The boundaries of Prime Central London (PCL), which includes the exclusive districts of Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Marylebone and Kensington & Chelsea, have long been established, however, the latest data from leading independent estate agents, Finlay Brewer, has revealed a shift west in the buying habits of PCL stalwarts.

In the past 12 months, 34% of house sales in the Prime West London villages of Brook Green, Brackenbury and Askew have been to buyers moving from the Kensington & Chelsea, as they search for substantial, big-boned family homes with large gardens, as well as access to some of the best private schools in the UK.

Commenting on the trend, Director of Finlay Brewer, Paul Cosgrove, said: “Brook Green has long been one of central London’s best kept secrets. In our charming pocket of west London, we have a collection of prime neighbourhoods with large Victorian houses that are perfect for families. We also have access to some of the UK’s best private schools, including the hugely successful St Paul’s Girls’ School, which has again been rated as the number one private school in the UK.

“With key Prime Central London areas seeing record prices in recent years we are starting to see people moving to Brook Green, as they look to get more for their money without compromising on quality of living or access to top-rated schools. We feel it’s safe to say that as buying habits shift, the borders of PCL have expanded from the edge of Holland Park to the prime villages of Brook Green, Brackenbury and Askew.”

The average price of the houses sold to Kensington buyers is £2.5 million, with the majority ranging between 3-5 bedrooms and benefitting from access to spacious private gardens. This now comes at a premium in Kensington where 3-5 bedroom terraced homes average £4 million.

Typically, the attractiveness of Kensington and other PCL districts has been rooted in the quality of the homes in the area, privacy and security, as well as proximity to good schools. However, Brook Green, Brackenbury and Askew Village boast the best ratio of top-rated independent schools in London, whilst also benefitting from excellent housing stock, as well as a village community, with boutique shops, cafes and eateries.

Teresa Brewer, Co-Founder and Director of Finlay Brewer, said: “Brook Green, Brackenbury and Askew villages are unique in that they are leafy residential pockets on the outskirts of the traditionally considered ‘Prime Central London’. With areas such as Holland Park, Kensington and Chelsea within easy reach, our patch is popular with buyers looking to cash in on recent increases in value or those looking for an area of London that will offer a village lifestyle, whilst enjoying the amenities of city life i.e. excellent schools, transport links and other amenities.”

Finlay Brewer is a prime estate agent predominantly covering the three villages of Brook Green, Brackenbury and Askew. As leaders in the local market, Finlay Brewer sold the most properties in the area in 2021, taking 25% of the market share, as well as selling 75% (9/12) of all properties priced over £2 million and 100% of all homes over £3 million.