Inside One Of London’s Most Exclusive Retirement Communities

Where do London’s elite go to spend their twilight years? The answer, it seems, is a ‘luxury later living’ community like Auriens Chelsea. Martha Davies takes a look around.

Inside Auriens Chelsea

(c) Kensington Leverne

London’s most prestigious developments are no longer simply providing a place to live, but an address akin to a five-star hotel – and Auriens is no different. Residents can enjoy a dip in the 15-metre swimming pool, relax in the salt rock sauna, or head to the spa; you can spend a morning in the fitness studio or get pampered in the hair and beauty salon; and after all that, you can settle in and watch a movie in the cinema, curl up in the library, or head to the restaurant and bar. The only catch? You’ll need to be aged 65 or over.

(c) Kensington Leverne

Auriens represents what’s elegantly referred to as ‘luxury later living’: a collection of homes designed for older residents, with an overarching focus on wellbeing and preventative care. Auriens Chelsea contains 56 private apartments – available to either rent or buy – and it really does feel luxurious, boasting the kind of sophistication and exclusivity you’d expect from a private members’ club. (Prices start at £2.75 million for a one-bedroom apartment, or £18,674 per month.) 

(c) Kensington Leverne

Simply put, ‘later living’ means that Auriens isn’t a care home; it’s a place to come and live independently, with the option of supplementary care. Upon moving in, every resident receives a health assessment which is followed by daily, weekly or monthly welfare check-ins, and a dedicated healthcare team is, available on-site 24 hours a day. (Residents can also build a formal support plan, at an additional cost, ranging from 30-minute visits to 24-hour live-in-care. ) The focus, primarily, is on active and health ageing: physiotherapists, personal trainers and nutritionists from wellness brand Kyros Project are on hand to offer bespoke, performance-based programmes to optimise health and physical wellbeing.

(c) Alex Winship

What strikes me is that it’s not just glamorous, but expertly crafted; the interiors were designed by four leading British studios – Albion Nord, Goddard Littlefair, Richmond International and Brady Williams – while the courtyard garden is the brainchild of eight-time RHS Chelsea Gold Medal winner Andy Sturgeon. Apartments come unfurnished, but all are cleverly future-proofed, with air-conditioning, built-in smart tech, and plenty of hidden features: think kitchen cabinets that can be mechanically lowered at the touch of a button, and shower glass which can be seamlessly removed if required.

(c) Alex Winship

Once upon a time, Hollywood stars spent their later years in penthouses atop lavish hotels (Frank Sinatra, for example, began renting a suite at The Waldorf Astoria when he was 64). Auriens, it seems, is Britain’s modern-day equivalent – in fact, staff are hand-picked from top hotels across the country, including Claridge’s and The Connaught.

But it’s not about retreating to an ivory tower: residents can fill their social calendars with painting classes, book salons, music lessons and poker evenings, and larger events (like summer soirées and film nights) are organised regularly. Family and friends are welcome; they can even stay overnight in one of two hotel-style rooms specifically designed for guests. (When I visited, CCO Henry Lumby told me fondly of one resident’s visiting grandchild, whose takeaway burger was whisked off to be plated up by the chefs.) One thing’s for certain: when I grow up, I’d like to live at Auriens, too.

(c) PDP Architecture

auriens.com