A=Rotherhithe B=Barnes C=Willesden Green D=King’s Cross
Which district(s) ...
· used to have lots of problems such as drugs, street crime, etc. 1
· has the unpopular style of architecture 2
· has the most expensive properties 3
· offers big out-fashioned houses at lower price 4
· is located in a quiet residential area 5
· saw a big increase in price last year 6
· will build a lot of new facilities 7
· is estimated to be a good investment 8
· encourages night-life culture for young people 9
· creates a relative energetic multi-cultural atmosphere 10
A
Rotherhithe Rotherhithe may be most famous for its congested tunnel but many young buyers are warming to its riverside charms.
It is still much cheaper than its waterside neighbors. The housing stock is predominately 1980s flats, many arranged in cul-de-sacs(死胡同) and closes around Surrey Quays Road.
The unpopular architecture has led to the area being called the Milton Keynes of London but properties are spacious and unfashionable style has kept prices down.
Paul Mitchell, of estate agents Alex Neil, says, "There is precious little period property, but you will get far more for your money here than a Victorian house with lots of original features down the road in Bermondsey. "
Surry Quays shopping center provides all the amenities of a high street but the area is lacking in fun. However, Southwark Council is in talks to develop the "night time economy" which could well lead to an increase in bars and restaurants to cater for the growing number of young professional residents.
"It is possible to get a good three-bedroom house in Rotherhithe for 280000," says Wumine Jordan Robinson, of agents Burwood Marsh. "About eight minutes’ walk from the Jubilee Line which will have you in Bond Street in 15 minutes. There are not that many areas in London where that is possible."
B
Barnes Barnes sits just across the river from Hammersmith in southwest London, but it could not be more different from the noise and bustle of the opposite bank.
It has been called one of the last true London "villages" with happy residents keeping its old school charms quiet from nosey outsiders and potential developers.
Being by the river and predominately residential gives Barnes an attractively lazy vibe. It has a traditional village green complete with idyllic duck pond and quaint pub. The high street is about as far from the Pound Shop and Primark ambience of its neighbors as is possible.
But buying into Barnes is not cheap. "Family houses are snapped up incredibly quickly," claims Chris Carney, sales negotiator at Boileaus estate agents. "It is very hard to get properties of this size, with outside space so close to London, which is why they are expensive."
Large detached Victorian houses on the two main roads, Casttenau and Lonsdale, normally have between five and seven bedrooms, gardens of 120 ft and off-street parking. These sell for anything between ￡2 million and ￡5 million.
By the village green there are rows of immaculate terraced houses on a number of streets that run off Church and Station roads, and four-bedroom houses of this kind sell for around ￡1 million.
C
Willesden Green Willesden Green has both suffered and benefited from its famous neighbors. Despite its growing popularity, the area remains interesting and multi-cultural, injecting a little bit of soul into what could otherwise become just another yuppie backwater.
"Willesden Green has a diverse range of properties from 1930s semi-detached houses to large Victorian properties and new-builds which attract all kinds of buyers," says Richard Chiti, sales manager at estate agents Ellis ＆ Co.
"The roads bordering West Hampstead are popular, as they are wide, tree-lined streets with sizeable family houses. Properties in and around Dobree Road, which lead down to Kensal Rise, are also in high demand."
Estate agents and residents agree that the area used to be regarded as erous and undesirable, but this has changed over the last decade. It’s popular because it is still affordable, although prices have rocketed over the last year.
D
King’s Cross King’s Cross used to be renowned for problems including drugs, prostitution and street crime but a ￡2 billion regeneration programme should help the area lose its seedy reputation.
The project includes a new Eurostar terminal opening this year and a spruced-up tube station, alongside hundreds of new homes, offices and leisure facilities set to be completed in 2015. Such development has had a predictable effect on house prices.
"There are a lot more amenities now, such as supermarkets, cafes and bars, and the issue people used to have with safety a few years ago has disappeared. " By the c basin, new-built flats and luxury warehouse conversions from the bulk of property, and at the top end of the market there are stunning penthouses available with views across London.
Much of the new development is centered on the back of the station, off York way, and flats are being sold to eager buyers off plan.
The older properties are mainly mid-Victorian terraces around Caledonian Road and the streets heading towards Angel, and ex-local authority blocks where it is possible to pick up a two-bedroom refurnished flat for under ￡250000.
Smith adds, "Investment-wise, King’s Cross is a good bet. There is a big rental market here and prices will go up. There are still cheaper properties available, one- to two-bedroom flats in Victorian conversions, or ex-council properties. But people are holding on to them for dear life in the hope they will go up in value. If you find one, it is worth investing in." A=Rotherhithe B=Barnes C=Willesden Green D=King’s CrossWhich district(s) ...ARotherhitheBBarnesCWillesden GreenDKing’s Cross