Best Neighbourhoods in London |
Have you ever tried asking friends what are the best areas in London?
They may tell you Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Kensington, Richmond or one of the many other “Best Neighbourhoods” in London.
But which is the best?
Well, if you asked people who live in prime central London themselves, you would also receive several different answers. Mainly because we all have our own preferences. So, someone who lives in Notting Hill, for example, would tell you that it is the best neighbourhood in London rather than Belgravia. Meanwhile, the person living in Belgravia would tell you the exact opposite.
In short, you need to establish what is important to you and then decide which is the most suitable area in prime central London. Here is a brief overview to give you an idea of the pros and cons of each area.
Mayfair, Knightsbridge & Belgravia
If having a world-renowned address is the most important factor for you then you should consider Mayfair, Knightsbridge & Belgravia. Mayfair and Knightsbridge are home to some of the world’s best shopping – Bond Street & Harrods are just two examples – and Michelin star restaurants.
Meanwhile, Belgravia is also incredibly central but is much more serene with large garden squares and a predominance of residential property rather than shops or offices.
But are these areas right for you? Many people find Mayfair and Knightsbridge too busy while others find Belgravia too formal and boring. If you would like a large, private garden then your options are also few and far between.
Kensington & Holland Park
Kensington and Holland Park are just to the west of Hyde Park. The former is home to the most expensive street in London, Kensington Palace Gardens. This is a private road with armed guards, enormous mansions and a few embassies.
But there is a good selection of houses in both areas and if you are looking for a wide house with a good garden in a leafy, green location then Kensington & Holland Park may be the best neighbourhoods in prime central London for you as you also have both Hyde Park and Holland Park nearby.
The downside is that High Street Kensington has a relatively average selection of shops and restaurants despite being surrounded by some of London’s most expensive homes. Meanwhile, Holland Park is just to the west of Kensington and is predominantly residential so may be too quiet for you.
Notting Hill
Famous because of the Portobello Road, the carnival and the film. Notting Hill has a very different atmosphere to the other neighbourhoods mentioned so far. It is far more bohemian and relaxed than the other areas although it has become much “smarter” over the last 15 years. Many of the tatty antiques shops on Westbourne Grove have been replaced with boutiques and a much higher standard of restaurant.
One of the main draws of Notting Hill for families are the streets that have houses that back onto communal gardens. These gardens can only be accessed by residents whose properties directly lead onto the gardens (with the odd exception). Consequently, these are ideal for young families as you essentially have private parks which are safe, so you can simply let the children loose, and foster a greater sense of community.
However, from a security perspective, Notting Hill is less safe than Belgravia, for example, which deters some people from buying there (personally, I think most parts of Notting Hill are extremely safe but we all have different tolerances).
Dramatic price differences within the Best Neighbourhoods in London.
These are just a few of the best areas in London you may want to consider, but I just wanted to show you how areas can differ dramatically, not only in the style of property but also the ambience. Other neighbourhoods in prime central London that you should consider amongst others are Chelsea, South Kensington, Bayswater, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, St John’s Wood and Hampstead.
Of course, if you are planning to acquire an investment property, then there are certain areas and types of property that will give you better returns than others. But irrespective of whether you plan to buy a home or investment property, there are significant price differences not only between each neighbourhood but also between streets within each area.
It is essential that you understand what affects valuations in each area, street and building. If you don’t then it is very easy to make an expensive mistake because you will probably try to make like for like comparisons on a price per square foot or square metre basis. But if you are comparing apples to oranges then you are in trouble.
For example, I sometimes write reports about the five worst purchases made in prime central London, where I show properties that have been acquired for up to 25% over fair value. Other people manage to buy properties that will simply underperform the market and are not the best property they could have acquired. Do you want to make the same mistakes?
Contact: Mercury Homesearch
So, if you would like to discover the strategies and tactics that I have been using for over 20 years to find my clients the best properties in prime central London and negotiate prices they didn’t think possible, you can request a complimentary copy of my book by clicking here or calling 02034578855 (+442034578855 from outside the UK).
