What will happen to the rental market in 2021?
At the start of 2020, supplies of rental property were plunging and rents were rising. In January, Homelet’s Rental Index showed average rents were up by 2.3% and by 4.4% in London. Despite a raft of upcoming tax and legislative changes, landlords’ confidence remained surprisingly high - 25% were expecting rents to increase, and 32% were expecting property prices to rise (source: Paragon Mortgages). Then, just as with the sales market, March came and everything ground to a halt. Afraid of mass evictions and tenant hardship, the government allowed tenants to take a three month rental holiday and banned evictions.
Pent up demand ensured there was plenty of activity when the market re-opened in May, although COVID restrictions made viewings more complicated than previously. Just like the sales market, demand for inner city properties was markedly lower than for other areas, with tenants searching for more open spaces, resulting in a market that was operating at two different speeds.
As we moved into summer, landlords, unable to evict tenants, were becoming increasingly concerned about tenants’ arrears, although rents continued to rise - up by 2.1% between July and August. In the autumn, there was a brief window of opportunity for landlords to evict problem tenants, but with such large backlogs, only the most serious cases were heard. The extension of the furlough scheme until April 2021 did offer some comfort, providing vital financial support for both companies and their employees.
By the time the year ended, rents had risen by 2.7% across the country but had fallen by 4.5% in London. The average rent (excluding London) is now £838 and £1,556 in the capital (source: Homelet).
Commenting on the outlook for 2021, Andy Halstead, chief executive at HomeLet & Let Alliance, said:
“Whilst overarching optimism remains strong for 2021, with vaccines being rolled out for COVID, we can still expect a year that will be disrupted by the impact of the virus. With the new national lockdown and the prospect of additional restrictions to help curb the impact of the virus and new variants, we can expect the demand for certain property types and locations to grow, pushing rents up further.”
Our eventual return to commuting may also lead to increased demand for properties in city centres, especially if, as expected, the cost of commuting rises substantially as transport companies try to make up for their substantial losses.
As ever, there are some legislative changes to watch out for this year - electrical safety tests will be required for all existing tenanted properties by April 1st, although, the government is being lobbied to extend the deadline for another 12 months. The eviction ban has just been extended for another 6 weeks and may well be extended again. And, finally, the Right to Rent checks on EU citizens will change from 30th June 2021 to take into account the new Points Based Immigration System.
How easy is it to get planning in our area?
Many of us have spent far too much time lately cooped up in our homes, dreaming about extra space. You might have considered buying a garden office or, as this month’s design article reveals, turning your shed into some kind of outside den. The truth is, if you want enough space for an extra bedroom, bathroom, a home study or even just a bigger kitchen, you’re going to have to build an extension. And that involves the dreaded planning permission (https://www.gov.uk/planning-permission-england-wales).
We’ve all heard horror stories from friends and family about the fights people have had with their local planning departments. About how perfectly reasonable requests have been rejected – multiple times. How planners have insisted on the most ludicrous changes and conditions. That the process has gone on forever. Mostly, though, what we've heard is, whatever you want, the answer always seems to be 'no'.
I know exactly how that feels. I am currently battling it out with my own local planning authorities, who’ve come up with a list of some of the most ludicrous objections I have ever heard. At one point, they even claimed my house was “too near a conservation area”. Surely, either you are in it or not. Or are conservation areas made of stretchable elastic? Anyway, I confess, it led to me using some very unflattering language about them. Some of it not for young ears. However, I may have erred. It turns out they are not the worst planning authority in the country, after all, although their IQs and their parents’ marital status remain unproven.
And how is it that I know this? Roofing Megastore (https://www.roofingmegastore.co.uk/) has been digging through the data. Now I know for certain who the most difficult planning authorities are. Enfield’s residents - you may want to look away now, because your local planning department is, officially, the worst of the worst. On the other hand, if you like things just the way they are, you might think them the best.
