Sloane Square is a small hard-landscaped square on the boundaries of the central London districts of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea, located 2.1 miles (3.4 km) southwest of Charing Cross, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The area forms a boundary between the two largest aristocratic estates in London, the Grosvenor Estate and the Cadogan. The square is part of the Hans Town area designed in 1771 by Henry Holland Snr. and Henry Holland Jnr. Both the town and square were named after Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753), whose heirs owned the land at the time.
The square lies at the east end of the trendy Kings Road and at the south end of the more conventionally smart Sloane Street linking to Knightsbridge. In the early 1980s, it lent its name to the "Sloane Rangers", the young underemployed, often snooty and ostentatiously well-off members of the upper classes. The Square has two notable buildings: Peter Jones department store and the Royal Court Theatre. The River Westbourne is carried over the tube station in a large iron pipe. On the northern side of the square is the Sloane Square Hotel.
In 2002, the Christian Science Church (built in 1907) was converted to a hall, named Cadogan Hall, which is now used for concerts.
In early 2005 improvements to the square were proposed, involving a change to the road layout to make it more pedestrian friendly. One option was to create a central crossroads and two open spaces in front of Peter Jones and the Royal Court. The pedestrian area leading to Pavillion Road now houses the flagship stores of many luxury brands including Brora and Links of London.
This option was put out to consultation, and the results in April 2007 showed that over 65% of respondents preferred a renovation of the existing square, so the crossroads plan has been shelved.
Near it, are the National Army Museum and Holy Trinity Sloane Street, the basilica-like parish church known as the "Cathedral of the Arts & Crafts Movement", built in 1890 a few yards from the square itself.
Sloane Square Underground station (District and Circle lines) is at the south eastern corner. The line crosses under the square to the north west towards South Kensington station.
Since the public consultation of April 2007 other independent proposals have been put forward for improvement of the square.
Read more about Sloane Square: Fountain
Famous quotes containing the word square:
“The square dance fiddler’s first concern is to carry a tune, but he must carry it loud enough to be heard over the noise of stamping feet, the cries of the “caller,” and the shouts of the dancers. When he fiddles, he “fiddles all over”; feet, hands, knees, head, and eyes are all busy.”
—State of Oklahoma, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)