I love living in London and it’s actually top of the rankings for the best city in the world to buy a Luxury Home (according to reports from Wealth-X and other global wealth information companies). But which location is the best for a Luxury London Home? As an Interior Designer specialising in luxury I work on London properties and I will tell you which are my favourite areas and why.
Having lived here for some time, I can’t get enough of this beautiful city full of cultural and architectural contrasts. Before starting any of my interior design projects in London I do research on the history of the place. I usually find out a lot of old stories and interesting anecdotes. These help create great inspiration for my interior design concepts.
So let’s get on with it:
Belgravia
The jewel of London. Balgravia is certainly one of my favourite places by far. You can never forget the first time you see the stunning array of white columns of neo-georgian houses. The stunning classical architecture is painted beige and as a result the area has a great modern touch. No wonder that Victoria Beckham chose this location for one of her early videos promoting her fashion business. For me Belgravia means pure London.
You can also find a lot of beautiful instagrammable places here. The most famous is Peggy Porschen with it’s pink flowery facade. It’s a lovely area for walks and spending time with your loved ones.
Luxury Properties in Belgravia have beautiful grand spaces full of natural light. I really like using these features designing modern and airy interiors for my clients.
Mayfair and St James’s
What could be more British than a man in a bowler hat standing next to the beautifully proportioned tall entrance door on Piccadilly? I took this photo in Mayfair and it has been an inspiration for my interior design projects; I love the harmony, vertical lines and grand but balanced proportions.
Mayfair is definitely one of the best luxury property areas in London. Apartments are spectacular and full of history. Not to mention the proximity to high culture and fine dining.
Mayfair is home to the Royal Academy of Art, Gogosian Gallery as well as the auction houses: Christie’s and Sotheby’s.
Are you an avid shopper? All important haute couture boutiques are here: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, YSL to name a few. Best chefs are at your dorsteep with restaurants like Le Gavroche, Hakkasan, The Square and the famous members clubs (Annabel’s, George and Mark’s Club).
Grosvenor Square
If you want to live in the most noble London square with a lot of history on every corner, Grosvenor Square in Mayfair is worth to have a look at. A lot of billionaires are choosing it for their luxury London home location. In the past Royal family members and famous artists have lived there. Apparently, residents were throwing the most lavish parties. London cab drivers used to call it “the Bentley Corner” because of the usual view of the luxury bentley cars parked in front of one of the houses.
Personally I love the symmetry of the square and the harmonious proportion of neo-georgian architecture. The interiors are spacious and grand. The tall ceiling heights and windows can be a great base for a beautiful home. My dream is to design an ultra modern and funky space inspired by fashion while painting all the walls and classical features in white. Especially now that Grosvenor Square is a place for high fashion events thanks to the cool new occupants of no 38 – Venue Lab
Grosvenor Square itself will soon be redeveloped. Artists from around the world have sent their proposed designs for the green square; hopefully they’ll include some cool public sculptures. I, for one, can’t wait to see who wins the contest.
Instagrammable Notting Hill
The loveliest, colorful and arguably, the quirky part of London. Ideal if you like understated luxury that’s not too showy and traditional. Colourful Portobello Street buildings make Notting Hill special. It definitely deserves a good place on the list of the best London locations for a luxury home.
Above all famous thanks to the Hollywood romantic comedy “Notting Hill” where Julia Roberts falls in love with Hugh Grant. Previously being an area/home for artists subsequently it turned into a hi-end sought-after neighbourhood. Famous fashion bloggers (like Instagram’s star Leone Hanne from Ohh couture) started calling it their London home.
So many inspirations to turn it into a perfect luxury home. As an Interior Designer I see a cool modern monocromatic space with outstanding arty pieces with strong pops of colour. An apartment like this would impress you and your guests.
Camden and Shoreditch
Looking for a luxury London home location with an edge? Camden industrial lofts will remind you of New York’s Soho.
There are great transformations such as the old piano factory which was transformed into luxury apartments. This quirky vintage location is full of great things to do such as: enjoying a buzzing nightlife, watching live music in The Roundhouse (one of my favourite venues in London), walking alongside the canal and sampling Brick Lane’s street food. If you’re looking for a Rock Star’s lifestyle – consider Camden and Shoreditch being your home.
Summary – What’s the best Luxury London Home location?
To sum up: it actually all depends on you. There are many hi end luxury home locations in London and as a result they’re all different. If you love the traditional British grand home it’s worth looking into areas like Mayfair, St James’s, Belgravia or Knightsbridge. However if you prefer understated and a bit quirky luxury have a look at the colourful streets of Notting Hill. A fun of music, motorcycles and leather jackets? Camden or Shoreditch may certainly be the coolest pick for you.
And when you make your choice – the next step is to find out how to choose an Interior Designer!
What’s your favourite luxury home location in London?
