Sloane Square. Like many other street names in this part of London, the square is named in honour of Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) the physician and botanist who purchased the manor of Chelsea from the Cheyne family in 1712. In 1749 his great collection of books and curiosities formed the basis of the British Museum. Over the station, through a square iron conduit 15 feet above the platforms, passes the River Westbourne which eventually reaches the River Thames by Chelsea Bridge.

The station was opened as SLOANE SQUARE on 24 December 1868. It was severely damaged in an air raid on 12 November 1940; rebuilding after the Second World War was completed on 3 May 1951.