Chelsea Cruise 50th anniversary May 31st 2025

[Derek]

This year marks the 50th annivesary of the Chelsea Cruise, a couple of you may have been there, I wasn't, I didn't start going until the second one and then went for years after. I know a lot of you went in the late 70s early 80s

We had some great times until the boom box boys started coming in their newish cars and loud stereos, it took a big dive and most people stopped going late 80s early 90s.........................skip forward to summer 2002 and we had a one day cruise on a Sunday called back to Chelsea 2002 then nothing unil 2004 when I asked a few friends if they would be interested in a monthly cruise again, most said yes.

I contacted the local Police and Councils and they said they would welcome it as long as there was no trouble. I made a point telling them that there was no organiser just like minded people meeting up once a month to show off their cars.

I set the date for the Last Saturday in September and every last saturday thereafter like before, all went well for around 10 years and then you guessed it, all the wrong type of cars and people started turning up again, loud music, doughnuts and burnouts on Chelsea Bridge, this made the council put down yellow lines and cameras to stop people parking on the bridge,( must say it wasn't always the hot hatches and old school Fords ) this was the beginning of the end, some of the summer months are still worth going to and Halloween / October Cruise.

ANYWAY MAY 31ST IS THE DATE TO PUT IN YOUR DIARY, I KNOW A FEW THAT WERE THERE FOR THE FIRST ONE WILL BE THERE FOR THIS ONE, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WILL BE IN THE SAME CAR FROM 50YEARS AGO, that's saying something.

It would be great to make this a big one for one last time, if you could make it it would be great, I think if you are coming from north of the river you may have to pay the congestion charge but this is a one off.

Pics are from 2004 and 2005.

Route will be posted nearer the time, Albert Bridge has a 6ft 6inch width restriction so that's out of it.

Please spread the word.

[Derek]

Not one reply. Come on people we need to make this big, This will be the last big one never to be repeated.

[Stu Twin]

Love to go to this one Del. But would need to look at the route as last time it took 2 hours from the Ace Cafe.
So that's the Saturday after Brooklands I presume?
Gathering in Battersea park by the entrance off the Chelsea bridge?

[RobTwin]

Love to go to this one Del. But would need to look at the route as last time it took 2 hours from the Ace Cafe.
So that's the Saturday after Brooklands I presume?
Gathering in Battersea park by the entrance off the Chelsea bridge?

Just checked on Google Maps - they reckon it's a 45-50 min journey from the Ace, 10 miles. But there's bound to be more road closures, protests etc etc (like last time) on May 31st...

Let's hope not tho

[RobTwin]

Still my fave photo of your car that I've taken, Derek. Sept 2008

[Stu Twin]

Ooh that Lincoln looks nice.


... Derek on a double yellow line???

[mr m]

well that's 2 of us going then del

[Derek]

well that's 2 of us going then del

It looks that way mate. quite sad really.

[A100]

I used to go to the Chelsea cruise in the seventies and eighties (and occasionally in the nineties) and would love to go to this. Only trouble is, my van is having steering and suspension work done and I'm not sure if I'll have it back in time.
Not only that, driving in London is an absolute nightmare, even in a modern, easy to drive car!
God, I'm getting old

[morgan]

We used to go a bit late 80s/early 90s.
Late 80s I was too young to drive - we used to get the train just to go see the cars.

They eventually started opening the park I remember - and as Derek says, the boom-boom-low-glow cars started arriving and it kinda changed.
I think we stopped going around then. Not sure I've ever been in the charger !

[Derek]

And the route is.

Starting on Chelsea Bridge at the park entrance opposite the tea stall, go over Chelsea Bridge and keep going to Sloane Square then turn left to go along the famous Kings Road until you get to Beauford street where you will turn left at the lights, carry on up to Albert Bridge but don't go over it turn left and go along the embankment, keep going and turn left at Chelsea Bride, and do it all again or in reverse, or turn right at Chelsea Bridge all the way down to the rounabout and back up and do it all again.

[V8DVE]

Can't commit to this yet, but what time is kick off so I can spread the word

[RobTwin]

Shame it clashes with the Chelsea Flower Show and means there's no access to the park from Chelsea Bridge
Mind you, we did always used to enter from the Albert Bridge side

[Derek]

Shame it clashes with the Chelsea Flower Show and means there's no access to the park from Chelsea Bridge
Mind you, we did always used to enter from the Albert Bridge side

NO NO NO NO the flower show is the week before so no excuses

[Derek]

Can't commit to this yet, but what time is kick off so I can spread the word

Congestion charge ends at 6pm, so if you don't want to pay that after 6pm.