Think Notting Hill, and likely one or more of three things will invariably spring to mind: the annual carnival, Portobello market, and Richard Curtis’ film, "Notting Hill", which showcased the area during the‘90s and in so doing helped remind London that here lay one of the most covetable places in town. The Notting Hill carnival, which celebrates Caribbean culture, was birthed in 1966 by the local resident and community activist Rhaune Laslett in the wake of race riots, and is now considered the largest street event in Europe.
South Kensington has been firmly established as a jewel in the London property market since the early Victorian era. The Great Exhibition of 1851 put the area on the map as a centre of great cultural and scientific importance.
Offering a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, a riverside locale and plenty of green space, Fulham in south-west London is a well-established prime housing market that is popular with both buyers and renters.
West Hampstead may be one of the best areas in London for getting around town. Not only does the Jubilee line run right through it, so prime shopping spots like Marylebone and Bond Street are all readily accessible, but there’s also an overground station, meaning you’re mere minutes from Hampstead or only half an hour from Richmond.
Internationally famous for its annual tennis tournament, Wimbledon in south-west London has been a popular choice for wealthy families for decades.
November marked the fifth consecutive monthly UK house price rise and the biggest leap so far this year, according to Halifax. The mortgage lender said property values were up 1.3% compared with October.
We expect positive price growth this year – in a climate of falling mortgage rates, improving affordability and the release of some pent-up demand. Rightmove reported that first-time buyer demand in the capital in September 2024 was 28% ahead of 2023, moving up to 31% after the autumn budget.
International property company JLL has said it expects Greater London house prices to increase by 22% over the next 5-years, beating nationwide UK growth predictions of 20% over the same time span. The firm added that within those headline figures, it expected lower value markets to see stronger growth towards the beginning of the period, with more expensive markets like London and the South East outperforming in the second half.
September has seen the fastest annual house price growth in around two years, according to Nationwide’s latest index, with average London house prices hitting £524,685.
The September data from online portal Zoopla showed that UK property sales volumes were at their highest level since pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2020.
When the pandemic hit, Londoners collectively realised just how vital making the most out of any green spaces was, and those who had them duly spent much more time outside in their gardens on that first very sunny spring.
Diana Porter has over the 35 years she’s been designing interiors built so solid a reputation for excellence that she has achieved quite a feat: her global clientele have ensured she has a packed work schedule solely by word of mouth.
Converting an under-used loft space into an extra bedroom and/or bathroom can be an excellent investment – in London, adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a two-bedroom property can boost its value by just under 25%.
The population of London is expanding every year, and new modern developments are always being constructed in an attempt to meet growing demand. Recently, Nine Elms in Battersea has seen a huge number of new apartment blocks go up in an area that was once mostly industrial wasteland, and the waterfront area around Putney Wharf is now being developed into a new destination for premium residential and retail space.
The built environment both reflects and shapes societies, and architects need to stay abreast of an ever-changing landscape of lifestyle preferences and technological developments.