Embassy exodus returns acres of central London to its residents
As the embassies exit Mayfair and Marylebone, their former bases will free up stunning family homes. While the move of many embassies to Nine Elms at Vauxhall is creating a new residential quarter including thousands of new apartments.
Fast new commuter routes are changing London's property map
Regeneration throughout London continues to change the property map, with the orbital train network and recent Tube line extensions creating faster commuter routes with good-value homes, including Deptford, Bromley and Woolwich.
Brighton spotlight
The East Sussex city of Brighton and Hove offers its residents the best of both worlds: a relaxed life at one end of the line within an hour's commute of London, and a good mix of Regency terrace houses, seafront apartments and family homes.
Canterbury spotlight
The compact city of Canterbury sits 60 miles south-east of London in Kent. In recent years its property market has been boosted by a high-speed rail service into St Pancras, which cuts the journey time to the capital to less than an hour.
Chelsea Flower Show preview 2013
This year the RHS Chelsea Flower Show promises to be suitably fabulous as it celebrates its centenary year with stunning gardens, including the Forget-me-Not Garden by B&Q and Prince Harry's charity.
Find a rated tradesman
Want to add value to your property, make your house a home, or sell your place fast? With 1,000s of tradesmen nationwide, rated and recommended by previous customers, this is the smart way to find a reputable tradesman.
Buy of the week: Stoke Newington, N16
This modern home of almost 1,000sq ft is close to Stoke Newington's high street. A 27ft reception room and two large bedrooms give the flat a spacious feel.
Out of town: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The beauty spot of Leighterton, with its poppy fields, ivy-covered churches and popular local gastro pub, is home to this four-bedroom house with stone-walled gardens.
Life-changer: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Have a station all to yourself by buying the Old Station Master's house at Roman Bridge, where trains will stop at your door on request. You also get three bedrooms and 10 acres of grounds.
Oxford spotlight
The small city of Oxford is famous for its university and honeyed stone architecture, but its huge range of property - from affordable new homes to luxurious Victorian houses - and one hour commute to London, are big attractions to home buyers.-
Buy of the week: Stoke Newington, N16
This modern home of almost 1,000sq ft is close to Stoke Newington's high street. A 27ft reception room and two large bedrooms give the flat a spacious feel. -
Out of town: Tetbury, Gloucestershire
The beauty spot of Leighterton, with its poppy fields, ivy-covered churches and popular local gastro pub, is home to this four-bedroom house with stone-walled gardens. -
Life-changer: Dolwyddelan, Conwy
Have a station all to yourself by buying the Old Station Master's house at Roman Bridge, where trains will stop at your door on request. You also get three bedrooms and 10 acres of grounds.
Property search
Hot homes in the Royal Docks
By Kristy Gray
Olympic fever sweeps through the historic Royal Docks this week as the ExCeL exhibition centre gears up to host seven 2012 Games events, from boxing and wrestling, to table tennis and fencing, as well as six Paralympic events.Many spectators will arrive in E16 via it's latest transport link - a sleek, 300ft-high cable car ferrying them across the Thames from Greenwich Peninsula.
They'll spot the gleaming regeneration that has transformed the three docks - Royal Albert, Victoria and George V - with striking riverside apartments, smart hotels and quayside restaurants and bars.
Transport links already connect commuters to Canary Wharf within 10 minutes, while Crossrail, when finished in 2018, will deliver a direct link to Heathrow airport in 45 minutes and high-speed journeys to Paddington in just 20 minutes.
We take a property tour of this exciting dockside district, and discover waterside penthouses and homes for first-time buyers.
Four-bedroom dockside house
If it's style and space you're after, this waterside charmer west of the Royal Docks is spread across three floors. There are four bedrooms, an open-plan reception/dining room, a kitchen with space for dining, a garage and a private terrace plus two balconies which offer fabulous waterside views. Transport links include South Quay and Blackwall DLR stations and Canary Wharf Tube station (Jubilee line and DLR) is nearby.
£650,000: four-bedroom house in Lancaster Drive, E14
Riverside split-level penthouse
This split-level penthouse is on the 11th and 12th floors of modern development Galleons Reach, which has its own shops and secure parking, plus handy transport links from King George V DLR station. On the lower floor, there is a second bedroom and bathroom, as well as a 584sq ft living room/fitted kitchen leads to a balcony with fabulous views of the Thames. Upstairs is a mezzanine study or second living room, next to the master ensuite bedroom.
£495,000: two-bedroom flat at Sunderland Point, Galleons Reach, London E16
Affordable first-time buy
Waldair Court is a quiet, gated development on the banks of the Thames with secure parking, close to the Royal Docks and north Woolwich. This smart one-bedroom flat has an open-plan reception leading to the kitchen, with glazed doors opening to a ground-floor riverside terrace, perfect for dining and entertaining. King George V DLR is the closest station, while the North Woolwich ferry crossing with London City Airport is also nearby.
£183,000: one-bedroom flat at Waldair Court, Barge House Road, London E16
Three-bedroom duplex penthouse
What better way to showcase panoramic views over the water towards the O2 Centre, Canary Wharf and south and central London than with a full-length 31ft balcony. This three-bedroom penthouse is on the ninth and 10th floors of a smart apartment block at Royal Victoria Dock and takes advantage of its waterside position with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large, open-plan living area. Two bathrooms, 24-hour concierge, use of the development's business centre and gym, and secure parking completes the package. The nearest station is Royal Victoria DLR.
£655,000: three-bedroom apartment at Aegean Apartments, Western Gateway, London E16
Investment opportunity: one-bedroom riverside apartment
Just two minutes walk from Royal Victoria DLR station, this one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the Royal Docks has impressive river views from floor-to-ceiling windows in the open-plan living room/kitchen. The spacious bedroom also has handy storage. London City Airport, The O2 Arena and also London's Excel Centre are all nearby.
£285,995: one-bedroom flat at Adriatic Apartments, 20 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria, London E16
New home: two-bedroom apartment
A brand new two-bedroom apartment on the sixth floor of the Connaught Heights building at Waterside Park in the Royal Docks. This 727sq ft flat has an open-plan living/dining room with a balcony to take in the views, as well as a modern fitted kitchen and the master bedroom is en suite. Nearest station is Pontoon Dock DLR (zone 3) and Canary Wharf is seven minutes away.
£324,500: two-bedroom apartment at Connaught Heights, Waterside Park, At North Woolwich Road, The Royal Docks, London E16
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Embassy exodus returns acres of central London to its residents
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Property search: budget under £500,000
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First Olympic village homes up for rent
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