| Main language English (aged 3 and over) | 77% | 91% |
| Cannot speak English well or at all | 4% | 2% |
Deprivation
The neighbourhood around this postcode is in decile 8 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 Chelsea Embankment.