BY seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show,' opined Dr Johnson, although I prefer the somewhat more anonymous quote made famous by William Sansom: 'London is a bad habit one hates to lose.' It doesn't seem as if the habit of London is one that is likely to be kicked any time soon. As the market goes through a somewhat 'cool' patch (political instability, inflation, interest rates, all of the above), the London market, especially at the prime and super-prime end of things, marches on unfazed and unrattled.
To those of us who live here, that seems hardly surprising. Scarce a corner can be turned without being greeted by a crane or scaffolding. Since 2008, development has skyrocketed and shows no signs of slowing down. Although the allure of blue skies and green grass post-covid may have driven people out of town, many still want to keep an apartment in the capital, unwilling or unable to kick the habit of metropolitan living (much like the mother who hides that packet of Silk Cuts behind the Aga). At the same time, demand is boosted by the international buyer who, thanks to a certain former prime minister, is benefiting from very favourable exchange rates.
"The pull of London as a global city remains strong and we have seen international buyers return to the prime London market,' says Genevieve Mayoh, international residential development consultant at Savills. The limited pipeline for high-profile new-build schemes means they continue to be in demand to those international and domestic buyers looking for the best in class.'
Denne historien er fra November 01, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra November 01, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
