Royal Avenue This was laid out for William III as part of a proposed triumphal way leading from Wren’s Royal Hospital to the south right to Kensington Palace in the north.
Royal Avenue was built only as far as the Royal Hospital despite the ambitions to extent to Kensington.
It was originally called Chestnut Walk on account of the lines of chestnut trees. By 1748 it was White Stile Walk, and from 1875 Royal Avenue.
The houses date from the 1830s onwards.
Ian Fleming gave James Bond his London address at 30 Royal Avenue.
On the King’s Road corner was the famous Chelsea Drug Store. The building, designed by Barnett, Cloughley and Blakemore was originally The White Hart pub dating back to 1880.
