New homes in London's Zone 1 on a Zone 2 budget
Our exclusive research shows a "price wall" formed by the Northern line, with property values to the east less than half those in the west. We reveal the emerging lower-value districts in Zone 1 for buyers on a Zone 2 budget.
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.
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.
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.
Jasper Conran: my design London
Jasper Conran, designer and CEO of The Conran Shop, is a champion of cutting-edge British design. Here he reveals his favourite London-based designers, interiors pieces and fabric shops - and shares his top tips for transforming a room.
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: Putney Hill, SW15
This glossy new apartment just off Putney Hill has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a bright open-plan reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular skyline views.
Out of town: Wigginton, Oxfordshire
This three-bedroom Grade II-listed thatch in the pretty village of Wigginton, near Banbury, is a tempting package of beams, wood burners and cottage gardens.
Life-changer: Tiverton, Devon
A five-bedroom house set in a valley at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Tiverton, surrounded by farmland and sweeping gardens, with B&B potential and a garage block ripe for conversion.
East Grinstead spotlight
East Grinstead in West Sussex is 30 miles south of the capital in the High Weald. The town's exclusive gated estates attract celebrity home buyers such as Tom Cruise, while London families are drawn to the area's good mix of period homes and modern flats.-
Buy of the week: Putney Hill, SW15
This glossy new apartment just off Putney Hill has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus a bright open-plan reception space with floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular skyline views. -
Out of town: Wigginton, Oxfordshire
This three-bedroom Grade II-listed thatch in the pretty village of Wigginton, near Banbury, is a tempting package of beams, wood burners and cottage gardens. -
Life-changer: Tiverton, Devon
A five-bedroom house set in a valley at Cheriton Fitzpaine, Tiverton, surrounded by farmland and sweeping gardens, with B&B potential and a garage block ripe for conversion.
Property search
Patio furniture for summer evenings
Longer days and warmer evenings mean we can finally head home and make the most of our outdoor spaces, whatever their size. Patio furniture can transform even the smallest balcony, terrace or garden into a charming and relaxing space. We’ve found clever hideaway dining sets, sturdy stand-alone benches and elegant bistro tables and chairs — perfect for summer entertaining. By Kristy Gray
Hampton bench from Next, £135, folds away for easy storage (see next picture). Coordinating outdoor cushions, £15 each.
The Hampton garden bench from Next, £135, folds away for easy storage.
Square two-seater outdoor bistro set comes in Lido Blue or Coral (pictured), £79.20, from John Lewis.
The Provence garden bench (£93.99 - save £6) will suit any type of garden or patio area, and is made from durable powder-coated box section steel, finished in a rustic brown textured effect.
This retro Bistro Set from Homebase (£99.99; down from £129.99) includes the small outdoor table and two chairs made from hand-woven synthetic wicker.
The Finey coffee-table set from Blooma (save £80; now £169) is perfect for lounging around on warm summer afternoons. The set comprises a ready-assembled coffee table, a sofa and two armchairs with an innovative dark-grey rope design. For smaller spaces, you can buy the chairs (£40 each) and the table (£20) separately. Visit B&Q.
This clever hideaway outdoor set is perfect for bijou gardens or small terraces - the four chairs can be folded away and stored inside the table when not in use. Reduced from £450 to £315, at Habitat.
The Heal's Plus 4 garden table and chairs set is perfect for compact city gardens. Made from solid teak, the chairs will pack neatly away around the edge of the table when not in use. Reduced from £995 - now £795.
The lovely Flores wrought-iron garden dining set from Blooma has stackable chairs and a two-seater table for £99. Visit B&Q.
The TÄRNÖ bistro set from IKEA (£49.99) is made from Acacia wood and steel and both the table and the chairs fold away when not in use.
The Cream Bistro Set (£99) from Next includes a folding metal table and two chairs. The strawberry print seat pads are £18 for a set of two.
The rectangular bistro set by Barbed (£415) comes with four chairs that are made from lacquered and anti-rust treated steel. The table comes in storm (dark) grey or fjord blue. Chairs, ordered in packs of two, are available in storm grey, fjord blue, linen, verbena, fuchsia or aubergine. Visit notonthehighstreet.com.
More articles
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Bargain news
Relax in a versatile ottoman bed; enjoy a 10 per cent discount on luxury sofas; commute to a gorgeously green garden office; enjoy a spring sale on tiles; and spruce up your period property with made-to-measure windows.
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Chelsea Flower Show 2013: the highlights
We highlight the best of this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show gardens, with modern British designs among the gold medal winners featuring exuberant sculptures and inspiring planting ideas for Londoners.
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A guide to Chelsea Fringe Festival
The shops, streets, galleries and gardens of London go flower-crazy as the alternative flower show, Chelsea Fringe, takes place. Don't miss any of the festival's highlights with out guide.
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Mary Berry's chocolate brownies
Mary Berry shares her decadent - and easy - chocolate brownie recipe, with a hint of coffee and the crunch of chopped walnuts.
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Perfect extensions
Londoners planning to extend their homes should follow a simple golden rule: go for quality, not grandeur.
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White, bright and full of light
Inspired by light, airy Parisian interiors, this owners of this south London terrace house mixed bargain finds with design classics to create a cool and elegant family home.
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Chelsea Fringe: signature cocktail
The top bartenders at Sketch have created a signature cocktail to celebrate this year's Chelsea Fringe Festival, infusing fresh fennel with Kentish strawberries, lemon, honey, lavender, pressed apple and Tanqueray gin.
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Design trends: summer florals
Bring summer into your home regardless of the weather with this season's pretty collections of flower-filled wallpaper, fabrics, furniture and china.
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Chelsea Fringe Festival: what's on this week (May 24-29)
Pattie Barron highlights what's on at the Chelsea Fringe Festival this week, from the edible wildflower meadow at Broadgate and urban bird watching to a guerilla gardening tour of Elephant & Castle.
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Jasper Conran: my design London
Jasper Conran, designer and CEO of The Conran Shop, is a champion of cutting-edge British design. Here he reveals his favourite London-based designers, interiors pieces and fabric shops - and shares his top tips for transforming a room.
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