Regional Information
London Regional Information,
Highly regarded across the world as one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities, London also entices buyers from every corner of the globe as a long standing place to invest in property. London offers something for everyone, whether you are looking for a quiet residential area with parks and greenery, or prefer the more vibrant and upbeat lifestyle of the City, or the refinement and grandeur of central London.
It is perhaps best then, to divide London into is main residential areas, and from there locate the specific area which would best suit the needs of the buyer. Please note that the postcodes indicated are those which cover the larger proportion of the areas dicussed but are not exclusive.
North West London
Comprising Islington, Camden, Hampstead, Maida Vale, St John’s Wood, plus many other smaller areas within these, North London often appeals to the city workers such as bankers and lawyers. This is because of its easier commute on the Northern and Jubilee lines to the City and also to Canary Wharf. Areas such as Hampstead and St Johns Wood offer a more residential feel largely comprising Victorian and Georgian properties, as well as some recent brand new developments. Islington tends to attract a younger resident- often recent graduates starting out in the banking and law world, but also offers beautiful tall houses for families.
Hampstead Village
Hampstead (NW3), with its charming village and beautiful heath often appeals to families and comprises largely Gothic, Victorian and Georgian Houses. One of the most well known roads in Hampstead for the high end buyers is Bishops Avenue in which houses of 8,000 plus square foot can be found. Hampstead has good accessiibiltly to the city and West End, with stations on both the Northern and Jubilee lines.
Camden Lock
Camden (NW1) is a very fashionable area, often popular with celebrity popstars, and famous for its eclectic market, the canal and smaller pubs and bars which have seen the birth of many famous bands. Here, the houses are largely Victorian houses of three to four bedrooms, of approximately 800 square foot plus, but there are also some very attractive garden squares with much larger houses. Camden’s underground station is on the Northern Line and within 4 stops of the City, making it popular with City commuters.
Springfield Road, St Johns Wood
St Johns Wood (NW8) has some wonderful wide roads and avenues with substantial large houses and is of course home to Lords Cricket Ground. In this area, there are also a large amount of substantial mansion buildings which offer large spacious flats which are often popular for overseas buyers as they offer the security to be vacant for long periods of time. There is a selection of different architecural eras in St John’s Wood, therefore offering a wide selection of options to purchasers.
Chester Terrace, Regent Park
South of St Johns Wood is Regents Park with its beautiful Palladian Nashville Houses and open green views. To the South of the Park are areas such as Marylebone (W1) with its excellent high street, and Fitzrovia (W1). Both of these offer excellent proximity t the west end and Oxford Street, and comprise a mixtures of 60’s, 70’s and Victorian Mansion Blocks as well as being home to the famous Baker Street and Harley Street.
The City and South East London
Tower Bridge, SE1
The City itself comprises a wonderful collaboration of old and new, with its tall commercial buildings of glass and steel surrounded by old pubs and bars, and markets. Spitalfields is a popular area for city dwellers as it houses many excellent restaurants and is surrounded by charming period houses and flats. To the East of the City lie up and coming areas which are constantly improving as recent train line extensions (such as the East London Line extension) improve the ability to reach the city quickly and efficiently for those whom work long hours. Wapping is a good example of an area in which old warehouses and factories have been transformed into fantastic flats featuring exposed brickwork, and many of the original parts of the warehouse such as grain shoots and attractive iron columns which add hugely to the unique appeal of these properties, which often also have river views and its own shopping facilities.
Over the last ten years, South East London has become almost unrecognisable. Again, this area was once largely the industrial area and so offerres the fantastic warehouse and factory conversions as well as award winning and striking new developments.
Butlers Wharf, Shad Thames SE1
Shad Thames (SE1) is a popular area, and one of the most expensive areas in South East London. Often used for filming, Shad Thames is found directly below the Tower of London and provides mainly flats which have been designed to high specifications with river views and some excellent restaurants. The flats are often popular becuase of their converted warehouse status- therefore offering fantastuc features such as exposed brick work, wooden beams and Iron Columns. Access to the city is either a short walk over Tower Bridge, or via the Nothern and Jubilee Lines from London Bridge.
Borough (E1) offers a less expensive option for city workers and again an eclectic but exciting blend of very old, and brand new buildings and is home to the famous borough market- a constant attraction for tourists and residents alike.