Despite our preconceptions, Roofing Megastore discovered that 91% of planning applications for home renovations in England are granted. It does, though, depend very much on where you live. Your chances of success could be as low as 65% (Enfield), or as high as 99% (Carlisle, Cumbria). So, why are there such big discrepancies? The fact is, planning permission depends on a large number of variables. These range from neighbours’ objections, to site specific factors, the type of development, whether it’s a listed building or in a conservation area and, crucially, where, exactly, the property is located.
And, although there is a national policy framework, there are localised ones too. Planning authorities have their own, area-specific building regulations, planning constraints and development targets. There are also different individuals in charge, with different ideas and agendas. It means the same project could sail through in one area and stand no chance in another. Overall, the most difficult area to get planning permission is London. Below is a list of the top ten hardest places to get permission and 8 out of 10 of them are in the capital. That maybe a result of it being one of the most densely populated areas in the country, as any developments are more likely to impinge on their neighbours.
Sadly, a lot of time and money is wasted on failed applications. A full application for an extension costs £206. Over the past three years, 309,403 were rejected, costing £64 million. If you then add in fees for design, plans and surveys (typically around £2,000), the total waste could be as high as £619 million.
If you’d like to know what chance you have with your own planning project, just follow this link (https://www.roofingmegastore.co.uk/easiest-hardest-cities-planning-permission) and check out your area on the interactive map. As for me, I’m already thinking my best route might be an appeal.
10 Hardest Places to Get Planning Permission in England
Rank Area Approved %
1 Enfield, London 65.13%
2 Hillingdon, London 66.01%
3 Harrow, London 69.56%
4 Hounslow, London 71.24%
5 Greenwich, London 71.47%
6 Lambeth, London 73.55%
7 Rochdale, Greater Manchester 74.03%
8 Southend-on-Sea, Essex 74.46%
9 Newham, London 76.02%
10 Bromley, London 76.82%
10 Easiest Places to Get Planning Permission in England
Rank Area Approved %
1 Carlisle, Cumbria 98.90%
2 Copeland, Cumbria 98.72%
3 Richmondshire, North Yorkshire 98.17%
4 Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire 97.89%
5 County Durham, North East 97.82%
6 Fareham, Hampshire 97.79%
7 Cornwall, South West 97.39%
8 Eden, Cumbria 97.38%
9 North West Leicestershire, Midlands 97.36%
9 Rushmoor, Hampshire 97.36%
10 Darlington, County Durham East 97.29%
Legislation 2020 – Are You A Landlord In Notting Hill Or Bayswater?
Did you know during the course of the last 2 years, there have been 19 new legislative changes that effect Landlords and Letting Agents for tenancies in England and Wales, and the penalties and fines imposed for non-compliance have been on the rise.
How many of the below are you familiar with as a landlord?
Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 4) (Coronavirus) Rules 2020
The new rules will require a landlord seeking possession of their property to set out in their claim any relevant information about a tenant’s circumstances, including information on the effect of COVID-19 on a tenant’s vulnerability or whether they are claiming benefits. Information should also be provided on how the pandemic has affected a tenant’s dependents if any.
Evictions under the Coronavirus Act 2020
Emergency legislation passed in the Houses of Parliament means that from Saturday 29th August 2020 tenants have to be given six months’ notice if you wish to regain possession of your property. (new forms 3 and 6A have been updated and will be published tomorrow). This includes possession of tenancies under the Rent Act 1977, the Housing Act 1985, the Housing Act 1996 and the Housing Act 1988.
The Deregulation Act 2015 Preventing Retaliatory Evictions – All tenancies from October 2018
This Act introduces new rules designed to prevent retaliatory evictions whereby a landlord evicts a tenant by the use of the Section 21 procedure simply because they have made a legitimate complaint about the condition of the property.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 provide new flexibility in the timing of landlords’ annual gas safety checks and the date when the next safety check is due.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/139/introduction/made
Home and Planning Act 2016 – Banning Orders – Applies to all Landlords from April 2018
Banning Orders are part of a range of measures introduced in the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to tackle rogue landlords and letting agents. The Banning Orders will force the most serious and prolific offenders to either drastically improve the standard of the accommodation they rent out, or to leave the sector altogether.
