Fancy owning a multi-million £ penthouse apartment? Or perhaps a country pile is more your style? If you’re more ‘keeping up with the Beckhams’ than the Joneses, then you may be interested in knowing that the most expensive property sold in the UK in 2022 cost an eye-watering £38.5m, according to data from Large Mortgage Loans (LML) and TwentyCi[i]. Situated in the wealthy London postcode of W2 2, this prime property is located in glorious Hyde Park and boasts London landmark, Marble Arch, as one of its neighbours.
If film memorabilia is what you’re into, then perhaps Notting Hill is the place for you. This London enclave is known for its many film appearances and is the location of the second most expensive property sold in the UK in 2022, a cool £37,500,000. For real film buffs, consider the apartment situated above the famous Travel Bookshop from the film, Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant’s character first met his love interest, played by Julia Roberts. It’s currently on the market for £2.375m.[ii]
The leafy north London suburb of East Finchley in the Borough of Barnet has seen its fair share of famous residents over the years, including George Michael, Peter Sellers and Jerry Springer. It is also the location of the third most expensive property sold in 2022 for £35.1m.[iii]
The data, from LML, the expert mortgage adviser to high net worth individuals, in partnership with TwentyCi, the provider of data, analytics and insight of the UK residential property market, reveals that (on average) the top 20 most expensive postcodes to buy a house in 2022 were all located in London. The top 3 are W1K 2 (£7.15m average completion), SW1H 9 (£6.35m average completion) and W1F 8 (£6.1m average completion).
Prices beyond London
Although the top 20 most expensive postcodes of 2022 are all located in London, an area of Henley-on-Thames (RG9 3), in South Oxfordshire, leads the way when it comes to pricey postcodes outside of the Capital. Situated on the River Thames, the average completion price in 2022 here was £2,695,600. Famous residents living in the Henley area include legendary cook, Mary Berry; TV presenter, Philip Schofield and singer, Geri Horner aka Ginger Spice.[iv]
In second place was PO18 9, an area close to Chichester in West Sussex. Properties in this coastal locale had a completion price, on average, of £2.575m. The area boasts many big stars including rocker, Keith Richards; Hollywood star, Kate Winslet and actor, Hugh Bonneville, all enjoying the quiet life in coastal Sussex.[v]
The area around picturesque Surrey villages of Elstead, close to Godalming, is the location for our third priciest UK postcode, GU8 6. On average, this rural idyll, saw the average completion price reach £2,568,188 in 2022. With it’s close proximity to London and large green nature reserves and commons, the area has been proposed as a film location several times, including for Skyfall, the James Bond blockbuster.[vi]
Paul Welch, CEO and founder of Large Mortgage Loans, comments;
“For most of us, owning a multi-million pound home on the doorstep of London’s famous Hyde Park is just pie in the sky – a dream to aspire to. But, for some wealthy individuals, being able to afford a prime penthouse with a celeb lifestyle to match is reality and it would seem London and the Home Counties is where they are happy to pay the price to be.
“Parting with a small fortune to secure the home of your dreams is no small matter, and there are many things to consider before doing so. This is particularly so given that the money markets and mortgages are currently in flux.”
Largemortgageloans.com are experts at facilitating finance on million-pound properties and other luxury assets so call us on 020 7965 7271 to see how we can help.
[i] All data sourced by TwentyCi and is current to 1st December 2022
[ii] Evening Standard, 18th November 2022. Apartment above Hugh Grant’s travel bookshop in Notting Hill on sale for £2.375 million | Evening Standard
[iii] My London, 13th April 2019. 11 famous people you may not have known lived in Barnet – MyLondon
[iv]Oxfordshire Live, 21st May 2022. Celebrities’ quiet lives in Oxfordshire including Mary Berry and Geri Horner who you might catch at the local pub – Oxfordshire Live
[v] Sussex Live, 15th May 2022. Celebrities living quiet lives in Sussex you might catch having a pint down the pub – SussexLive
[vi] 13th January, 2014. Get Surrey, Film stars on their way to Elstead – Surrey Live (getsurrey.co.uk)