Bermondsey and Rotherhithe (SE16) again mostly comprise of fantastic flats offering river views, parking and ancient old London pubs, being easily accessible to the city and Canary Wharf on the Jubilee Line.
Comprising Knightsbridge (SW1), Chelsea (SW3), Kensington (W8), Mayfair (W1) and Belgravia (SW1), central London is one of the most refined and elegant areas of London, but also one of the most expensive.
Typical Period cottage, Knighstbridge
Knightsbridge (SW1) has long been an area in which overseas investors wish to purchase, as its world renouned shopping facilities (Sloane Square, Harrods, Harvey Nichols etc) and its central location make it an excellent area to stay during the summer and Christmas periods. These areas largely comprise Victorian, Georgian and Regency buildings, as well as a few very recent developments such as 1 Hyde Park which was built by the Candy Brothers, as well as The Knightsbridge. The area being one of the oldest in London, offers substantial residential properties which were built to house the wealthy from the very beginning of its time. Therefore the houses are substantial, often overlooking well maintained garden squares and of course being close to Sloane Square and the West End as well as having easy access to Heathrow Airport and the West of the country.
Abingdon Villas, W8
Kensington (W8) is popular area for both domestic and overseas residents, as it comprises elegant victorian mansion buildings as well as large detached and semi-detached family houses. Amongst these are some aware winning private developments such as The Phillimores and Thornbury Gardens. Kensington is also popular for its high street and proximity to Notting Hill as well as Kensington Palace Gardens and Holland Park. Again there is easy access to the M4 from Kensington for regular flyers.
- Ladbroke Grove, Notting Hill
Notting Hill (W11) is an area which became very poular after the film, but which already had some very established beautiful buildings and garden squares. Notting Hill offers large stucco fronted properties around Ladbroke Grove as well as many pastel coloured streets around Poirtobello Road and Westbourne Grove, the latter of which has been vastly improved over the last few years and is now synonymous with the A-list celebirties often found enjoying the boutiques, restauratns and bars in the area. Portobello Market brings many hundreds of tourists flocking to this bustling and hugely popular area every Saturday, but the greener and quieter areas of Notting Hill offer a respite and some fabulous flats and tall imposing properties with wide streets and charming garden squares.
Holland Park, W11
Holland Park (W11 & W14) based around the popular park, these wide roads offer fantastic large villas and elegant victorian mansion blocks as well as some more modern closes comprising good sized family houses. Holland Park offers good commuter access to the city on the central line as well as being within easy reach of the M4. The properties found here are often large flats or vast houses and are therefore poular with families both domestic and overseas.
Maida Vale & Little Venice (W9) This area is charecterised by its tall elegant red brick mansion blocks, intergrated by large stucco fronted family houses, and also by its charming canal which bustles with narrow boats. Frequented by celebrities, this area benefits from its central location being close to Regents Park, and also to the bakerloo line and Paddington. The proeprties here offer spacious grand flats, often with communal gardens and large family houses.
Bayswater and Paddington (W2)
Onslow Gardens, Sw7
South Kensington(SW7) often attracts a slightly younger audience owing to its famous bars and restaurants which run alond the Brompton Road. However, here there are also many beautiful stucco fronted buildings which run along Queen’s Gate and the roads immediately to the East and West of it, as well as those such as the red brick buildings behind the Albert Hall. South Kensington offers many lovely garden squares such as Onslow Gardens and Queens Gate Gardens, therefore allowing for some greenery amongst the bustling Queen’s Gate, Gloucetser Road and Brompton Road areas. The transport links to central London and the city are also very good.
Earls Court (SW5) is well known for its cosmopolitan feel, with a huge variety of restaurants and bars, and also its easy access to the M4 and therefore Heathrow airport. Earls Court has some award winning garden squares such as Bramham Gardens and Barkston Gardens as well as Earls Court Square. The property here mainly comprises large spacious and elegant Victorian mansion blocks along with a few cottage style houses. Earls Court is a good transtport link with access to the Piccadily, District and Circle lines, making it a popular residence for commuters as well as being within walking distance of South Kensington.