The Tenant Fees Act 2019
The act enforces a ban on landlords, letting agents, or anyone acting on the tenant’s behalf in England to charge fees on top of the rent, except for a capped refundable Tenancy Deposit, a capped refundable Holding Deposit and tenant default fees.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tenant-fees-act-2019-guidance
Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)
Mandatory licensing will no longer be limited to certain HMOs that are three or more storeys but will also include buildings with one or two floors. Any landlord who lets a property to five or more people, from two or more separate households, must be licensed by their local authority.
The rules also introduce new mandatory conditions for national minimum sleeping room sizes and waste disposal facility requirements.
https://www.gov.uk/house-in-multiple-occupation-licence
Additional HMO Licensing
If the local authority believes there are problems such that there is a need to license certain HMOs not subject to mandatory licensing (such as section 257 HMOs or purpose-built flats situated in a block comprising three or more self-contained flats) it can designate a specific area as subject to additional HMO licensing.
The Deregulation Act 2015 Changes to Section 21 Notices – All Assured Shorthold tenancies from October 2018
There are new restrictions on serving Section 21 Notices early and a new template Section 21 form. The new rules also remove the need for a landlord to specify that a tenancy must end on the last day of a rental period; unless the tenancy started on a periodic basis without any initial fixed term where a longer notice period may be required depending on how often the tenant is required to pay rent (for example, if the tenant pays rent quarterly, they must be given at least three months’ notice, or, if they have a periodic tenancy which is half yearly or annual, they must be given at least six months’ notice.
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES)
Landlords must not grant a new tenancy of a property (including an extension or renewal), nor continue to let the property (on an existing tenancy) after 1 April 2020, where the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is below the minimum level of energy efficiency for private rented properties of band E.
Homes (Fitness For Human Habitation) Act 2018
Landlords and letting agents acting on their behalf must ensure properties, including common parts where they have an estate or interest, are fit for human habitation at the beginning and throughout the duration of a tenancy. Tenants will now be able to take direct legal action if their agent or landlord does not comply with the Act.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018
The Electrical safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020
Landlords must ensure:
• Electrical safety standards are met when the property is occupied
during a tenancy.
• Every fixed electrical installation at the property is inspected and
tested at least every five years by a qualified person.
• The first inspection and testing is carried out before new
tenancies commence on or after 1 July 2020 and by 1 April 2021
for existing tenancies.
Here at Homesite, as members of ARLA Propertymark and the Property Ombudsman, we understand the implications and repercussions of such pivotal change within the industry, and our experienced team are prepared for what lies ahead – so let us take the headache away and enable you to focus your time, on the things you like doing best.
Please get in touch with our Team if you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the above.
OUR CHANGING PRIORITIES WHEN LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES IN BAYSWATER & NOTTING HILL
Our changing priorities when looking for properties in Bayswater & Notting Hill
Lockdown has put a renewed focus on where and how we live. Some have emerged happier, some have made improvements. Others have decided it’s time to move on. According to a survey by Rightmove, it has changed the priorities for nearly half of renters (49%) and over a third of buyers (39%) currently looking for new homes.
One of the key issues is space. We want as much as we can get, but at the very least, a spare room that can be used as an office. It means there has been a substantial reduction in interest in flats. Before lockdown, the top 5 most sought after properties included both two bed (ranked No.5) and three bed flats (ranked No.3). Now there are only houses in the top five.
1) 3 bed house
2) 2 bed house
3) 1 bed house
4) 4 bed house
5) 6 bed house
For renters, the changes are even more pronounced. Studio flats used to be the most sought after. Now everyone wants small houses and bungalows.
