A week at Auriens with Alan Russell, Founder of Russell Simpson

From the moment I arrived, any prior reservations I might have had vanished. The welcome was warm and inviting. The team on the door greeted me by name, and those showing me around did so with the kind of natural hospitality you expect in the very best hotels or private members clubs. My apartment was far more spacious than I expected, with floor-to-ceiling windows, lots of natural light, and a beautiful interior scheme. It felt like home.

That afternoon, I joined residents (some of whom I was familiar with) for tea and cake. These meetings are affectionately known as ‘cake and concierge’, as whilst sipping out tea, the concierge team shared the week’s lively events calendar (talks, wine tastings, wellness sessions) and residents offered their thoughts on their preferences. It was a genuinely social, and fun gathering - a first glimpse of the sense of community that is central to life at Auriens.

My morning began with a full-body wellness consultation with Gideon Remfry, Head of Wellness at Auriens. Gideon ran a diagnostic using a biometric scanner (a slightly humbling experience!). He explained the ways in which I could rebalance my diet, including the need to increase my protein intake to help build strength and muscle mass.

I was highly impressed by Gideon’s expertise and the broader scope of the wellness programme offered to all Auriens residents, which is designed to support their physical health and keep them active in later life.

I then dipped into an art class hosted in one of the bright studio spaces - one of the many immersive activities offered to the residents throughout the week. One resident, to whom I’d spoken the day before, shared something that stayed with me. “I feel safe here,” she said. Not in the sense of security systems - though those are discreetly in place - but emotionally safe. That struck me as a remarkable accomplishment for any residential setting.

Wednesday began with a one-on-one training session with Caroline, one of the in-house physiotherapists and personal trainers. Having had to stop my regular sessions due to a neck injury, I appreciated her tailored approach to my exercise regime - modifying movements and helping to restore my confidence in physical activity.

That evening, I attended an intimate performance from Kestrel Music. Shakespearean sonnets paired with song - an unlikely combination, but in the beautiful setting of the Auriens library, surrounded by residents and staff, it became a memorable moment and a highlight of my stay.

We dined al fresco in the beautifully tranquil terraced garden afterwards - you’d never know the bustling King’s Road is just moments away. Designed by renowned Chelsea gold medal winner Andy Sturgeon, the garden is a landscaping marvel; it features mature planting, hidden seating, and the gentle sound of water adds to the overall feel of serenity and calm. Residents were joined by family, friends, even grandchildren - an intergenerational affair.

My apartment at Auriens felt like a blend of a private residence and a top-tier hotel suite, complete with sumptuous bedding, hand-crafted joinery, high-quality timber flooring, sophisticated air-conditioning systems and garden views on both sides. But, it was visiting residents in their own apartments that truly showed what living at Auriens is like. One lady had recreated her former drawing room almost exactly - art, rugs, furniture, all carefully moved from her previous house. That sense of personal history, of home carried forward, is something I know matters deeply to our clients at Russell Simpson, too.

Throughout the week, I hosted guests, whether over drinks in my apartment or dinner in the restaurant, and nearly every one of them knew someone already living here. At one point, a friend recognised a fellow former model across the room, leading to a lively reunion over coffee. Chelsea’s web of connections is alive and well within the walls of Auriens!

Despite being on what felt like a kind of retreat, I couldn’t completely disconnect from work. I walked across Dovehouse Green to our Sydney Street office and was struck by how Chelsea felt both familiar and entirely new from this perspective. Auriens is discreetly tucked away, whilst also being at the centre of everything - the King’s Road, Chelsea Green, my favourite restaurants and shops - all just steps away.

I then enjoyed lunch in the Auriens garden. The staff, who are remarkable in both professionalism and warmth, made everything feel seamless. But the conversations I had with the other residents were the real highlight. One resident regaled me with tales about the businesses he had been involved in, the inventions he had created and the ideas he was still pursuing. There’s an entrepreneurial spirit here that I hadn’t expected.

Not many houses in Chelsea have facilities to match Auriens: a cinema room, a pool, a state-of-the-art gym and even a hair and beauty salon.

I used the 15-metre pool on Saturday, the salt sauna was the perfect spot for winding down and stretching out after a busy week. My children and grandchildren joined me and we had a brilliant afternoon hopping between the pool, the jacuzzi and the sauna.

Later, we watched The Lion King in Auriens’ private cinema. Much like the residents, who are able to choose the ‘film of the week’ during their Monday ‘cake and concierge’ meeting, we were given the option to choose our own film and with grandchildren present, The Lion King was a must! With comfy seats and popcorn on offer, it was a true family occasion - I was so comfortable I even managed to drift off for a moment mid-film!

As we left, I bumped into the same lady I met on my first day. She was on her way to Waitrose and pulled from her handbag a handmade book of paintings she had created at Auriens, all inspired by the views from her home here. I showed it to the grandchildren, who loved it. It was a fitting note on which to end a wonderful week - a moment that perfectly encapsulated the connections formed and the sense of community that defines Auriens.