Marsh & Parsons

Area Profile - Notting Hill Sales

Notting Hill is 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, then a run-down and deprived area, but in the early 1990's it became established as one of the trendiest places in town.

Its property is equally varied, with Trellick Tower, a futuristic 1970s' tower block designed 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, Notting Hill 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, Patsy Kensit, 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, Collingham, Our Lady of Victories and Francis Holland.

As one of Notting Hill's most popular and longest established estate agents, Marsh & Parsons sell not only to celebrities but also to the army of young City types looking for London's brightest night life. The Notting Hill branch of Marsh & Parsons is run by Director, Keith Gorny and covers not only Notting Hill but also nearby Bayswater, where JM Barrie's creation Peter Pan was born.

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 prices over recent years and Marsh & Parsons is now selling small studio flats for between £250,000 and £300,000 and one-bedroom flats for between £350,000 and £500,000. However, flats surrounding any of Notting Hill's 13 garden squares sell for far more. On Elgin Crescent and Colville Road W11, for example, apartments will achieve between £650,000 and £1 million. In prime parts of Notting Hill, prices go even higher and the very best sell for up to £1.7 million, and in Stanley Gardens W11 Marsh & Parsons sold a flat for £2.65 million.

Mews houses are a common feature of Notting Hill and prices start in Denbigh Close W11 at £1.5 million rising to £3 million in Linden Mews W2. "We do a lot of our business around the £2 million and £3 million mark," says Keith Gorny, "and recently sold an unmodernised house in Kildare Gardens W2 for £3.2 million." Prices don't stop there and houses on Stanley Crescent and Kensington Park Gardens W11 can go for between £6 million and £7 million and on Clarendon Road and Holland Park W11 buyers may need up to £10 million.

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 somewhat lower and the type of property can be slightly more modern as Bayswater was heavily bombed during the Second World War. 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 this part of London. Then the railway came and the area became a grimy, sooty and less desirable address. Today, with the redevelopment of Paddington Basin, the area is definitely on the up.

As your local Estate agent 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 even rubbish is collected, to the cost of a parking permit and the name of a good vet, they have their finger on Notting Hill's throbbing pulse.

Rental range: £200pw up to £5,000pw

Borough: Kensington and Chelsea.

Car park permit: Yes. Cost: £98pa, (Motorcycle £18pa). Covers: The whole borough. Good for parking through Knightsbridge and into Chelsea!

Congestion charge: Not yet, but will be included after the zone is extended in February 2007.

Best thing: The boutique shopping, bars and restaurants of Westbourne Grove. The Portobello Market.