We don’t just want bigger internal spaces, we want more outside space, too. Searches for homes with gardens on Rightmove were up 42% when compared to last year and by 84% for renters. The full list of our priorities is as follows:
63% - a bigger garden (or access to one)
43% - a bigger home
36% - access to parking space or garage
36% - a better home workspace
31% - to live closer to parks and green spaces
30% - to live in a more rural area
24% - to live closer to friends and family
22% - to live in a pet friendly home
15% - to live closer to non-essential amenities
13% - to live closer to essential local services
8% - to live closer to work
Renters have very similar priorities, although they rank ‘living in a pet friendly home’ higher, at No.3 (29%) rather than No.8.
With around half of the people Rightmove surveyed saying they were currently working from home (49%), it’s no surprise to find good internet speeds were also a priority. On the other hand, proximity to transport links and commute times were less so. That’s part of a more general desire to live in more suburban and rural areas, although it’s far more pronounced amongst buyers (30%) than renters (13%).
It will be interesting to see how many of these priorities change when the pandemic is finally over. There’s no doubt, as life returns to our cities, flats’ popularity will be restored. Some things, though, look set to remain. Many have enjoyed the experience of working from home and 21% said they’d like to continue doing so and 55% saying they’d like to mix home and office working.
Whatever your new priorities might be, we at Homesite can help you find your perfect home in any one of the following areas:
STAMP DUTY HOLIDAY
In a major boost for the housing market, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has just announced that, until 31st March of next year, stamp duty (SD) will not be payable on the first £500,000 of any house purchase. Buy-to-let investors and second home owners will also be eligible for the reduction but must continue paying their 3% surcharge on the full purchase price.
So how does the tax actually work?
What do the changes really mean?
How will this impact the sales market?
Stamp duty is a progressive tax, ie you pay nothing for the first £125,000 (£300,000 for first time buyers) and then 2% for the next £125,000, 5% for the next tranche and so on.
Standard bands (pre-holiday levels)
Bracket
Up to £125,000
£125,001-£250,000
£250,001-£925,000
£925,001-£1.5m
Over £1.5
According to Rishi Sunak, the changes mean 9 out of 10 primary home buyers will, during the holiday period, not have to pay any stamp duty at all. As you can see from the table below, savings top out for properties costing £500,000 plus, whose buyers will see their purchase costs come down by £15,000.This is a significant cash saving for purchasers as previously the stamp duty charge would have been paid from personal savings . The average buyer in London spends £628,284 and will save £15,000 . The table below gives you a rough guide to savings at different price levels.
Property value Standard Stamp Duty SD holiday rate Saving
£100,000
£200,000
£300,000
£400,000
£500,000 and above £15,000
Any purchaser buying in Notting Hill & Bayswater, where we specialise in, will directly benefit from the substantial saving due to the high value of property in the area as demonstrated in the tables below.
Notting Hill Standard Stamp Duty SD Holiday Saving
Average home: £1,908,765 £142,801.80 £127,801 £15,000.80
Average flat: £1,061,035 £49,853.50 £34,853 £15,000.50
Average terrace: £3,569,400 £342,078.00 £327,078 £15,000.00
Average semi: £7,315,090 £791,560.80 £776,560 £15,000.80
Bayswater Standard Stamp Duty SD Holiday Saving
Average home: £ 1,440,122 £87,762.20 £72,762.20 £15,000.00
Average flat: £ 1,069,049 £50,654.90 £35,654.90 £15,000.00
Average terrace: £ 2,931,231 £265,497.72 £250,497.72 £15,000.00
Average semi: £ 3,801,250 £369,900.00 £354,900.00 £15,000.00
The temporary reduction in SD is likely to substantially boost demand and is also likely to stimulate activity from both investors and second home buyers who’ve been previously put off by the high levels of tax.
looking back to 2016, when the then Chancellor, George Osborne, announced a 3% SD surcharge on BTL and second home purchases, it resulted in a huge spike in demand before the tax kicked in, almost doubling the normal number of sales in the month beforehand.
So taking into account the very real cash saving for purchasers plus the impact we have previously seen on the market when there have been significant tax changes in the past it seems the SD holiday represents an excellent opportunity for purchasers that are in position to buy and for sellers to capitalise on a once in a life time event allowing more buyers to enter the market, for a limited time only.
