Where To Live In London: The Most Exclusive Neighbourhoods

One of the world’s most vibrant and visited cities, London has something special for everyone: from history and culture to fine food and fashion.

Thinking of moving to London? Here’s a guide to the prime neighbourhoods:

Knightsbridge

The area is most notable for having two of the most famous department stores in the world, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. These two stores offer up some of the most expensive and luxurious goods in all of London. Sloan Street is another famous shopping locale that features flagship stores of designer labels like Prada and Dior. There are also some unique shops that specialize in one-of-a-kind pieces.

Property prices in Knightsbridge have climbed by over 110 per cent in the last nine years and, with the changes that have taken place in the market over the last year, now is a brilliant time to buy in the area as the prime central London market is on the rise. Property types are varied, from modern apartments housed in converted period townhouses to elegant mews buildings tucked down quiet lanes away from the hustle and bustle of the neighbourhood’s main thoroughfare.

Chelsea

Quintessentially British: Chelsea is an affluent, cosmopolitan district in Central London known for its posh residents, high-end shopping and popular football club. It started life as a village, and in the 19th century it transformed into a riverside resort and became popular with artists: Victorian painters Dante Gabriel Rossetti, J.M.W. Turner and James Whistler all resided here.

Chelsea properties tend to come in the form of spacious terraced houses and grand detached mansions, rather than high rise flats, making it a great option for those looking for family homes. The average price for a house in the area is now a little over £3.8 million, so you’ll need deep pockets, but Chelsea’s blend of laid back village-style living and proximity to London’s most exciting attractions make it more than worth it.

Kensington

Kensington is undoubtedly one of London’s most handsome neighbourhoods, complete with delightful cobbled mews, chic boutiques and beautiful parklands, but it’s also a district of substance, with a long-held reputation for its rich arts and culture scene. There are various sub-districts within the Kensington area, broadly the further east you go towards the centre the more affluent and upmarket things become.

Home properties in Kensington tend to come full of period charm and plenty of space, with Georgian and Victorian architecture common in the area. Many homes are complete with their own outdoor space (or access to communal gardens) while the average house price remains slightly lower than in neighbouring areas, at an average of just over £2 million.

Mayfair

Mayfair is one of the most gorgeous, expensive neighborhoods in all of London. It’s filled with 18th-century mansions and Edwardian apartment buildings that look exactly as you would imagine: elegant, romantic, and ultra posh. Wandering the streets might make you think you’ve happened upon a massive car dealership for Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, and Bentley cars as those brands are pretty much the only ones you’ll see. History and tradition are a big part of Mayfair – everyone from the local barber to the floweriest has been here for as long as anyone can remember.

While there have been some recent new build developments in the Mayfair area, the historic nature of the neighbourhood means space is very much at a premium and properties that do come to market tend to be two or three bedroom flats and duplexes rather than townhouses. What you are sacrificing in square footage, however, Mayfair properties tend to make up for with style. If you like high ceilings and Regency-style features, this is the neighbourhood for you.

Marylebone

Marylebone is a quiet, leafy part of London located just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford street – a surprising pocket of calm in the heart of the capital with pretty, peaceful streets and a strong sense of community. Marylebone is home to two of the world’s most famous streets: Baker Street (the residence of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes) and Harley Street (home to many of the world’s finest specialist doctors and surgeons). Marylebone has a rich aristocratic history which is reflected in its property market today. In the 18th century, large parts of the area were owned by a handful of wealthy families whose names still adorn street signs today (Cavendish Square and Portman Square, for example.)

The area is built for residential living, with plenty of options for fresh groceries, daily necessities, a library, cinemas, doctors, dentists, spas, bookstores, and gyms. Like nearby Mayfair, Marylebone is dominated by modernised period properties, many of which are townhouses that have been divided into smaller flats and apartments. This, combined with its proximity to central London’s main business hubs, make it a brilliant option for those in need of a home away from home in the city, with both rental and purchase prices typically lower than those in Mayfair, particularly following the recent lockdown dip. The market is bouncing back quickly though, so if you’re interested in moving to Marylebone hurry up.