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Most of Inner London was developed in the last century, so the majority of the houses are Victorian, with some Georgian and Edwardian. The Outer London suburbs are generally composed of well built and planned 1920s' and 1930s' houses, and there are many sought after residential areas around the capital. The Second World War bombing of London, and the efforts of developers to rebuild the city, combined to produce functional local authority estates in much of east and south-east London. In recent decades, this situation has been largely reversed, with highly sought-after, architect-designed housing replacing warehousing and tired local authority estates along both banks of the River Thames, to the east of the city.
Postcodes are a good general guide to the status of London suburbs. Areas with a W code are more sought after, and therefore more expensive, than areas coded E, although there are areas of desirable housing in most of the London Boroughs.
As with any large city, areas of green are highly valued, and proximity to a park or common will increase the price of a house. Prized residential areas in London are increasingly being given the tag 'village'. Estate agents will often use the terms Wimbledon Village or Highgate Village when selling a Property.
Central
Central London offers a wide range of accommodation and an infinite variety of cultural, entertainment and retail choices, but prices reflect the proximity to the city centre and the exclusivity of much of the housing stock.
North
There are some very beautiful, very expensive and exclusive areas to the north of London. Houses range from elegant Georgian terraces and Victorian mansion blocks to neat mews houses and Edwardian properties. Transport links with the commercial centre of the city are very good, but many of the defined areas, like St John’s Wood, Primrose Hill and Hampstead, have extremely good local shopping, eating and entertainment facilities.
East & South East
Great swathes of east London have improved beyond recognition in recent decades, with lots of warehouses being converted into designer apartments for the City’s young professionals. The trend is set to continue as development to complement the preparations for the 2012 Olympics, centred in East London, takes place. To the north of the river, Canary Wharf, Rotherhithe and Wapping, and, to the south, Greenwich and Blackheath, are extremely sought-after residential locations because of their proximity to the City and West End via the river or Jubilee Line.
South
With the river forming a natural boundary to the south, Westminster stretches from Trafalgar Square to Pimlico, and many buildings of state dominate the urban landscape. The environment is enhanced by attractive gardens lining the Embankment together with St James' and Green Parks. This area is highly sought after and commensurately expensive.
West
The southern part of West London offers some very attractive locations but less tube lines. Proximity to green areas or parks will increase property prices. The character of West London’s housing varies considerably, from fashionable Kensington and Chelsea to the desirable suburbs of Chiswick and Ealing.