If you are considering selling & would like to discuss the above or any other property related matter the please feel free to contact Nigel or Douglas on 020 7243 3535
GEORGIAN, VICTORIAN OR EDWARDIAN HOUSES. WHICH PERIOD IS YOUR HOUSE?
We always read property ads and see phrases such as 'original Victorian features' or 'beautiful Georgian townhouse’. But how can we tell the difference between the periods and their characteristic features? Let's have a look to find out.
Georgian architecture 1714-1830s’
Spanning through the reigns of George the I, II, III and IV. Influenced by the Tudor period, Georgian architecture remained based on classical ideas of construction. Inner London Georgian houses were easy to build in symmetrical rows and incorporated the internal dimensions for the needs of the families of its time.
Georgian houses are recognisable from a number of features:
- One of the most noticeable features are the flat, shallow and squared roofs with small windows jutting from the eaves.
- Elongated rectangular windows which are the largest on the raised ground and first floor where the family would have spent their time. The windows become smaller towards the top of the building as this would have been the servants living quarters
- Stucco fronted external ground floor (especially regency houses), this may also include stucco cornices.
- Columns and proportions are symmetrical. The frontage is straight and flush stem from classical styles preceding this era.
- It is typical to find a fan window often positioned above the front door
- Oil lamp and extinguisher are now rare features which you may still find on the street in front of the property
- Many Georgian houses had small back yards, but not front gardens and pathways. This concept came later, with the Victorian era which was more grand and opulent with wide tiled garden paths leading to a grand front door.
- Cast iron railings at the front of the property is another tell-tale sign of this period.
Internally, these properties are generally laid out over three to four floors. Kitchens were usually in the basement. The ground and first floor typically have large, high windows. The rooms were spacious, boxy and squared, with symmetrical and generous proportions, boasting the fabulous high ceilings which are a well-loved feature of these period properties today. One of the most visible clues is the intricacy of the ceiling plasterwork found in genuine Georgian residences.
Examples:
There are many examples of Georgian architecture in London which can be found in Belgravia, Mayfair, Bloomsbury, and Fitzrovia.
Most famously, Number 10 Downing Street was constructed in true Georgian style.
The mansions that line regents park are an excellent example of this period and in Camden,
Little Green street consists of a small row of grade II listed houses from the Georgian period, although this example is not in the most opulent style, they are an excellent example of traditional Georgian characteristics.
Houses you can visit include the Benjamin Franklin house (near Trafalgar Square). Benjamin Franklin lived here for 16 years in the mid-1700s’ and is open to the public.
Dennis Severs House- Folgate Street, this house is part of the row of Georgian terrace houses and is open to visits to explore this era of London history and architecture.
Victorian Architecture 1837-1901s’
Compared to the previous period, the Victorians retained some of the features of Georgian grandeur and symmetry but wanted to show more wealth and abundance leading to more ornate and elaborate design details.
Heavily influenced by the renaissance and gothic revival movement, homes from this period were more opulent than their predecessors. Victorian architecture moves away from classic form and more towards individual expression with some gothic influence leading to a more detailed and intricate style.
Features:
- Pointed roofs, sometimes decorated with wooden beams, roof gables, dormers
- Bay sash windows
- Tiled garden paths, sometimes in colourful patterns
- Steeply pitched roofs which are great for loft conversions
- A more complicated architecture. Porches, bay windows
- Larger and more regular shaped bricks than previously handmade ones
- Stained glass panes
- Ornamented ridge tiles on the roof
- Wooden barge boards around the rook and possibly a decorative finial
- Garden both at the front and back
This era saw the implementation of window tax, which levied a fee determined by the number of windows in ones’ property. The more windows a property had, the richer the owner was considered. This led to many shrewd property owners bricking up unnecessary windows, a feature which is visible today on many streets in and around Notting Hill. This tax was abolished in 1851, making way for buildings such Leaden-hall. This beautiful indoor London market is covered by a series of windows that would not have been possible a few years previously, similarly Paddington and other stations are built in the same way.
