Locksmith Belgravia SW1X Period Homes and Mews
IDN Chelsea Locksmith is a locksmith for Belgravia SW1X and SW1W that opens, repairs and replaces locks on period townhouses, mews houses and lateral flats 24 hours a day, usually arriving in 20 to 40 minutes from our base in Chelsea SW3. Lockouts cost £45 to £75, a BS3621 mortice deadlock fitted £60 to £85 and a garage door lock £40 to £65, with no call out fee. We open, repair and replace Banham and other high security locks, and we always agree the price before we travel.
- DBS checked locksmith
- Public liability insured
- Over 5 years working in Chelsea
- Price agreed before work
- No call out fee
Belgravia squares, streets and mews on our patch
Belgravia is compact but layered. The grand squares and terraces face the street, and behind almost every terrace runs a mews that was built for the stables and coach houses. We cover both, along with the shopping streets and the quieter SW1W end towards Ebury Street.
Our route is east along the King's Road to Sloane Square, then through Eaton Gate or Cliveden Place into Eaton Square. For Belgrave Square and the Motcomb Street side we often come up Sloane Street and along Pont Street instead. Neighbouring pages cover Sloane Square, Knightsbridge and Pimlico to the south east, and the complete map is on our areas covered page.
We usually reach Belgravia in 20 to 40 minutes via Sloane Square from our base in Chelsea SW3; the price is confirmed on the phone before we set off.
Townhouse, mews or lateral flat: how the locks differ
Belgravia homes fall into three broad types, and each one brings its own locks and its own kind of call out.
Stucco townhouse
Tall panelled front door behind a portico, typically a high security nightlatch and a mortice deadlock, often Banham. Many also have a basement door down the area steps.
Most common call: lost keys and a lock change on a door that must not be damaged.
Mews house
Front door straight onto the cobbles, often beside a garage door, sometimes with a converted garage now used as a room.
Most common call: garage door locks and side doors that have seized.
Lateral or conversion flat
A floor of a former house reached through a shared hall, with a porter or managing agent in larger buildings.
Most common call: flat door lockouts and communal door closers.
Belgravia locksmith prices
Daytime standard jobs sit at the lower figure, nights, weekends and high security parts at the higher one, with no call out fee.
| Job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| House or flat lockout Non destructive entry first, proof of residence checked | £45 to £75 |
| BS3621 mortice deadlock supplied and fitted Sized to the existing pocket on period doors | £60 to £85 |
| Nightlatch replaced Standard to British Standard | £50 to £75 |
| Garage door lock Mews garages, up and over and side hung | £40 to £65 |
| Break in repair and secure up Frame and lock repair the same night | £75 to £175 |
| Emergency boarding up Doors or windows that cannot be secured | £50 to £100 |
Prices include parts and labour. The lower figure is a standard daytime job, the higher figure covers nights, weekends and high security parts. Your exact price is confirmed on the phone before we travel, with no call out fee. See the full Chelsea price list.
Changing locks on a listed Belgravia door
Much of Belgravia is listed, and many homes are held on leases that control alterations to the front of the building. Neither usually stops a lock change, but both affect how it is done.
Our approach on period doors is to replace like for like where we can: a new BS3621 mortice deadlock sized to the existing pocket, a British Standard nightlatch on the existing fixing holes, and keeps that line up with what is already cut in the frame. That way the door is not weakened and the outside looks unchanged. Brass and finish matter here, so tell us if you want the visible hardware matched.
If you are planning something more visible, such as a new door, a keypad or a camera entry panel, check with your freeholder or managing agent first. For standards and insurance wording, see our guide to BS3621 locks and insurance, and for the locks themselves our lock change service.
Banham and high security locks in SW1X
Banham locks are common on Belgravia front doors. We can open them, repair them and replace them, but we cannot copy Banham registered keys: only Banham can cut those, and only for the registered key holder.
That leaves you two choices after losing a Banham key. Stay with Banham and order new keys or a new lock through them, or have us replace the lock with another high security lock that gives you keys you can copy. We will explain both on the phone; the right answer depends on how many keys are out and how quickly you need to be secure. Read more on our Banham lock service page.
Locksmith for Belgravia mews houses and garages
The mews behind Eaton Square, Chester Square and Belgrave Square are some of the most sought after homes in London, and their doors take more weather than the squares in front. Many still have a working garage at street level, either up and over or side hung timber doors.
Garage locks seize from lack of use, and garages are often where the bikes, tools and spare keys are kept, so they deserve the same care as the front door. A garage door lock repair or replacement is £40 to £65. Where a garage has been converted into a room, its old door becomes a second front door and should have a proper lock or security bolts rather than the original garage handle.
Basement doors, staff entrances and the back of the house
Behind the railings of most Belgravia townhouses are area steps leading to a lower ground floor door, historically the tradesmen's entrance. Today it is often the door used by housekeepers, deliveries and builders, which means more keys in circulation than for the front door.
It is worth treating that lower door as seriously as the main one: a BS3621 mortice deadlock, a sound frame and, if several people need access, a key safe with a code you change when staff change, rather than a drawer of spare keys. The small gate at the top of the area steps usually has its own lock, and a replacement gate lock is £40 to £75.
Keys to the private gardens in the middle of the squares are a separate matter: they come from the garden committee, not from a locksmith.
Emergency locksmith in Belgravia: shops, offices and discreet calls
Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street are lined with small independent shops, and many Belgravia buildings are offices or diplomatic residences. Businesses here call us for staff key changes, sticking doors and secure up after an attempted break in, always with authority from the owner or manager.
Many residential callers ask for discretion: an unmarked arrival, a quick job and no fuss on the doorstep. That is how we work anyway. We are DBS checked and publicly insured, we ask for proof of residence before opening any home, and we write the make and model of every lock fitted on your invoice.
After a forced entry
Call the police first for a crime reference number, then call us. A break in repair and secure up costs £75 to £175, and emergency boarding £50 to £100 if the door cannot be made good the same night. Details on our burglary repair page.
For all other prices, see our price list.
Common questions
Can you change the lock on a listed front door in Belgravia?
Yes. We replace locks like for like in the existing pocket and fixing holes wherever possible, so the door is not cut further and looks the same from the street. For anything more visible, check your lease or freeholder first.
I lost my Banham key in Belgravia. Can you help tonight?
We can make the door secure tonight by replacing the lock with another high security lock that has copyable keys. Only Banham can supply registered Banham keys. Our lost Banham key guide sets out both routes.
Do you fix garage door locks on Belgravia mews houses?
Yes. Seized or broken garage locks on mews houses are repaired or replaced for £40 to £65, on both up and over and side hung doors. If the garage is now a room, we can fit a proper lock to its door.
How much is a locksmith in SW1X at the weekend?
Weekend and night jobs sit at the top of each range: up to £75 for a lockout and up to £85 for a fitted BS3621 deadlock. There is no call out fee and the price is agreed before we leave.
Can you be discreet when you arrive?
Yes. We arrive without fuss, work quickly and keep the conversation on the doorstep to a minimum. If you prefer, we can confirm the price by WhatsApp or text beforehand so nothing needs discussing outside.
Do you cover the Ebury Street and Pimlico side of Belgravia?
Yes. Ebury Street, Elizabeth Street and Chester Square are covered in the same 20 to 40 minute window. Further into Pimlico, see our Pimlico locksmith page.
Related pages
Need a locksmith in Belgravia?
Call 07520 643913 for a price and arrival time before we come across from Chelsea.