by Dorothee Schröder
A West London District
Earl’s Court forms part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London.
A Name from the Earls of Oxford
The district takes its name from a manor house once owned by the de Vere family, the Earls of Oxford, who held large areas of land here for centuries.
From Countryside to Suburb
Originally a rural area, Earl’s Court developed into a Victorian suburb following the construction of the Metropolitan District Railway between 1865 and 1869, later known as the District Line. It was later joined by the Piccadilly Line, further strengthening its connections to the rest of London.
A Patchwork of Neighbourhoods
Earl’s Court is made up of several distinct neighbourhoods, each reflecting different phases of London’s nineteenth-century growth and architectural development.
Mews Streets
The area is particularly known for its picturesque mews streets, which offer a quieter, more intimate atmosphere away from the surrounding commercial roads.
A Transient Community
Earl’s Court has long been associated with a mixed and shifting population. After the Second World War, refugees and immigrants often settled here temporarily. In the 1980s it developed into a popular tourist area, with hotels, hostels and guesthouses, a character it still retains today.
Notable Residents
Many famous figures have lived in Earl’s Court, including Beatrix Potter, Howard Carter, Agatha Christie, Alfred Hitchcock and Benjamin Britten. Others include W. B. Yeats, Stewart Granger and Diana Spencer, later Princess of Wales, before her engagement to Charles III (then Prince of Wales).
The Troubadour
The Troubadour on Old Brompton Road is a historic music venue where artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Adele performed early in their careers. It remains a place where emerging musicians showcase their talent.
A Police Box Landmark
Outside Earl’s Court Underground station stands one of the last remaining police boxes in the UK, instantly recognisable to Doctor Who fans as the TARDIS.
A Centre of Alternative Nightlife
Before Soho and Vauxhall became the main hubs of London’s gay nightlife, Earl’s Court was the city’s principal area for clubs and bars catering to a gay clientele.
Cover picture: The Blackbird Pub on Earls Court Road (Photographer: Philipp Röttgers)
