William Mews is a private mews street in Knightsbridge, Belgravia, positioned just off Lowndes Square in the City of Westminster. Tucked behind the imposing residential buildings of Lowndes Square and close to William Street, the mews benefits from an exceptionally convenient location, with Knightsbridge, Hyde Park, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Motcomb Street all within easy reach. Access is through a secure entrance with a porter’s lodge and barrier, creating a secluded and exclusive residential setting. Today, William Mews combines period-inspired architecture with more contemporary properties, while its cobbled setting and compact two- and three-storey buildings retain something of the character associated with London’s traditional mews streets.

Historically, William Mews was constructed to provide stabling, coach houses and associated accommodation for the larger properties surrounding Lowndes Square. The street takes its name from William Lowndes, a member of the local Lowndes family, whose landholding influenced the development of the surrounding area. Much of the original character was lost following redevelopment, including significant changes after a bomb struck the mews during the Second World War. As a result, William Mews now contains few, if any, surviving examples of its original equestrian buildings. Nevertheless, its history remains an important part of the identity of this sought-after Knightsbridge address.

William Mews also has a fascinating association with London’s social and cultural history. Number 21 was once home to actress and socialite Elvira Barney and became the setting for a notorious 1932 scandal involving the death of Michael Scott Stephen, which resulted in a highly publicised murder trial. Several decades later, the street gained a very different kind of fame when Whaddon House, at numbers 11-18, became associated with The Beatles, Brian Epstein and Pattie Boyd during the 1960s. Other notable former residents include politician John Profumo and banker Stephen Catto, 2nd Baron Catto. Today, William Mews remains a prestigious residential enclave, offering privacy and security alongside immediate access to the shops, restaurants, green spaces and amenities of Knightsbridge and Belgravia.

BOROUGH: City of Westminster