LONDON
PULSE
DREAM LIVES
The home of our own Royal Family,
countless other royals, oligarchs and
sheikhs, the landed gentry, the nouveau
riche and, of course, the famous and
infamous, London is home to a veritable
‘Who’s Who’ volume. Trendy Notting Hill
boasts David (call me Dave) Cameron and
George Osborne. Richard Branson is more
upmarket in Holland Park, while Jemima
Khan, Madonna (maybe, it’s hard to keep
up), Liz Hurley and Hugh Grant still favour
Chelsea. In Belgravia you may rub
shoulders with Margaret Thatcher,
Nigella Lawson or Roman Abramovich.
One could go on, forever.
They live here because it is the hub
of the universe; every hotel, restaurant, Above: It would make very smart flats...
bar and club is a celebrity spotting Left: Al Fresco fun at Covent Garden.
opportunity. The shopping is among the Below: The Culturedome – Albert Hall,
best and expensive in the world; private
art galleries, interior design houses, ACCESSIBILITY
jewellers, couturiers and designer baby London Transport offers every opportunity
shops that would make you drool. to get around but not all of it is as desirable
Bijou boutiques supply the necessities of as these residents might like. The car
life like designer wear, soap and bathroom remains king and residents within the
tiles and their ownership revolves on a fast congestion charge only pay 10 per cent to
spinning cycle. However, it has to be said, be free to travel in and out of the zone. The
there are some with staying power like downside is that parking is very much at a
Caroline Charles, Bruce Oldfield and the premium. So much so that a property with
General Trading Company. Peter Jones and parking facilities can command a premium
Harrods are the hubs of mainstream local of up to £100,000 over a similar property
retailing for the most of RBK&C (The without the facility. Garages change hands
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea). at hilarious prices; even miniature electric
Locals don’t go to Harvey Nicks, except cars need to be parked somewhere. Having
to watch the WAGS in the fifth floor bar. said that, the Tube does do a grand job,
with a few holes, notably in Chelsea and
Kensington where it can be a long walk to
the nearest station, so Nanny tends to need
a car anyway. The buses and tubes are
entertaining, once you have an Oyster
Card the capital is your lobster, although
getting to Heathrow in this way can be a
strain and the tourists can make getting
a seat a nightmare. The closest helipad is
though, just a whisper away, across the
Thames at Battersea.
CENTRAL LONDON OVERVIEW VS UK AVERAGE Source:
FindaProperty.com data - January 2010
RENT SALE
London % change UK % change London % change UK % change
vs vs vs vs
year ago year ago year ago year ago
2 Bed House £1,400 -1.8% £585 -2.7% £375,113 4.9% £147,342 -3.0%
3 Bed House £1,634 -1.2% £734 -3.0% £445,189 5.0% £190,636 -1.9%
4 Bed House £2,361 -2.5% £1,058 -7.1% £707,340 6.5% £325,213 0.2%
5+ Bed House £4,560 10.7% £1,473 -10.2% £1,346,465 13.3% £534,590 5.0%
1 Bed Flat £1,117 -2.9% £607 -1.6% £249,437 0.1% £128,958 -4.5%
2 Bed Flat £1,498 -1.9% £764 -2.3% £367,005 5.1% £176,445 -3.6%
Above: Harrods. Above right: Portobello.
3+ Bed Flat £2,240 -3.1% £1,173 -2.7% £634,680 16.6% £306,827 2.3%
Where to shop? Depends on your wallet!
24 FEBRUARY 2010 PROPERTYdrum
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