Bea Mitchell

Top 25: up-and-coming Zone 3 areas to watch

London buyers are heading for Zone 3, where homes are 41 per cent cheaper on average than in Zone 2 - at £474,569 compared with £797,410. Zone 3 buyers can still feel they are in the heart of the capital as a transport revolution slashes journey times to central London and the City. A new Thameslink station will serve the new district of Brent Cross Cricklewood, the Overground is being extended east to Barking, the proposed Bakerloo line extension will cut through south-east London to Beckenham - and the Crossrail buzz is making hotspots of Zone 3 districts such as Ealing. Developers are in step, building homes complete with “lifestyle” packages and creating new town centres. We reveal the average house prices and best areas of Zone 3 to start your property search… VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

7 Apr 2015

Buying & Mortgages

A guide to living on a houseboat in London

The capital has become a houseboat hotspot as Londoners take to the water in Dutch barges, narrowboats and other styles of floating home.

By Kristy Gray Bea Mitchell

23 Jun 2015

The 10 boroughs with the fastest-growing house prices

House prices are on the up in Newham and nine other booming boroughs across the capital. Find out where...

26 Jun 2015

Hot properties on foreign shores

From Provence to Grand Cayman, and bijou apartments to seafront mansions, here is our pick of superb properties for sale or rent in some of the world's most desirable locations - including some surprisingly affordable options.

By Cathy Hawker Bea Mitchell

8 Apr 2015

Take a tour of these stunning barn conversions

Barn conversions are a summer favourite for Londoners craving open, rural views, character beams, vaulted ceilings, huge windows and room to relish the fresh air. Especially tempting is a country retreat with the perks of a luxe city home - a swimming pool, say, or a cinema room to enjoy on long winter nights. From Aberdeenshire to Sussex, here's our pick of the best on the market...

9 Apr 2015

Home swap: you stay at my place - I'll stay at yours

Why not exchange your city pad for a Jersey flat with a rooftop hot tub and use of an Aston Martin DB7? Or a country house in Kenya? Or a Mongolian yurt... in Essex?

31 Mar 2015

Buying & Mortgages

Easter bargains: family homes from £370,000

The Easter house sales are under way and, with a four-day weekend, there couldn’t be a better time to discover that bargain family home. We uncover some sweet property discounts that offer reductions of up to £425,000, with houses starting from £370,000... DISCOVER MORE EASTER BARGAINS: LONDON FLATS FROM £130,000

26 Mar 2015

Be king of the castle: wow-factor historic homes

From lavish apartments within castles to an entire 115-bedroom medieval estate, we've chosen the most impressive historic homes on the market. Moats, gargoyles and vast grounds set the scene while Jacobean, Louis XII and Tudor-Gothic features are showcased inside. Take a look inside some of the best castles on the market...

18 Mar 2015

Buying & Mortgages

Easter home sales: London flats reduced up to £525,000

The Easter sales have already begun on London's property market, and with the long weekend fast approaching it couldn't be a better time to find that bargain home - if you know where to look. We uncover some of the top London discounts with reductions of up to £525,000 for one and two-bedroom flats starting from £130,000... MORE EASTER BARGAINS: FAMILY HOUSES FROM £375,000

26 Mar 2015

Grand designs and clever conversions

Ambitious grand designers all over Britain transform extraordinary buildings, including historic gems, into flexible, unique modern living spaces. We take a tour of medieval castles, oast houses, windmills and water towers transformed into show-stopping homes, just waiting for buyers.

By Kristy Gray Bea Mitchell Updated 02 April 2015

27 Jan 2015

Healthy vegetarian recipes

Healthy, meat-free eating won't be a chore with these delicious recipes, using flavours from the Middle East to southeast Asia. Why not try Hemsley + Hemsley's flower power pizza or the River Café's sorrel frittata? Take a look through our picks of the very best feel-good recipes.

By Bea Mitchell Nuria Stylianou

7 May 2015

Super-healthy sweet treats

Keeping the sugar cravings at bay is near impossible at times, but not with these delicious recipes - including some seriously tempting vegan options. From pumpkin-spiced granola bars to chocolate and avocado mousse, you can enjoy breakfast, afternoon snacks or a delicious dessert guilt free with our picks of the most virtuous dishes around.

By Bea Mitchell Nuria Stylianou

8 May 2015

Where to live

The 40 essential facts you need to know about Crossrail

The new high-speed Crossrail route will drastically cut journey times into the capital from 2018, changing the lives of millions of Londoners and suburban commuters. Nothing boosts the value of homes more than a major transport upgrade and Crossrail is already providing a catalyst for regeneration. Running from Reading in the west to Shenfield in the east, this is the first direct connection between all of London's main employment centres and Heathrow airport. Up to 24 trains an hour will run during peak periods, boosting London's rail transport capacity by 10 per cent. Join us as we take a tour of the new homes hotspots along the 75-mile route.

16 Apr 2015

The best bistro sets for under £100

Outdoor dining sets can transform even the smallest city balcony, terrace or patio into a relaxing space for cocktail hour. We pick the best of this season’s compact and foldaway bistro sets for even the tiniest London outdoor rooms - and they are all priced under £100.

By Bea Mitchell Kristy Gray

5 May 2015

Hot homes: Henley-On-Thames

Set on the river in beautiful Oxfordshire, Henley-On-Thames offers homes with period features, swimming pools and landscaped gardens, scroll through our roundup of the most impressive properties the area has to offer...

2 Jul 2015

The average cost of buying in every London borough

The latest Land Registry data reveals the average cost of buying a London home has risen by 10.9 per cent in the past year to £474,544. The east London borough of Newham recorded the highest annual price growth of 17.2 per cent, while Kensington and Chelsea recorded the lowest. Once again, Hackney is the capital's rising star month-on-month, with a jump of 2.1 per cent taking average prices to £616,004. Barking and Dagenham remains the most affordable borough to buy a home, with an average price of £274,173.

By Kristy Gray Bea Mitchell

1 Jun 2015

The best wedding gifts

The wedding season is in full swing, which presents guests with a problem - what to buy the bride and groom to spoil them? We find the best gifts for all budgets, from bespoke crystal whisky tumblers nestling in a satin-lined box, to a ready-to-plant mini vineyard, and even a luxurious overnight break away - the perfect pick-me-up for a couple with post-honeymoon blues...

By Kristy Gray Lizzie Rivera Meghann Murdock Bea Mitchell

19 Jun 2015

Serving up aces: Wimbledon's trophy homes

From Victorian mansions with swimming pools and private tennis courts, to ultra-modern penthouse flats, we've rounded up the Wimbledon trophy homes waiting for this year's champions to sit back, relax and invest their winnings...

24 Jun 2015

The average house prices for every London borough

The latest Land Registry data reveals the average cost of buying a London home has risen by 9.2 per cent in the past year to £481,820. London's Olympic borough, Newham, recorded the largest annual price growth of 16 per cent, while prime borough Kensington and Chelsea recorded the lowest, with prices rising just 0.7 per cent. Barking and Dagenham is the most affordable borough to buy a home, with an average price of £278,604. Click through to find out the average cost of buying a home in every London borough:

By Lizzie Rivera Bea Mitchell

27 Jul 2015

Best BBQs: meet this season's most stylish grills

Summer has arrived, which means the tongs and barbecue are out for leisurely dinners in the garden. We’ve trawled the shops for the most stylish options for all your alfresco grilling needs — from brightly coloured charcoal fire bowls to mighty multi-burner gas grillstreams, wood-burning outdoor fireplaces and even tabletop smokeless barbie grills. Let the summer feasting commence...