London is well-known for being an enormous and bustling metropolis, with a litany of sites to enjoy from its towering skyscrapers and imposing museums to its royal palaces.
But tucked away in some of the most exclusive parts of the capital are tiny green oases offering, to those who can afford it, the privilege of some peace and quiet right in the heart of the city.
Garden squares are among London’s last bastions of tranquility, surrounded by long terraces of Georgian townhouses and decoratives railings that refuse entry to all those apart from nearby residents.
It is this unbridled access, and glorious views, which makes the homes surrounding these private parks so expensive, with a one-bedroom flat overlooking such a square likely to cost close to £1million.
Buying agency Black Brick has calculated that premiums for homes with access to such spaces range from 20 per cent to more than 40 per cent.
Hamptons International, along with property website Zoopla, has now revealed the top ten most expensive garden squares in London.
1. Carlton House Terrace Gardens, Westminster – £8.79million
Top of the pile is Carlton House Terrace Gardens in Westminster, an exclusive road just a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace.
The average home on this incredibly pricey road will cost a potential suitor an average of £8.79million, almost £3million more than it would from the second most expensive road.
Former Prime Ministers William Gladstone and Lord Palmerston formerly called the square home, but the majority of the properties are now taking up by businesses, institutes and learned societies.
The road is famed for being the location of what is thought to be Britain’s most expensive home, with rumours circulating six years ago that a Saudi prince had sold 18 Carlton House Terrace for £250million.
Top of the pile is Carlton House Terrace Gardens in Westminster (pictured), an exclusive road just a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace, where the average home will cost a potential suitor £8.79million
The road is famed for being the location of what is thought to be Britain’s most expensive home, with rumours circulating six years ago that a Saudi prince had sold 18 Carlton House Terrace for £250million. The owners have been so secretive about the interior of the mansion that this image from the 1890s is among the only ones ever to be taken and shared publicly
2. Eaton Square, Belgravia – £5.88million
Second on the list is the stunning Eaton Square in Belgravia, with an average price of £5.88million.
Eaton Square is one of the most prestigious addresses in London, with former Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain and Stanley Baldwin both living there during their time in office or slightly after.
More recently, investor George Soros, advertising mogul Charles Saatchi and football managers Jose Mourinho and Sven-Goran Eriksson are all thought to have called the square home.
Eaton Square (pictured) is one of the most prestigious addresses in London, with former Prime Ministers Neville Chamberlain and Stanley Baldwin both living there during their time in office or slightly after
This incredible seven-bedroom terraced mansion is currently for sale at Eaton Square for £30million. Pictured is the property’s sprawling dining room and kitchen area, which is fitted with modern furnishings throughout
This incredible home for sale in Eaton Square has it’s own cinema room, with plenty of space to entertain guests and show off the property’s stunning interiors
3. Wilton Crescent Garden, Belgravia – £5.35million
Wilton Crescent was built in the early 19th century and has been home to royals, political leaders and celebrities ever since. It is thought to be Belgravia’s only Portland Stone crescent.
The picturesque square is certainly a huge earner for the homesowners nearby, with the green space coming third in the list thanks to an average home price of £5.35million.
Among its most famous residents was Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a British Royal Navy officer and uncle of Prince Philip, who was infamously assassinated by the IRA in 1979.
A home at third-placed Wilton Crescent Garden, in upmarket Belgravia, would cost a new buyer £5.35million, on average. Wilton Crescent was built in the early 19th century and has been home to royals, political leaders and celebrities ever since
Those with a spare £7.76million floating around in their bank account would be able to match the asking price for this stunning four-bedroom flat in Wilton Crescent Garden, in Belgravia
4. St James’s Gardens, Notting Hill – £3.81million
The list’s first entry from the Notting Hill area is St James’s Gardens, which will set back potentially buyers £3.81million, making it the fourth most expensive in London.
The lush garden is in the heart of the Norland Conservation Area, with the premiums surely pushed up by its close proximity to the open spacs of Holland Park and its nearby Underground station.
Nearby specialist shops give the area a unique feel, which has led to many wealthy businesspeople and celebrities – such as Sir Richard Branson and David Beckham – to call Holland Park home.
St James’s Gardens in Notting Hill is among the most exclusive green spaces in the country, with the surrounding homes selling for an average of £3.81million
5. Thurloe Square, Brompton – £3.76million
Thurloe Square is fifth on the list, thanks to an eye-watering average price of £3.76million for homes surrounding the gated park.
Not only is the square dog-friendly, it also has a children’s playground and is a stroll from the shops, restaurants and museums in desirable Knightsbridge.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is just aroud the corner, with its famous director Sir Henry Cole calling the square his home up until his death in 1892. His former home is now the Kazakhstan Embassy.
Thurloe Square (shown) is fifth on the list, with an average price of £3.76million. Not only is the square dog-friendly, it also has a children’s playground and is a stroll from the shops, restaurants and museums in desirable Knightsbridge
Thurloe Square is home to some incredible properties, including this six-bedroom terraced mansion which is currently on sale for £9.95million
6. Rosmead Garden, Notting Hill – £3.64million
Rosmead Garden is perhaps London’s most famous garden square, having featured so heavily in the Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts film Notting Hill, and makes the list as the sixth most expensive.
The film’s two protagonists visit the garden following a date, scaling one of its gates to take a wander through the scenery aided by the moonlight.
