Knight Frank: London Market Offers Safe Haven for Property Investors

By Grace Cassidy If you’ve been considering purchasing property in London lately, you’re not alone. According to Tom Bill , the Head of UK Residential Research for Knight Frank: “The number of offers accepted across the capital last month was the highest figure in a decade, underlining the current strength of appetite for higher-value property in London.” Investors have long looked at London as an ideal location to expand their real estate portfolios. But with the U.S. and other countries in the grip of inflation, overseas investors have more on their mind than the cultural benefits of living in an international capital. “There is a creeping sense that investors are looking more closely at safe-haven assets, which has traditionally benefited the prime London property market,” Bill writes. (Knight Frank Residential is the international partner of Douglas Elliman.) Bill posits that purchasing in London is desirable for investors looking to protect their assets because the market is “likely to be more insulated from rising borrowing costs than other UK locations due to higher levels of affluence.” One such “higher-value property” in the market is The Bryanston , the tallest residential building to overlook London’s Hyde Park. Located in the Marylebone neighborhood, the property offers one- to six-bedroom residences that emphasize contemporary design and spacious living while putting the surrounding beauty of the park and city right outside each window. The Bryanston was designed by renowned international architects at Rafael Viñoly Architects, based out of New York. Show apartments were designed by interior architects at the London-based Millier, and David Collins Studio. “We were inspired to design interiors for an apartment that benefits from panoramic views sweeping from the city to Hyde Park,” said Iain Watson, the CEO and Founder of David Collins Studio. “The park views provided inspiration for many of the custom items, giving the interior a sense of place.” The wellness space includes a sleek 25-meter indoor pool with a separate hydro pool, a steam room and sauna, and a private treatment room where residents can book services through the concierge with Ruuby Black Label, a membership service which provides access to the most experienced beauty therapists in the city. The spa exclusively uses world-renowned Dr. Barbara Sturm products, whose flagship London boutique is in neighboring Mayfair. The private gym includes a fully equipped main space, featuring popular Reformer Pilates and TechnoGym equipment, alongside two private studios that can be used for personal training sessions. Managed by leading luxury fitness brand MER World, residents can benefit from bespoke training sessions, nutrition programs and lifestyle support from this which is hugely popular among international business leaders and celebrities. “The bar has been raised for residential amenities over the last few years in the UK,” said Kathrin Hersel, Executive Director at Almacantar. “Spaces need to be malleable; it’s as much about the experience of living there as the amenities themselves. It was therefore really important for us to look ahead to what our residents would want now and in the future to ensure what we are developing would remain sought-after.” Prices start at £2.4 million. Celia Mallet | celia.mallet@knightfrank.com | o: +44 20 7861 1490 | c: +44 7976 577341 Jeremy Pelissier | jeremy.pelissier@knightfrank.com | o: +44 20 3866 7873 | c: 07917444333