Marsh & Parsons

Area Profile - Pimlico Lettings

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The Pimlico office of Marsh & Parsons, which has flats and houses to let in the very heart of London is the company's newest branch and opened in October 2007.

The lettings team is headed by manager Claire Thomas, who says that prices in the area are about 30 per cent lower than in neighbouring Chelsea and Belgravia. "The area is becoming increasingly popular with tenants wanting to be close to both Pimlico and Westminister stations; both provide easy access to the city and Canary Wharf," says Claire. "And, because sale prices are lower than nearby areas, we have continuing numbers of buy-to-let, which provide fantastic opportunities to companies and individuals. 'The Grid' remains popular, attracting families with children as the good local schools remain competitive" she says.

Pimlico was once a bog, and Henry VIII famously sailed past in a barge and remarked on the stench coming from the area. The bog has gone and the area was redeveloped in the mid-19th century when beautiful white stucco-fronted houses were built and, although some were bombed during the war, plenty still remain.

The attraction of Pimlico, which was turned into an independent republic in the Ealing comedy film Passport to Pimlico, has always been its proximity to Westminster and its excellent transport links. Victoria station is close by and trains take passengers not only to the City and West End but also to Gatwick airport in half an hour and beyond.

So, what will you get for your money in Pimlico?

Marsh & Parsons, one of the areas most popular Estate Agents has studio flats to let at prices ranging from £190 to £295 a week. One of the most popular addresses for tenants – and one of the most prestigious in central London – is Dolphin Square SW1, which was built in the 1930s and is now owned by an American investment firm. Its stunning architecture, excellent facilities and host of well-known residents make it highly sought-after. Tenants include high-level politicians, royalty and business leaders, but during the last war it was home to General de Gaulle's Free French Army. Rents are remarkably low, however, and studio flats start from £190 a week through Marsh & Parsons.

One-bedroom flats to rent in Pimlico will cost from £300 to £550 a week and two-bedroom flats start from £400 to £600 a week and a two-bedroom riverside flat will cost a tenant from £600 a week. Prices are slightly lower on the Churchill Estate – a large development of flats built in 1957 for the brainchild Sir Winston Churchill – to replace houses that had been heavily bombed during the war.

While much of the property in the area is commercial office space – and much of it is used by the government – a large proportion of residential property, particularly in Westminster and St James's is owned by the Crown Estate. Privately-owned Victorian houses remain popular and many are available to rent with prices starting from £650 a week rising to £1,000 a week.

What else can you expect from Pimlico?

The street scene is changing and many of the small hotels and guest houses are closing and being replaced with elegant houses and apartments. Shops are changing too with the arrival of Starbucks and Caffe Nero and a continuing flow of smart bars and restaurants also opening. There are smart independent florists and a growing number of boutiques. Pimlico Road, which links Pimlico with Chelsea, has been nicknamed the new King's Road, after its chic shops, antique dealers and lively bars and pubs.

There are plenty of state schools in the area and Pimlico has its own secondary school, but private schools, such as the famous Hill House, are just a short distance away in Chelsea.

And it is the bars, restaurants and shops of Chelsea that also appeal to Pimlico's residents. Just five minutes away is London's most romantic restaurant, Poule au Pot, and the shops of Sloane Square SW1, King's Road SW3 and Knightsbridge SW1 are a short bus ride away or a brisk walk. The theatres of the West End are also just five minutes away in a taxi.

As one of the premier estate agents letting properties in the Pimlico area, Marsh & Parsons prides itself on its local know how. From the best schools in the area to the finest boutiques, bars and restaurants and the cost of a resident's parking permit, estate agents at Marsh & Parsons have their finger firmly on the local pulse.