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So, what was so cool about Chelsea?
Well, for a start, designer Mary Quant launched the miniskirt from her shop “Bazaar” on the Kings Road and Alice Pollock opened the boutique "Quorum" in 1964 with Ossie Clark and wife, Celia Birtwell. Boutiques including the legendary “I Was Lord Kitchners Valet” and “Granny Takes a Trip” sold threads to the pop and movie stars of the day. The Beatles even opened a tailors.
The neighbourhood literally crawled with celebrities!
Representing the film world were Michael Caine, Terrance Stamp, Julie Christie, Diana Dors, Christopher Lee and many, many others. Top fashion photographer David Bailey married French actress Catherine Deneuve and, yep, they chose to live in Chelsea. Roman Polanski married Sharon Tate at the Chelsea Registry Office (see interesting YouTube footage) and John & Yoko launched 'Give Peace a Chance'.
The world of music was represented by Donovan, members of Pink Floyd, Keith Moon, the Fab Four, the Stones, Eric Clapton and, from Brazil, future Minister of Culture but then policial exile, Gilberto Gil. Jim Morrison staggered drunk out of the Chelsea Potter pub and Seargent Pilcher (‘Semelina Pilchard’ as Lennon nicknamed him) allegedly planted the seeds of future busts!
Local photographic studios turned out album covers like St Peppers and music studios put the Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull on wax. This was the neighbourhood of the ‘angry young men’ of the Royal Court Theatre, and of woman’s liberationist Germaine Greer. Oz magazine, house magazine of the counter-culture, was sold on the streets by a young Felix Denis, while artist Martin Sharpe created some memorable album covers including the Cream's ' Disreali Gears'. Oh, yes, and this was where Ian Fleming decided where James Bond should live…
It was no wonder the American magazine 'Newsweek' identified the Kings Road as the centre of Swingin’ London. Now you can see where history was made during this golden decade, seeing the houses, clubs, pubs, studios and boutiques sites that defined a generation. We’ll even stop for a drink at the famed Troubadour Club where Bob Dylan and Paul Simon began their London experiences!
And all this in the company of a truly expert guide who was ‘there on the day’ and will bring Chelsea to life!
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