Marsh & Parsons

Area Profile - Notting Hill Lettings

The Notting Hill branch of Marsh & Parsons has flats and houses to let in one of the most diverse districts of London: renowned throughout the world for its Caribbean carnival, it is a magnet for artists, writers and fashion designers, but it is also home to a growing number of wealthy bankers, drawn by its edgy atmosphere. In the 1970s it was at its Bohemian best and Jimi Hendrix wrote Purple Haze in Westbourne Grove, but then it was a run-down and deprived area. It was not until the early 1990s that it became established as one of the trendiest – and most expensive - places in town.

Its property is equally varied, with styles ranging from Trellick Tower, a futuristic 1970s' tower block built by Erno Goldfinger, who inspired the James Bond character, to Ladbroke Square, the largest private communal garden in London. Notting Hill has something for everyone. In the 18th century, it was home to the Hippodrome race track and the church of St John the Evangelist now stands on the site of the old grandstand. Much of the area was redeveloped in the middle of the 19th century, leaving many Victorian homes, some of which have since been converted to flats.

Transport links in and out of the City are excellent with Notting Hill Gate boasting three main underground lines (District, Circle and Central). The Hammersmith & City line runs through Ladbroke Grove whilst nearby Paddington offers extensive mainline services out of London. And if all that fails the West End is just a short bus ride away.

Famous residents include Jeremy Paxman, Damon Albarn, Joseph Fiennes, Claudia Schiffer, Elle McPherson, Clare Danes and Van Morrison. Schools in the area are excellent and among the most popular are: Basset House, Pembridge Hall, Wetherby, Ashbourne, Thomas's, Our Lady of Victories and Francis Holland.

As a prominent local estate, agent Marsh & Parsons sells not only to celebrities but also to the army of young City types, lawyers and bankers looking for London's brightest night life.

The rental office of the Notting Hill branch of Marsh & Parsons is run by Ruth Harrington and covers not only Notting Hill but also nearby Bayswater, where JM Barrie's creation Peter Pan was born. Ruth quotes the "central location with a real village quality" as a reason for the continuing rise in popularity. She says the area "boasts a fabulous selection of large houses and small flats meaning there is just about something for everyone!"

So what will you get for your money in Notting Hill W11 and Bayswater W2?

Well, estate agents have seen an incredible rise in property rentals over recent years and Marsh & Parsons is now letting small studio flats for between £250 and £300 a week and one-bedroom flats for upwards of £350 a week. However, flats surrounding any of Notting Hill's 13 garden squares rent for far more. On Elgin Crescent and Colville Road W11, for example, 1 bedroom apartments will achieve between £400 and £475 a week - sometimes more. Mews houses are a common feature of Notting Hill and rents start in Ledbury Mews W11 at about £950 a week and a four bedroom house in Ladbroke Road W11 would fetch in the region of £1750 through estate agent Marsh & Parsons. The truly spectacular houses on the garden will rent for anything between £2,500 - £5,000 per week.

What else can you expect from Notting Hill W11 and Bayswater W2?

The best bars include The Lonsdale, renowned for its cocktails, The Notting Hill Arts Club where you can relax on the sofas or loose yourself on the dance floor, and Beach Blanket Babylon, famed for its chaotic décor. There are too many restaurants to mention, but the Ledbury is one of Notting Hill's best with a clutch of awards even though it hasn't been open long. There are numerous delis and cafes, including the delightful Mr Christian's, where Annie Lennox used to work behind the counter, and which sells 15 varieties of olive and home-made brownies and flapjacks.

There is plenty to do in Notting Hill, beside the annual carnival. The Electric Cinema is the oldest surviving built picture house that has the comfiest sofas you'll ever watch a film in; there's also The Gate another cult venue for movie goers and packed during the Notting Hill Film Festival. And there is another festival – The Tavistock – which runs in September to promote local arts and creativity.

Bayswater is a slightly different market: its prices are slightly lower and the type of property is slightly more modern. Bayswater was heavily bombed during the Second World War and much of it has now been rebuilt. One of the few buildings to escape the Luftwaffe was Whiteleys, the department store, which Hitler wanted to use as his London headquarters and ordered pilots not to destroy it. It was once the biggest department store in Britain and had a theatre and a golf course on the roof.

Before the bombs came, the Victorians had built wide avenues to make it like Knightsbridge and Queensway was the "Bond Street" of the area. Then the railway came and the area became a grimy, sooty and less desirable address. Today, with the redevelopment of Paddington Basin and a great selection of five buildings, the area is extremely popular.

As your local estate agents, Marsh & Parsons prides itself on its local knowledge and staff at the Notting Hill office are a mine of useful information for homeowners: from the day rubbish is collected, to the cost of a parking permit to where to find the best local shopping, they have their finger on Notting Hill's throbbing pulse.

Borough: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.