Chelsea (SW3 &SW10) offers similar style architecture to that of South Kensington, as well as some very attractive cottages and tall spacious houses, and stretches from Sloane Square, south toward the river and over to the end of the Kings Road. Again Chelsea offers excellent shopping facilities such as Sloane Square and the recently redeveloped Duke Of York Square. The size of houses differs in Chelsea with smaller houses in little quiet side streets, to large family houses offering over 5000 square feet. Around Sloane Sqaure, there are a number of elegant large red brick Mansion buildings comprising large flats, and directly behind Sloane Square is the regal Eton Terrace with its imposing stucco fronted tall white buildings.
St George's Square, Pimlico
Belgravia and Pimlico(SW1 &SW1V) comprise the famous Eaton Square and Terrace- recognised easily by their stucco fronts and elegant white frontages. Elisabeth Street is a popular street for its wine bars and delis, and attracts people from far and wide. The property in this area is largely stucco fronted and offers large spacious houses as well as stunning lateral flats. There are also many beautiful garden squares in Belgravia, which encourage a peaceful ambience whilst still being close to transport and shopping of Sloane Square. Pimlico is the area South of Belgravia which meets the banks of the River and is accessible via the Victoria line.
South West London
South West London is an area popular with people whom wish to have access to the city, but also to the country via the A3 and M4. Largely populated by families, and young couples.
Wimbledon Common
Wimbledon (SW19 &SW20), famous obviously for its tennis, but also hugely popular for its charming village, full of boutiques and delicatessans as well as obviously the common, offers a 20 minute train journey to Waterloo and is also on the district line. Wimbledon is popular with Londoners wishing to live a more country style life, whilst also wanting to be able to access London relatively easily. Wimbledon largely comprises houses of many eras, and also many sizes. From the vast mansion-style houses on Parkside to the Victorian 3/4bedroom houses of South Wimbledon, there is a large choice of different sizes available.
Southfields (Sw18)
Richmond from the Thames
Richmond (TW9) is located on the River Thames, therefore offering some fantastic riverside properties. It has an excellent shopping centre as well as access to London on the District line and also from its mainline station. Again Richmond is popular with people looking to have a country lifestyle whilst still being able to access central London. The properties here vary again from period o modern, with some large Georgian and Victorian Houses as well as some new developments. Richmond stretched into other popular areas such as Kew, Sheen, Ham and Twickenham- all of which are green and attractive with varying types of property available from period cottages to substantial country homes.
Putney Riverside
Putney(SW13) (SW15 & SW18) is well known for being the start point of the Oxford/Cambridge boat race, but also offers riverside living, access to London on the district and mainline stations and is popular with both families as well as young city workers. Putney High Street offers good shipping with popular mainstream outset as well as many bars and restaurants. The houses in West Putney vary from attractive cottage style period houses to very grand detached houses both period and new.
The Terrace, Barnes
Barnes(SW13) Barnes again has its own community feel, with its popular pond and village. Access from Barnes is gained by its two mainline train stations, and offers a country style way of living. The Wetland Conservation area ensures that Barnes retains its green and verdant feel and has many excellent local schools and facilities. The houses here are mainly large and vary from Georgian to Victorian eras.
Lion Houses/Parsons Green
Fulham (SW6) comprising largely Victorian terraced houses, with Parsons Green and the Fulham and New Kings Roads being the main intersections of Fulham, this is popular area to families and to young city workers and is a green residential area. Fulham offers a variety of Victorian conversion flats and houses alongside new developments on the river. Home to the famous Hurlingham Club, Fulham offers numerous shops, bars and restaurants and is easily accessible to Chelsea and Sloane Square as well as central London on the District line. Parsons Green and the roads around the Hurlingham Club offer substantial family homes averaging 4000 square feet. Smaller houses and cottages can be found throughout the area as well as a few Mansion blocks. Bishops Park is very popular with its Palace and lovely riverside walk.
Wansdworth Common
Wandsworth (SW18)
Battersea Park/ Prince of Wales Drive
Clapham (SW4) and Battersea (SW11) located to the South of the river, and opposite Chelsea Embankment, Clapham and Battersea comprise Victorian terraced houses of all shapes and sizes. With its many parks and commons, these areas are very popular with young families whom enjoy the excellent shopping, bars, and restaurants of the Northcote Road. The transport links from Clapham include the mainiline to Waterloo from Clapham Junction and ther various Northern line stations which provide great access to the city.
