Most of us like a good view. So much so that in cities throughout the world, we pay a premium of 15% to 50% for one, depending on the city and the view. Perhaps it’s not just about the vista. There’s also the sense of place that comes with a great cityscape, perhaps with an iconic landmark or two. That and the feeling that if your home commands such a view, then the city—not to say the world—is your oyster. Mansion Global looked at four new London developments with views worth the cost.
A view from a unit at South Quay Plaza.
Rendering: Berkeley Homes South East LondonSOUTH QUAY PLAZA
According to Fran Moynihan, waterfront specialist at Savills, the Thames has a unique pulling power for buyers. “People buy in areas they’ve said they’re not interested in—once they see that river view. This makes the ribbon of real estate along both banks a category all of their own, distinct from the neighborhoods they’re in.” South Quay Plaza, a new development being built on the Isle of Dogs—the U-shaped peninsula nestled in a bend of the Thames—will have one of the most expansive views of the river. The project will feature the U.K.’s tallest residential building, a 68-story tower designed by Foster + Partners located just a stone’s throw from London’s new financial hub at Canary Wharf. But the views will stretch across the City, London’s old financial hub, to the West End and the suburbs beyond. Prices start from £640,000 (about $982,000)
A view from a show apartment at One Tower Bridge.
One Tower BridgeONE TOWER BRIDGE
Smaller in scale but possibly more beguiling is the view from One Tower Bridge. As the prospectus boasts, this development on the river’s southern bank sits beside “three London icons”: Tower Bridge (for decades filmmakers’ shorthand for “we're in London now”); the Thames; and just across it, the Norman keep of the Tower of London. This is the quintessential London cityscape, surely, with its mix of ancient and modern. Your next-door neighbor would be the new City Hall, designed by Foster + Partners. From the terrace you’d see the top of Renzo Piano’s Shard. But the appeal of this location isn’t just the view—or the gym, Harrods’ concierge or other in-house amenities. It’s also the commute. Residents will be a 10-minute walk from the City, and a quick boat-ride away from both Canary Wharf or the West End. For the weekend, Tate Modern and the cool foodie scenes of Borough Market and Bermondsey Street are just a short stroll away. Prices start from £1.475 million (about $2.26 million)
St. Edmund’s Terrace overlooks Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill.
CITST. EDMUND’S TERRACE
Park, rather than river views, lie at the heart of the appeal of St. Edmund’s Terrace in north London, which overlooks two of them: Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill. A leafy and quiet, village-like area, Primrose Hill is considered prime London real estate despite being not quite central.Full-height bay windows make the most of those leafy views. Adding to its appeal for international buyers, the American school and the new French college are walking distance from this rare new-build in a district renowned for its stuccoed 19th-century villas and terraces. Prices start from £4 million (about $6.1 million)
The Clarges Mayfair will look out on Green Park.
Rendering: ClargesMayfair by British LandCLARGES MAYFAIR
British Land’s Clarges Mayfair is much more central. It’s slap-bang on Piccadilly, so from the upper floors of this nine-story development you can see not just a park but also a palace: Green Park, Buckingham Palace. Oligarchs will like the private screening room, spa and the gated mews with a secure drop-off. As well as all the greenery in view, residents with binoculars should be able to work out whether the Queen is at home or not: the Royal Standard flies from the Palace’s flagpole when she is, the Union Flag when she isn’t. No current starting prices
Correction: Prices at South Quay Plaza start from£640,000.A previous version of this article included an outdated starting pricefor the development.(Oct. 27, 2015)