Well, it only took until late May, but it could be possible that grey skies and chilly weather are behind us. Bruised from past letdowns, Londoners are tentatively venturing out sans-coat and dusting off the barbeque. This is that hallowed time when our green spaces become our restaurants, pubs and gyms; when the whole world seems to accumulate on Primrose Hill, Hampstead Heath, and the banks of the Serpentine.
Having these urban oases nearby is something that an increasing number of homebuyers are coveting. According to the Office for National Statistics, detached homes attract a 1.9 per cent premium if they are within 100 metres of a public green space. That might not sound like much, but it’s the equivalent of adding £19,000 to a £1 million home.
But not for nothing: London’s green spaces are famous the world over, from glorious mainstays like Hyde and Regents Parks to gems like Kyoto Garden in Holland Park and Isabella Plantation in Richmond. If their proximity is a deal-breaker for you, read on for some of the best nature-adjacent properties on the market right now.
Chiswick Green, W4
Chiswick Green is the latest development to spring up in the desirable west London enclave of Chiswick. The residences overlook Turnham Green, a picturesque park hosting the neo-Gothic Christ Church, and the gardens of the 18th-century Chiswick House. You’re also a short walk away from Gunnersbury Park, a Grade II-listed green space. This is the perfect blend of contemporary living in leafy, village-like surroundings.
Prices start from £585,000, chiswickgreen.co.uk
Lingfield Road, SW19
This seven-bedroom home is located in Wimbledon Village, a charming area of chic eateries and indie boutiques. Wimbledon Common, which starts at the end of Lingfield Road, draws walkers, cyclists, and families – as well as revellers after a pint in the sun. This period property was originally two houses, but has been integrated to create a sizeable family home; on top of the proximity to the common, find a west facing-garden, off-street parking and a swimming pool.
Guide price: £9,000,000, savills.com
Roedean Crescent, SW15
This home is a rare find – a brilliantly designed and executed double-fronted property measuring 7,004 sq ft, by the award-winning Gregory Phillips Architects. The west-facing plot that it occupies boasts views over Richmond Park, one of London’s most prized natural spaces, and the garden, which is inspired by Dutch designer Piet Oudolf, brings the park’s grasses and trees right up to the house. It extends to Beverley Brook at the back, and even has its own ‘waterfall’!
Guide price: £7,250,000, savills.com
Cambridge Gate, NW1
This home is located on one of the most exclusive addresses in the Crown Estate, just opposite Regent’s Park and all that comes with this 487-acre green space, including the Zoological Gardens, the open-air theatre, Queen Mary’s Gardens, the boating lake and tennis courts. Set in a handsome French Second Empire-style terrace built c.1875, the Cambridge Gate property boasts five bedrooms, a gym and sauna, and a landscaped patio garden.
Guide price: £9,250,000, savills.com
Richmond Hill, TW10
This jaw-dropping development is situated within the Grade II-listed Star and Garter House, which dates from 1924 and overlooks Richmond Park. The for-sale apartment benefits from access to dramatic communal areas, as well as two terraces with views of the Petersham Meadows – a 24-acre water meadow that lies alongside the River Thames. With Buccleuch Gardens, Manor Farm Livery Stables, and Ham House and Garden also a stone’s throw away, this is the definition of country living in the town.
Guide price: £6,000,000, knightfrank.com
Mount Gardens, SE26
This property is situated in a ‘micro hamlet’ in the Sydenham Hill Conservation Area, a tranquil oasis on the outskirts of leafy Dulwich. The Horniman Museum and Gardens are close by, as are the delights of the affluent Dulwich Village. This bright and airy home is surrounded by well-maintained gardens, and, despite its faithfulness to its Georgian origins, updated to a high standard throughout with feature fireplaces, plantation shutters and contemporary twists.
Guide price: £2,000,000, knightfrank.com
Upper Ham Road, TW10
Another Richmond Park-adjacent property, this distinctive home, which is believed to date back to the eighteenth century, also reaps the benefits of being situated on Ham Common, a Local Nature Reserve. An attractive walled frontage with iron railings yields views towards the common; inside, the property is arranged over three floors and offers five bedrooms. Also worth a mention is the secluded south-facing garden, which offers a patio under the wisteria vine and an array of mature trees, shrubs and plants.
Guide price: £2,950,000, knightfrank.co.uk
Brick Street, W1J
Nestled right between Hyde and Green Parks – meaning proximity to cultural landmarks like the Serpentine and a little place called Buckingham Palace – this Grade II listed property had to make our list. The gorgeous red brick facade of Holderness House is immediately eye-catching, and the interior does not disappoint. This lateral living space is set across three floors, benefitting from a swimming pool, gym, sauna and steam room, cinema room, wine cellar and library.
Guide price: £35,000,000, rokstone.com
Battersea Power Station, SW11
Much was made of the launch of Battersea Power Station at the end of last year, not least because it also signified the redevelopment of the whole area, with a slew of retail offerings and even a new station opening to mark the occasion. But the development also fulfils the order of green spaces – it’s only a stone’s throw from the 200-acre Battersea Park. Or, you can get your nature fix without even leaving: Koa – a collection of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments within the Power Station complex – sits at the southern end of the striking Battersea Roof Gardens.
Prices start from £547,000, residential.jll.co.uk
Read more: Beautiful homes near cultural hotspots
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