Internally, this period continued to construct large spacious homes. Victorian design saw kitchens moved from the basement to the ground floor at the back of the house. Dado rails become popular. And with opulence came rich, dark colours and fireplaces in every room.
Examples:
Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Primrose Hill, and Hampstead display some excellent examples of Victorian architecture. Buildings such as Big Ben or Kings Cross station perfectly demonstrate the lines of the style of the Victorian era with its points, grandiose style, and ornate details. The Houses of Parliament are also an example of Victorian/Gothic style.
In Kensington and Chelsea, Au outstanding example of Victorian architecture is 18 Stafford terrace in Kensington. The house remains in true design, including the internal décor, and is open to the public to share the Sambourne family history and show Victorian style in its original form.
https://londonist.com/2016/05/georgian-or-victorian-how-to-tell-london-s-architecture-eras
Edwardian architecture 1901–1918
The Edwardian period marks a return to the classical while retaining a touch of Victorian pointiness and style. Whilst these properties keep design aspects from both of the previous eras, they are slightly less ornate than their predecessors. These grand houses tend to be found in more suburban areas due to their footprint and layout. These properties were built to suit the needs of their time, taking into account the change in socio-economic conditions,
Features:
- One of the most common features of an Edwardian home is a front porch- this was the period of front porches. It was must have to keep up with the Jones’s, and porch indicated one's financial standing. The more well-off, the more intricate the design of the porch.
- These properties were typically laid out over two floors on larger plots of land. Although built with fewer rooms, these tended to be more spacious than previous eras.
- Many Edwardian houses have wooden painted balconies on the first floor.
- This new period of design no longer included servant living quarters due to the effects of world war I when domestic staff had moved away from service and into factory work.
Internally, wider hallways, lighter colours through the living quarters characterise this period. Duel aspects rooms became fashionable as did French windows opening out to the back garden. Another popular feature of Edwardian homes was parquet floors.
Examples:
Ealing and Putney provide good examples of Edwardian architecture in central London. The Mapesbury area in Kilburn and around Willesden Green also consist of houses from this period.
In North Kensington, houses from this period are found along St Quintin’s avenue W10. Oxford gardens and surrounding roads are also good examples of grand Edwardian architecture.
For period properties to buy in Notting Hill & Holland Park- Click here
For period properties in Bayswater & Queensway- Click here
For period properties in Kensington- Click here
OUR GUIDE TO GREAT FOOD AND ACTIVITIES IN BAYSWATER & QUEENSWAY
As dedicated local estate agents, we cover our immediate area which includes Bayswater, Queensway and its surrounds. This central London postcode is fairly residential, comprising a mix of beautiful period properties and secure portered living housed in opulent mansion buildings. It’s a great location within walking distance to Paddington in one direction and in the other, Hyde Park, through which you can take a leisurely stroll to Marble Arch, Speakers Corner and into London’s vibrant West End.
Transport links in Bayswater.
Boasting great transport links with a number of buses and tube lines connecting you to Central London and beyond, the area is well easily accessible in all directions.
Bayswater is served by the central line from Queensway Station and the circle and district line from Bayswater. Paddington station is a stone’s throw away; you can walk or jump on a bus which will get you there in minutes, connecting you to tube and train lines to Reading and across the southwest UK.
On foot, you have access to a wide range of London hotspots and facilities. Bayswater is ideally located for access to Portobello Road, The West End, Paddington, and London’s largest green space, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park.
Where to eat in Bayswater
Centred around the hub of facilities of Queensway and Westbourne Grove, Bayswater has no lack of great places to eat. With a colourful array of cafes and eateries offering a vast choice of food, there is always somewhere to grab a bite.
Queensway itself has a lively evening atmosphere and is home to a number of exotic food options, including well known Chinese restaurants, The four seasons Chinese and a choice of Lebanese and Italian.
Westbourne Grove, famous in the ‘80s and ‘90s for Khans Indian restaurant, which you can still experience, is now also home to a variety of food choices. Eateries such as Gourmet burger, Planet Organic which has some lunch options and a range of cafes from Italian at Arro Coffee to Lebanese wraps and fresh juices at Fresco to Nando’s peri-peri chicken.
