Pimlico and Westminster area guide

Summary:

Pimlico - a few years now since this riverside area of London was best known for its seedy hotels and down-market bed-sits. Its rise to a fashionable place to live began in the 1970's when property conversions, smart new developments and improved transport attracted both ministerial staff and city professionals. Still not yet as smart a postcode as its neighbour to the south, Belgravia, Pimlico offers a stylish, central location for those unable to afford the neighbouring price tags. Westminster, the seat of government, tends to house the better off residents of London. Many members of parliament have homes here because of its proximity to the Houses of Parliament. SW1 also houses diplomatic staff from all over the world and is probably the most prestigious post code in which to live.

Properties:

In Pimlico, flats and apartments dominate, varying in size and quality - grand apartments for the very wealthy to smaller flats for the less well-oiled. Family homes are hard to find. The central area is made up of elegant streets of tall white stucco buildings, many fine examples can be found in St George's Square and Warwick Square. New purpose-built developments sit happily alongside period properties, Bessborough Gardens is a good example. There are also council housing estates both old and modern. Ex-council blocks line the river next to Dolphin Square. Unlike Belgravia or St James', Pimlico has a down-to-earth atmosphere with its mix of working class, middle-class and wealthy professionals. Westminster boasts elegant period mansion block conversions and Queen Ann Town Houses close to Westminster Abbey. Further very desirable period properties together with new homes abound in Vincent Square. Some 1960's flats as well as neat terraced homes provide a good mix of rent or buy opportunities. New schemes have currently besieged the area, converting any building available into luxury apartments and flats.

Buyers:

Families and young professionals, members of parliament, diplomats, buy-to-let investors in good quality ex-council homes.

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
SW1A	- -	- -	- -	3 sales £710,000	3 sales £710,000
SW1E	- -	- -	- -	3 sales £491,666	3 sales £491,666
SW1H	- -	- -	- -	4 sales £498,750	4 sales £498,750
SW1P	- -	- -	- -	44 sales £624,761	44 sales £624,761
SW1V	- -	- -	11 sales £1,400,659	68 sales £546,192	79 sales £665,168
SW1W	- -	- -	7 sales £2,714,357	26 sales £947,216	33 sales £1,322,064
SW1X	- -	- -	6 sales £2,133,333	29 sales £1,741,017	35 sales £1,808,271
SW1Y	- -	- -	- -	5 sales £713,437	5 sales £713,437

Source acknowledgement: Information produced by Land Registry. © Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of Land Registry. This material was last updated on 11th Feb 2010. It covers the period from Oct 2009 to Dec 2009. 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.