Property

Living in W2 puts the very best of London on your doorstep. This is a sought-after area of the capital, filled with excellent residential options and a winning combination of parkland, cutting-edge shopping streets and swift transport links. Residents are well-placed for all of London’s world-famous cultural and leisure facilities, yet can also row on the Serpentine or horse ride through Hyde Park, making W2 a prime choice for those looking for a central, but leafy London postcode.

W2 stretches from Hyde Park northwards past Bayswater up to beyond Paddington. For many residents, Hyde Park and its immediate neighbour, Kensington Gardens, are the stand-out attraction. These are two of London’s eight Royal Parks, historic parkland covering a substantial 615 acres that includes the Serpentine Lake, formal Italian gardens, the Diana Memorial Gardens, and Kensington Palace, the London residence of several members of the Royal family. This is where Londoners come to relax, to stroll, and to enjoy time with their friends, in a much loved expanse of greenery in the heart of the city.

From W2, a stroll across the parks takes you to the designer boutiques of Knightsbridge to the south, with Mayfair to the east, and Kensington and Notting Hill to the west. Along with nearby Marylebone, these are some of London’s most desirable ‘villages’, each with its own character and a wide variety of restaurants, bars and cafés to sample.

Young professionals, energetic families and older couples will all find reasons to relish living in this area of London. W2 is perfectly poised to make the most of London’s vibrant lifestyle. There is a wide choice of nurseries and schools – Wetherby Prep and International Community School among them - and you are within easy touch of the world-famous medical knowledge collected on Harley Street. There’s no shortage of culture too, with regular classical concerts at Wigmore Hall and lively summer concerts in Hyde Park (Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen are past performers, with Elton John and the Eagles signed up for this summer), while the year-round cultural highlights at the Royal Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, and the theatres of the West End, are all within easy reach.

You are close to many of the capital’s most prestigious members clubs, and the ever-buzzy shopping boulevards are complemented by many surprisingly quiet lanes and peaceful garden squares. Wander around Connaught Square, home to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie, and you’ll experience the calm face of W2, just steps from Hyde Park itself.

Welcome to W2

Property In W2

W2 has a wide choice of residential options with striking architecture, ranging from 19th Century townhouses right up to cuttingedge contemporary penthouses. The choice includes tall homes in elegant garden squares - look at Bryanston Square and Montagu Square for example - with stately homes around private, well-kept grounds, mews houses, stucco-fronted villas and handsome 1930 mansion blocks. For totally up-to-date living, there are apartments and penthouses at Park Modern, a super-prime development with a front row southerly view across Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens that takes in sunrise and sunset over the iconic London skyline. These offer fully serviced lateral living, with every home having some private outside space.

Market Insight

Average sales prices across prime central London in the year to January 2022 grew by 1.5%, the highest annual increase since 2015, with a continuation of the misstep between high demand and low supply

experienced in prime central London last year. There’s no immediate indication of a swift resolution, because although supply is slowly, but steadily building, with new market appraisals, a leading indicator of supply, up 6% on the five-year average in January, demand remains extraordinarily high. For W2, a cosmopolitan area of London with wide appeal, the anticipated return of international investors to the market this spring, could add to the upward pressure on property and rental prices.

Lettings values in prime central London recorded an increase of 19.8% in January, the largest jump since the prime central London Index began in 1995. These steep rises compare with a 5% increase across London and the UK as a whole on pre-pandemic levels (March 2020). With rents rising and stock availability low, there is additional pressure on prices from corporate relocation companies, where enquiry levels were the highest since January 2020. In addition, the number of new prospective buyers in London and the Home Counties in January was 62% above the five-year average.

Shopping

For fashion-forward boutiques and department stores, W2 has it covered. From W2 you’re right beside Marble Arch and the start of Oxford Street, one of the world’s most renowned retail avenues, home to 300 shops including household names and the eternally stylish department store Selfridges. The three tube stations along Oxford Street make it easy to scoot off to shop elsewhere, Covent Garden perhaps or further afield, Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush, with 290 brands, both high street names and designers, all under one roof. From W2 you are also within easy reach of Portobello Road Market with its six days a week antique market, and the independent boutiques of Notting Hill.

Getting Around

For destinations to the west of the capital, including Heathrow Airport, W2 is a winning location. Underground: W2 has several underground stations: Bayswater, Lancaster Gate, Queensway, Royal Oak, Edgware Road and Paddington. Nearby stations include Marble Arch, Bond Street and Oxford Circus. In addition, the Elizabeth Line, Crossrail, will save significant time and will connect Heathrow, Paddington, the City and Canary Wharf. The first section, from Paddington to Abbey Wood, is expected to open in the first half of 2022. Train: London Paddington Station is the gateway to the southwest with regular fast connections to Bath, Bristol, Devon and Cornwall and south Wales. St Pancras International is easily reached, with Eurostar departures to Brussels and Paris. Buses: Excellent. W2 has 79 bus routes serving 90 bus stops. Car: Well-placed for access to the A40, M25 and M4.

Restaurants, Bars And Cafés

You are spoilt for choice with a selection of superb restaurants all close by from the star-chefs working in Knightsbridge and Piccadilly to the casual cafés of Notting Hill. Staying within the W2 postcode itself:

Casa Malevo

You would expect an Argentinian steakhouse to serve a perfect steak and this restaurant in the heart of Connaught Village, between Paddington and Marble Arch, does not disappoint. Alongside the prime beef there is a range of South American specialities. 23 Connaught Street, W2 2AY www.casamalevo.com

Kurobuta

Japanese tapas-inspired dishes served in street style: an Asian fusion success that has won over Londoners for its taste and style. 17-20 Kendal Street, W2 2AW www.kurobuta-london.com

Huckster London

World-class cocktails served by expert mixologists, an immersive multi-layer karaoke lounge and a breezy slice of 1985 Lower Manhattan. What’s not to like in this bar? 4 Kingdom Street, W2 6BD www.hucksterlondon.co.uk

Bel Canto

You want opera with your French cuisine? Of course you do! Bel Canto is London’s only opera restaurant where singing waiters add a unique twist to your dining experience. 67 Bayswater Road, W2 3PN www.belcantolondon.co.uk

Knight Frank’s Relocation Service

Finding a property in the current market can be a trying process, with unprecedented tenant demand and a shortage of stock across the board. Our relocation team are here to help navigate the competition and ensure our clients find the right property and that your experience is as smooth as possible.

Sacha Hawkins, Associate, Relocation Inspired by my parents’ love of property, I started out my real estate career in Cambridge, first working as an estate agent. I jumped at the opportunity to move into the world of corporate relocation and now have over 11 years’ experience in the industry and six of those working with corporates, relocating their employees. A vital part of what I do is to listen to my clients’ individual needs, so that when they are matched to their perfect property, they have the best start to their new journey in London. For any of your property needs or advice, please get in touch. I’d love to help you. E: sacha.hawkins@knightfrank.com T: +44 20 3504 7337 www.knightfrank.co.uk