Brompton Cross Guide: Michelin House and What to Do Nearby
Brompton Cross is the junction where Fulham Road meets Draycott Avenue, Sloane Avenue and Brompton Road, on the border of Chelsea, South Kensington and Knightsbridge. It is anchored by one of London's most distinctive buildings, Michelin House, and surrounded by fashion boutiques, restaurants and quiet residential streets. South Kensington is the nearest station, about five minutes' walk away. Here is what to see and where to go once you arrive.
Michelin House
At 81 Fulham Road, Michelin House opened on 20 January 1911 as the first permanent UK headquarters and tyre depot of the French company. It was designed by François Espinasse, an engineer in Michelin's construction department, and mixes Art Nouveau with early Art Deco. Look for the three stained glass windows of the company's mascot, Bibendum, the corner towers topped with glass cupolas that resemble stacks of tyres, and the 34 tiled panels of racing cars and drivers at street level and in the entrance hall. The building is also an early British example of reinforced concrete. Its main front section has been listed Grade II since 1969.
Michelin House today
In 1985 the publisher Paul Hamlyn and Sir Terence Conran bought the building, and in 1987 it reopened with offices, The Conran Shop and the Bibendum restaurant and oyster bar. Much has changed since. The Conran Shop's London flagship is now at Sloane Square, and Claude Bosi's Bibendum closed in August 2025. Reports through 2026 have suggested the restaurant may return, so check the latest news before planning a meal here. Either way, the building is worth the trip for the facade alone, and the tiled panels around its base are easy to study from the pavement.
Daphne's
A few steps from the junction at 112 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AE, Daphne's has served Italian food since 1964. The rooms are dressed with vintage Murano chandeliers, leather banquettes and modern European art, and there is a small pavement terrace in summer and a conservatory with a fire in winter. The menu follows the classic Italian sequence of antipasti, handmade pasta and risotto, then fish and meat, finishing with ice cream made daily. It is a long-standing neighbourhood favourite, and its website lists current menus and a list of signature cocktails.
Bamford Wellness Spa
A few doors along at 104 Draycott Avenue, SW3 3AE, Bamford Wellness Spa is the London outpost of the Cotswolds wellness brand, designed to bring a sense of nature into the city. The treatment menu covers massages, facials and body treatments drawing on Eastern and Western practices, and there are classes in yoga, Pilates, meditation and Qi Gong. A Medi Spa offers treatments with the medical specialists Effect Doctors. Book a spa day if you want the full experience, or a single treatment after a morning in the shops.
Jeroboams on Walton Street
Walk east along Walton Street, which runs parallel to Brompton Road between Chelsea and Knightsbridge, and you reach Jeroboams at number 56, SW3 1RB. The wine merchant describes it as a compact shop with a curated selection of fine wine and spirits and a cellar below used for private tastings and events. The address has been home to a wine merchant for decades. It is a good stop for a bottle to take to dinner. Knightsbridge station is a short walk on.
Brompton Oratory
Head north up Brompton Road and within about ten minutes you reach the Brompton Oratory, the late Victorian Catholic church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is home to the Congregation of the Oratory of St Philip Neri and doubles as a parish church, and it is internationally known for its sacred music. Check Mass times before visiting, as sightseeing is best kept to quieter hours. Next door is the Victoria and Albert Museum, which makes a natural next stop.
Good to know: South Kensington is the handiest station, though Knightsbridge works well if you start at Walton Street. If you are coming for The Conran Shop, remember it has moved to 16 Sloane Square. For a longer day, combine Brompton Cross with the museums on Exhibition Road, a short walk from South Kensington station.
