This small district of London is situated between Kensington and Chelsea. The name comes from the court-house of the two Earls who once owned the land in the area (the Earls of Holland and Warwick).

Today the area is most well known for the Earl’s Court Exhibition Hall. But in its time it has also been famous for its Australian and New Zealand inhabitants who, taking advantage of the cheap flats and bedsits, headed for the area. As a result Earl’s Court has often gone by the nickname ‘Kangaroo Valley’.

In the 1970s the area also became well known as a gay district, its most famous past resident being Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen. Today there is still a strong gay community in the area, mainly centred on the Old Compton Road. But the district of Soho has taken over in recent years as London’s primary gay district.

The general atmosphere of the Earl’s Court district is lively and cosmopolitan and young, and it is a good place to head for if you are looking for cheap accommodation.