Belgravia

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Belgravia is a district in the City of Westminster in London, to the south-west of Buckingham Palace. "Belgravia" is not and has never been an administrative area, and it has no official boundaries, but they are approximately Knightsbridge to the north (the street of that name, not the district); Grosvenor Place and Buckingham Palace Road to the east; Pimlico Road to the south; and Sloane Street to the west. The westernmost streets within this area are in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and can alternatively be considered to be in Knightsbridge and Chelsea, London.

Most of the area was owned by Richard Grosvenor, 2nd Marquess of Westminster, who had it developed from the 1820s. Thomas Cubitt was the main contractor. Belgravia is characterised by grand terraces of white stucco houses, and is focused on the Belgrave Square and Eaton Square. It was one of London's most fashionable residential districts from the beginning, and remains so to this day. It is a relatively quiet district in the heart of London, contrasting with neighbouring districts which have far more busy shops, large modern office buildings, hotels, and entertainment venues. Many embassies are located in the area, especially in Belgrave Square.

Notable residents have included, Sir Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947), Mary Shelly (1797 - 1851),and Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892). Currently, the area's most famous resident is the actress and writer Joan Collins.

After World War II some of the largest houses ceased to be used as residences, but the new uses were restricted to certain categories, including embassies, charity headquarters and professional institutes. In the early 21st century some of these houses are being reconverted to residential use, as offices in old houses are no longer as desirable as they were in the post-war decades, while the number of super-rich in London is at a level not seen since at least 1939. Large houses in Belgravia are among the most expensive anywhere in the world, often costing more than £10 million (approximately $19 million in 2005).

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Belgravia is also a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa.

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