The space is quite unique among its contemporaries on the list, with many of the homes surrounding it having direct access onto the green via a backdoor, making it a rear garden of sorts.
Rosmead Garden (pictured) is perhaps London’s most famous garden square, having featured so heavily in the Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts film Notting Hill, and makes the list as the sixth most expensive
This six-storey Notting Hill mansion is on the market for £13.2million in Elgin Crescent, and offers direct access to Rosmead Garden from the garden
7. Kensington Square, Kensington – £3.16million
Making the list in seventh place is the leafy and elegant Kensington Square, with an average home price of £3.16million.
It was founded in 1685; making it the oldest such square in Kensington. St. James’s Square, Soho Square and Golden Square are a few years older, but Kensington Square still retains its residential character.
Numbers 1 to 45 are Grade II listed buildings, with former residents including composer Hubert Parry at number 17, philosopher John Stuart Mill at number 18 and John Simon the sanitary reformer at number 40.
This delightful house has access and views over Kensington Square, the oldest such garden square in London. Situated in the heart of Kensington, the house is in close proximity to the restaurants, shops and transport links of High Street Kensington
A very handsome flat fronted Georgian house with direct views over one of Kensington’s premier squares, this red-bricked terraced house has been meticulously restored to an exacting standard. It is on sale with Hamptons
8. Park Crescent, Marylebone – £3million
This crescent is among the most prestigious in the capital, and is found in a desirable location at the north end of Portland Place and south of Marylebone Road.
It comprises beautiful stuccoed terraced houses designed by the architect John Nash, and forms into a semicircle, with Regent’s Park Underground station sitting in front of the properties.
The original plan was to build a circular building, which would have been named Regent’s Circus, but only the bottom half was completed.
Park Crescent comprises beautiful stuccoed terraced houses designed by the architect John Nash, and forms into a semicircle, with Regent’s Park Underground station sitting in front of the properties
The stunning and quiet grounds are among the most prestigious in the capital, and is found in a desirable location at the north end of Portland Place and south of Marylebone Road
9. Hanover Gardens, Notting Hill – £2.97million
The third and final entry from Notting Hill, Hanover Gardens comes in at ninth place on the list, with an average home price of £2.97million.
This peaceful woodland garden is situated within the Ladbroke Estate, and is a short walk away from Notting Hill Gate Undergroud station.
Among its famous former residents was Dame Sylvia Crowe, the noted landscape architect, which is apt given the garden’s varied wildlife and fauna.
The third and final entry from Notting Hill, Hanover Gardens comes in at ninth place on the list, with an average home price of £2.97million
10. Markham Square, Chelsea – £2.73million
This beautiful terraced oasis is the final entry on the list, with an average home price of £2.73million, making it just one of two to come in under £3million.
Despite its grandeur, the square is most famous for the armed siege in which a barrister began wildly shooting out of his kitchen window with a shotgun.
Mark Saunders, 32, died in a volley of bullets fired by police marksmen who surrounded his £2.2million Chelsea home following a drink and drugs binge.
The picturesque Markham Square in upmarket Chelsea, southwest London, just about made the list, coming tenth with an average property price of £2.73million
From Eaton Square to Kensington Square, here’s some of the finest properties currently on sale in these exclusive enclaves on Zoopla:
Eaton Square, Belgravia: Seven-bedroom terraced mansion for sale for £30million
This incredible home in Eaton Square has been internally arranged over several floors, with seven bedrooms and this this stunning bathroom suite with his and her sinks and a large bath and walk-in shower. It is currently on sale with Sotheby’s
Eaton Square has always been one of London’s most sought-after addresses, the jewel in the crown of Grosvenor’s Belgravia Estate
With the ground and first floors dedicated entirely to entertaining, there is a large dining room, functional bar area, open plan kitchen and a bright first floor formal reception room
Thurloe Square, Kensington: Six-bedroom terraced mansion on sale for £9.95million
This family home in Thurloe Square is in good condition and benefits from having a 37ft garden at the rear as well as a 172 sq ft roof terrace off the first-floor landing. It is currently on sale with Russell Simpson
The property has meticulous designs throughout, with this bathroom complete with his and her sinks, a large bath and a walk-in shower
The home is described by the estate agents as a grand six-bedroom Grade II listed Stucco fronted house offering exceptional entertaining space
The mansion has six bedrooms, including this beautiful suite offering incredible views onto the square outside via two large windows
Wilton Crescent Garden, Belgravia: Four-bedroom flat currently on sale for £7.76million
Occupying the raised ground and lower ground floors of this classic Belgravia, Grade II Listed building, the flat has been tastefully decorated with polished wood floors and boasts high ceilings and good proportions
Wilton Crescent was built in the early 19th century and has been home to royals, political leaders and celebrities ever since. It is thought to be Belgravia’s only Portland Stone crescent. Is is currently on sale with Henry & James
The heart of the home centres on the interconnecting kitchen, dining room and family sitting room on the lower ground floor (pictured here is the Gothic-inspired interior)
Kensington Square, Kensington: Five-bedroom house for sale for £6.85million
Entertaining guests at this property won’t be difficult thanks to the large kitchen and dining area, complete with French doors offering access to the rear garden
The home offers high quality accommodation including a beautiful first floor drawing room and second floor master bedroom suite both overlooking the square, while a stunning bathroom area comes with in-built star lights (shown)