For a more relaxed dining experience there are some hidden pockets of long-standing restaurants along Hereford Road, which are popular with local residents and serve some delicious authentic cuisine:
Sahara: Serving Moroccan cuisine; this beautiful family run restaurant serves arguably the best Tagines you can find in London. They have been running for over 20 years and their food never disappoints. Their dessert, an exotic take on Mille Feuille is a must try, it's unlike any other you have ever tasted! They have a bring your own bottle of wine policy, which you can grab from the local supermarket. It’s a lovely place to dine away the evening.
Hafez: This busy Persian restaurant has been here since 1983. This hidden gem has a cute décor, with walls covered in spoons of all styles and sizes. It has a friendly atmosphere, intimate and is always busy serving authentic dishes. It’s a great place to sample some traditional recipes served by the Persian family who owns it and is passionate about sharing their food.
Aphrodite: This lively greek restaurant always smells good! It is always packed on a Friday or Saturday night with groups, families and food lovers seated around large round tables, enjoying mezze platters. This eatery has remained a family run business since its opening in 1988; the place is bursting with character, good food, and a happy atmosphere. And, no, they don’t break the plates at the end of the meal!
These three gems sit side by side and have done so for over 30 years. They are a well kept local secret just off the main road. Known among local residents and those in the know, these gems all stand the test of time due to their great authentic dishes, friendly atmosphere and reputation for quality.
Did we mention the inconspicuous Austrian bar on Westbourne Grove? If you are looking for something a bit out of the norm. You must venture into The Tiroler Hut. From the street, it’s just an open door leading down the steps to what appears a dark basement. Don’t let this put you off, down these steps you will enter a world of Austrian decor, food, music, and choice of Austrian beer served true Austrian size steins. It’s an unusual place, but it’s also lots of fun.
Where to do food shopping?
In terms of general shopping, Bayswater is well served by a large Waitrose catering to all your food needs, a large Planet Organic on Westbourne Grove and a smaller Tesco supermarket on Queensway. There is a range of smaller delis to choose from including, Greek, Italian and French. There is no lack of artisan bread, olives, fresh fruit and veg for local residents.
What to do in Bayswater and Queensway?
The area has a wealth of activities to explore. There are a number of gyms to cater to the needs of local residents such as Pure gym, Heartcore the boutique fitness centre focused on cardio and dynamic workout and Porchester terrace sports centre which as well as offering gym facilities and classes, contains a swimming pool and spa area including sauna, steam room and plunge pool. There are plenty of options to keep fit and stay active.
Queensway boasts central London’s only all year round ice skating rink to keep the kids busy on the weekend; it also includes a bowling alley, arcade games, and a cafe. This place is a staple local family favourite, guaranteed to tire the kids and amuse the adults.
A short stroll from Queensway and you will find yourself in the green nature of Kensington Gardens, you can take a walk around the small lake, feed the ducks, sit at the cafe or take the children to the pirate park where they can let their imagination run wild aboard the pirate ship set in a huge sandpit. On a sunny day, you can grab an ice cream and walk along the tree-lined path which will lead you all the way to High Street Kensington.
You can take a short walk to Portobello Market, at its most vibrant on a Saturday, it is a colourful place to explore any day of the week. On a weekday you will find a local market selling fresh fruit and veg, other artisanal foods and a variety of handicrafts.
On Sundays, you can meander down to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park and stroll along Bayswater road which turns into an art gallery/market and makes for an interesting and enjoyable walk towards park lane.
Queensway and Bayswater provide a comfortable and tranquil residential experience with the advantage of convenient access to local hotspots such as Notting Hill and surrounding areas. Living in Bayswater offers the best of all worlds, convenient location, great connections, lots of food choices and interesting places to visit within easy reach.
For more information on property to buy and rent in Bayswater and surrounding areas, get in touch so we can show you a selection of beautiful homes.