Property Investments Hampstead, London NW3

Hampstead was originally a small village overlooking London from its hilltop position and much of its great character - its old crooked houses, winding alleys and uneven pavements - are still there today. Hampstead has been home to many renowned writers and celebrities - Byron, Keats, H.G. Wells, George Orwell and Sigmund Freud all lived here and this trend is still there.

Today it is a fashionable area with numerous designer boutiques, excellent restaurants and continental-style street café bars.

Hampstead Heath, with its park land, woodland, sports fields, tennis courts, swimming pool and elegant gardens surrounding Kenwood House, is North London's answer to Hyde Park and, at 800 acres, is over double the size. Outdoor classical and jazz concerts are held throughout the summer in the natural amphitheatre in the grounds of Kenwood House.

Steeped in history and a favourite with the chattering classes and literati, Hampstead looks down from its lofty position on a hill above the rest of London, oozing affluence.

Although early records of Hampstead can be found as early as 986 and it is referred to in the Domesday Book 1086, the history of Hampstead is generally traced back to the 17th century.

Once renowned for its fashionable spa, the air of superiority still pervades its beautiful Georgian town houses and blossom-tree lined avenues.

Hampstead Heath

To the north and east of Hampstead, and separating it from Highgate, is London's largest ancient parkland, Hampstead Heath, which includes the well-known and legally-protected view of the London skyline from Parliament Hill. The Heath, an major place for Londoners to walk and "take the air", has three open-air public swimming ponds; one for men, one for women, and one for mixed bathing, which were originally reservoirs for drinking water.

Travel Links to Hampstead

Hampstead (Northern Line)

Hampstead Heath Railway Station

Motorway Junction M1 Junction 1

Airport London City

Property Investments Bayswater, London W2

In recent years Bayswater has attracted some of the overspill from Notting Hill and has a new injection of vitality. The whole area is opposite Kensington Gardens with Mayfair to the east and Notting Hill to the west. Bayswater in a stone's throw from Paddington and, hence, ideal for international commuting.

The area also offers an eclectic mix of restaurants offering foods from all over the World, situated mostly on Westbourne Grove, where the most reputable organic supermarket in Britain is also located there. The Porchester Baths are renowned for their steam rooms and Whiteleys houses high street shops, cafes as well as a multi-screen cinema.

Bayswater is named after Bayard's spring, and a waterway built in the area supplied the city with water from the 15th century. It didn't develop that quickly, because the presence of the gallows at what is today Marble Arch gave the area something of a formidable reputation! Although Bayswater expanded somewhat in the early 18th century, it wasn't until the gallows were removed in 1783 that the area really took off.

In the 19th century, Bayswater became quite a hip destination. Westbourne Terrace was known as "the finest street in London", and Westbourne Grove earned its reputation as a great shopping location (which it still has today). These days the area is home to so many hotels that in the summertime it can suffer from tourist overload, but if you escape from Queensway (either into a restaurant or along a side street) you'll probably get away unscathed!

In recent years Bayswater has attracted some of the overspill from Notting Hill and has a new injection of vitality. The whole area is opposite Kensington Gardens with Mayfair to the east and Notting Hill to the west. Bayswater in a stone's throw from Paddington and, hence, ideal for international commuting.

The area also offers an eclectic mix of restaurants offering foods from all over the World, situated mostly on Westbourne Grove, where the most reputable organic supermarket in Britain is also located there. The Porchester Baths are renowned for their steam rooms and Whiteleys houses high street shops, cafes as well as a multi-screen cinema.

Travel Links to Bayswater

Bayswater (Circle & District lines), Queensway (Central line)

Paddington Railway Station

Motorway Junction M1 Junction 1

Airport London City

Investment Property in Kew, Mortlake & Barnes

Barnes is an attractive residential village located on the south side of the River Thames, opposite Hammersmith. The area has become popular with young professional families. Despite its relatively central location Barnes often seems somewhat removed being a leafy district, surrounded on three sides by the River Thames.

The area has many well-proportioned family homes and has a multitude of good local nursery and primary schools. The easy train link to Central London and the proximity of Richmond Park make Barnes an extremely popular choice.

Kew village retains all the charm of the eighteenth century when the Hanoverian royal family made it their home. The painter Thomas Gainsborough is buried in Kew Church. The National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office) is also based in Kew, holding 900 years of historical records, including the Domesday Book.

Moving east along the river is Mortlake, finishing point of the annual Oxford v Cambridge boat race, and where eccentric Victorian explorer Richard Burton is buried on a splendid tent shaped tomb in the cemetery.

Nearby Barnes village was home to the composer Gustav Holst and novelist Henry Fielding. Barnes pond and common add to the traditional village feel complete with ducks and geese.

Travel Links to Barnes

Barnes village is served well by frequently running buses, which go to Putney, East Sheen and Richmond upon Thames as well as Hammersmith in the opposite direction, providing easy and quick access to Hammersmith Underground station.

Barnes also has easy access to M4, A3, M25, Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport.

Ravenscourt Park (District Line) Hammersmith (District, Hammersmith & City and Piccadilly lines)

Barnes Railway Station

Motorway Junction M4 Junction 1

Airport Heathrow