Spend £3m to live in a former youth hostel January 21, 2010 PROPERTIES at Wellgarth Manor, a luxury residential development in north London’s Hampstead Garden Suburb, start at a cool £3m. Cynicism might be your reaction – it’s a hefty price tag for a development in a former youth hostel who’s closest Tube station is scruffy Golders Green in Zone 3. But not every re-vamped youth hostel [...]
Q&A: BUYING January 21, 2010 Russell Hunt MANAGING DIRECTOR, PROPERTY HUNT Q.Dear Russell, I am after a standard London property but am short on time. Even if I’m not after something high-end, is it still worth me using a buying agent? A.Even if you aren’t after an expensive property, there’s no reason why you can’t use a buying agent – [...]
FOCUS ON: RICHMOND, SURREY January 21, 2010 THE GRAND TERRACE, RICHMOND LOCK, TW1 1PX Price: From £1.35m The last phase of this development is scheduled for release at the end of this month and there will be 12 five-bedroom, period-style properties available to buy. The development is set close to the Thames and next to the Richmond promenade. Each property has four [...]
Why strategic downsizing is on the up these days January 21, 2010 EVERYBODY’S doing it. Not smoking or breaking their New Year’s resolutions – though there’s a fair bit of that going on too – but downsizing. Sue Laming, of Savills, says: “Finally, there’s decent value in the market. Nobody’s getting short-changed. Only 18 months ago there was virtually no downsizing, only distress sales. But now that [...]
It’s not Burns’ night without the right dram January 20, 2010 MONDAY night will see Scots everywhere donning kilts, eating offal and downing an awful lot of whisky for Burns’ Night Supper, the annual celebration of the Bard of Ayreshire, Robert Burns. Haggis – served with neeps (mashed turnip) and tatties (potatoes) – may be an acquired delicacy for some, but when washed down with liberal [...]
Ten places to toast the Bard on Monday January 20, 2010 GALVIN AT WINDOWS Basking in the glory of its newly-awarded Michelin star, the Galvin brothers’ stunning restaurant at the top of the Park Lane Hilton is offering a special Burns’ Night cocktail, the Smoke on the Water made with Laphroaig 10 years, and served with smoked salmon, brown bread and lemon, at £15 a go. [...]
Harmony for face and mind January 19, 2010 THIS, according to beauty analysts, is the year that “mood beauty” will take off – that is, makeup and skincare that actually makes you happier. And with this week deemed the most depressing of the year, it’s good to know there could be a solution to the blues that makes you look better at the [...]
How can I sort out my paperwork? January 19, 2010 I work long hours and travel a lot. As a result, my home has become swamped in bills and statements I never get round to sorting. What advice do you have? Jason, 36, risk manager. IT’S a classic problem of the time-poor professional – what to do with all that paper? Online billing and banking [...]
OUT OF OFFICE January 19, 2010 LONDON MIME FESTIVAL The annual celebration of physical theatre is in full swing across a number of venues. It runs until the end of the month, with highlights including Belgium’s award-winning, surreal clown-act Okidok, UK female acrobatic trio Mimbre with their lyrical show Until Now – both at the Southbank Centre – and The Mill [...]
The Mini enters a BRAVE GREEN WORLD January 19, 2010 I had preconceptions about this car before I drove it. Having batteries will mean it will weigh more than a normal Mini and it will be sluggish due to the extra weight. The ride will be harsh, it’ll thump along over bumps and the batteries will die on me at the furthest point away from [...]