London mews houses in property hotspots

How do you tell that a particular London area is ‘on the up’? According to a recent article in The London Magazine, it’s all about the shopping bags.

Anna Tyzack, writing for the magazine, suggests that the opening of a Waitrose or M&S Simply Food store is enough to signal the rise of a new London property hotspot and the same test also applies to Farmers’ Markets and chic, independent shops.

The local pub is another early indicator of gentrification. When the landlord swaps pork scratchings for olives, beer-stained banquettes for old leather sofas and John Smith’s bitter for handcrafted brews, it’s probably safe to say that property prices will rise and rise.

As Lurot Brand’s Sales Director states “It’s down to the way an area is perceived.” This view is echoed by a number of leading London estate agents quoted in the article, who point out that buyers paying several million pounds for a property expect their local area to be able to support an appropriately high-end lifestyle.

It can, however, take a number of years before an up and coming area can assemble enough independent shops, art galleries, gyms, trendy cafes and premium brand food stores to claim it has truly ‘made it’ and, in the meantime, there may be opportunities to buy before the market reaches its peak.

Our Sales Director believes the trick is to spot an area’s potential before it has even been picked up on Waitrose’s radar. “When there’s a Waitrose or a branch of Soho House, you’ve got to ask yourself why they picked that area in the first place” he suggests. They believe that looking at the geography, character and infrastructure of a particular location can provide clues to its future prosperity.

It’s not hard to see why The London Magazine turned to the capital’s top estate agents to ask why a previously neglected location can suddenly become an über-cool place to live. With their deep local knowledge, property experts like Lurot Brand are always the first to pick up on the little shifts and changes that indicate an area is on the way up.

At Lurot Brand we understand London’s constantly evolving property market and we’re always happy to point out promising areas for investment. Call us today to view fantastic mews properties for sale in some of the capital’s most desirable (and soon-to-be-desirable) locations.