Belgravia area guide

Summary:

SW1 is probably one of the most prestigious postcodes in London and home only to the very wealthy. Belgravia is a stones throw from central London, nestled in an exceptional location, between Buckingham Palace, Sloane Square, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park. Owned virtually outright by the Grosvenor Estate, since its construction around 1840, freeholds are rare and the building regulations are strict. The Estate still enforces a particular shade of cream on every facade and bans street drinking, even outside the pubs. It is a truly luxurious area; an enclave of white stucco which maintains a peaceful atmosphere, yet is only minutes away from Westminster and the crowds in the West End. Shops are generally inhibited to conduct business in the area (and the few that are there tend to be art galleries). What passes for retailing thoroughfares in Belgravia can be found on Elizabeth and Motcomb Street.

Properties:

Longer leases and freeholds are now a possibility, since the Leasehold Reform Acts. Properties of various sizes, from tiny to embassy size, are mainly owned by the Grosvenor Estate. Chester and Eaton Square contain grand, white stucco terraces and houses, whilst the elegant homes of Belgrave Square remain the domain of embassies. Charming converted-stable mews properties, in cobbled cul-de-sacs, lie tucked away from view. Grand Regency homes provide converted apartments to an opulent level. Service charges can affect prices dramatically, as they may vary from £50 a year, to £10000 a year. It is difficult to gauge 'average' prices in this area, as the length of lease and the luxury of the interiors can vary massively.

Buyers:

Diplomats are common in this area and other inhabitants might include the cherished employees of major companies. Only the privileged and the very wealthy can purchase property here. Russian buyers have been keen in recent years. Ethnic minorities are not prevalent.

Sales Information:

The table below details the most recent sales information for this area, broken down by postcode, property type and average sale value.

Postcode	Detached	Semi-Det	Terraced	Flat / Mais	Total / Average
SW1E	- -	- -	- -	5 sales £765,000	5 sales £765,000
SW1H	- -	- -	- -	4 sales £1,141,250	4 sales £1,141,250
SW1P	- -	- -	- -	61 sales £706,959	61 sales £706,959
SW1V	- -	- -	9 sales £1,308,555	99 sales £580,320	108 sales £641,006
SW1W	- -	- -	8 sales £2,237,500	19 sales £1,228,993	27 sales £1,527,810
SW1X	- -	- -	5 sales £2,483,357	18 sales £1,785,555	23 sales £1,937,251

Source acknowledgement: Information produced by Land Registry. © Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of Land Registry. This material was last updated on 11th Aug 2010. It covers the period from Apr 2010 to Jun 2010. Restricted Use. Users of this product must not copy, distribute, sell or publish any of the Crown copyright material without the formal permission of Land Registry. If you think any of the above information is incorrect please click here to notify the Land Registry.