Property insider: Brook Green

Bordered by west London’s big-name districts - Hammersmith, Kensington, Shepherd’s Bush and Holland Park - Brook Green is a leafy enclave that can seem a million miles from its neighbours’ bustling high streets and city traffic.

With handsome streets of Victorian and Edwardian homes, excellent schools, a good selection of delis, shops and pubs and a green that serves as a big communal garden, no wonder this area is sought after by young professionals, families and international buyers alike. It even has Westfield shopping centre on its doorstep and easy access to a wealth of transport links.

'In west London, it’s the most central area that is still relatively affordable and doesn’t feel too suburban'

The area bordered by Shepherd's Bush Road, Sinclair Road and Hammersmith Road creates the Brook Green triangle. Shepherd's Bush Central line station is within a ten-minute walk, while Kensington Olympia - with an overground station and District Line tube - is also nearby. Hammersmith offers the additional options of the Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines.

Schools are also a big draw for homebuyers. Larmenier and Sacred Heart on Brook Green is a state primary school - where Tony Blairs' daughter studied - and St Paul's is one of the best private girls' schools in the country, with ex-students including Joely Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Rachel Weisz. Ecole Française de Londres Jacques Prévert is a private French primary school.

"There’s also real community spirit in Brook Green", says Ben Hunt from estate agent Winkworth, who has worked in the area for 11 years. "Brook Green has a real village feel especially around Blythe Road, Masbro Road and Milson Road, where there is a good choice of delis, florists and gastropubs, including The Havelock, The Bird in the Hand and The Jam Tree.

Property prices are not cheap here, but Brook Green is cheaper than Holland Park, Notting Hill, and Kensington. "In west London, it’s the most central area that is still relatively affordable and doesn’t feel too suburban. For young families upsizing from these more expensive areas, houses with more space in Brook Green will be within their budget," says Hunt.

What types of properties are typical to the area?
Brook Green has large Victorian terraced houses (right) and cottages, to Victorian townhouses that have been converted into flats and mansion blocks.

What different types of buyers are attracted to the area?
Everyone from first-time buyers, to families who have upsized and older people downsizing. There is a real mix of English and Europeans, particularly French buyers seeking a home close to the Jacques Prévert school on Brook Green itself.

What are the 'hottest' properties in the area?
The best streets are Brook Green itself and those properties immediately off the Green, however streets a little further north such as Faroe Road, Hofland Road, Bolingbroke Road and Addison Gardens, are equally in demand.

Where are the 'hidden gems'?
Melrose Conservation area, on the other side of Shepherd’s Bush Road, is sometimes ignored by those who want to live in the Brook Green triangle, but it means they miss out on some fantastic houses and flats in buildings which are wider than many of the properties in Brook Green.

Also, the cluster of Roads around Masbro Road, including Fielding Road and Hofland Road, are always hugely popular and have a mixture of family houses, cottages and flats, as well as smart neighbourhood pubs.

Where are the best investment opportunities in the area?
There is always a shortage of good rental properties and those within easy reach of the Central Line tube are always in high demand by professional sharers, particularly in streets such as Sinclair Road and Blythe Road.

Houses around the Green are popular with families who are renting, again with a strong French contingent looking to be close to the Jacques Prévert school, but also within easy reach of central London.

How is local parking?
Very few properties come with private parking, but zoned residential parking permits give plenty of parking provision. Costs are reasonable and parking is for both residents and pay and display.

What are service charges in the area like?
In conversions, service charges are about £100-£150 a month, with charges at mansion blocks substantially higher, at about £5,000 a year for large family apartments.

What are your favourite viewings?
Homes in Sinclair Road always sell quickly, and properties off the green in Sterndale Road and Girdlers Road.

Where would you buy in this area?
I would buy one of the large four- to five-bedroom homes on the south side of Brook Green, where houses have the biggest south-facing gardens.

Ben Hunt is the Sales Manager at Winkworth in Hammersmith and Brook Green