The London Magazine January 2026 sample by The Chelsea Magazine Company

Luxury lifestyle, prime property

TAPESTRIES? WE UNPICK THE HOMES & INTERIORS ‘ONES TO WATCH’ OF 2026

INTERIORS TRENDS OF THE YEAR

THE WAY WE LIVE, THE LOOK OF OUR HOMES AND THE CHOICES WE MAKE OFFER FASCINATING INSIGHTS. ALEXANDRA GOSS HIGHLIGHTS INTERIOR DESIGN AREAS TO WATCH IN 2026: IN PARTICULAR THE REJECTION OF AI ‘PERFECTION’ AND A RETURN TO HANDCRAFTSMANSHIP AND COSY CHARACTER

&VAULTS valuables

ZOE DARE HALL VENTURES BELOW GROUND IN MAYFAIR TO DISCOVER WHERE LONDON’S HIGH NET WORTHS STORE THEIR PRIZED POSSESSIONS, FROM POK É MON CARDS TO GOLD

The Red Collection 2023

Release 40 Year Old Speyside single-malt scotch whisky, £18,000, selfridges.com

Aberlour 50 Year Old single-malt scotch whisky, £31,000, thewhiskyexchange.com

LIQUID ASSETS

AHEAD OF BURNS NIGHT, NIAMH COLLINS EXPLORES SOME OF SCOTLAND’S EXCEPTIONAL RARE WHISKIES

If you’re raising a crystal glass to the poetic musings of Robert Burns on the 25th, it couldn’t be more tastefully ﬁ lled than with the honey-coloured liquid of Glenlivet’s latest release: the second edition in The Eternal Collection, The Glenlivet 56 Year Old. Utilising bespoke seasoned sherry casks from Spain, Kevin Balmforth, The Glenlivet Cask Master has crafted a liquid that boasts rich notes of poached plums and sticky dates with a decadent palate of blackberries, ripe banana and cherry compote with a ﬁ nish of luxurious dark chocolate.

The singular whisky lot sold for £62,500 at Sotheby’s, featuring an exclusive pure gold plated decanter and crowned with a 137.73ct YAG Paraíba tourmaline simulant lab-grown gemstone. Aside from its iconic proﬁ le, the sculptural display of 3D-printed heather gold branches that frame the bottle are the

work of Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard of Fredrikson Stallard.

On arrival to the Glenlivet estate, the London-based, British-Swedish art designers were struck by Speyside’s rugged landscape, and in particular the heather which resembled “incredible sinuous, silver-like rivers”. “We learned this was from a process called ‘muirburn’, in which every few years the heather is burned to promote growth, and in time the branches in the sunlight reﬂect a beautiful silvery surface”. Such elegance is captured in the ﬁ nal delicate design.

Limited to only 60 bottles worldwide, the 56 -year-old single malt is one of the ﬁ nest rare whiskies to add to a connoisseur’s cabinet.

Jonny Fowle, Global Head of Spirits at Sotheby’s said: “Even as the auction market steadies for ﬁ ne and rare whisky, demand for truly exceptional liquid remains unwavering

– and Chivas Brothers is uniquely positioned to meet that appetite with whiskies that are deﬁ ned by scarcity, provenance and artistry.”

For spirit lovers still searching for their Burns Night tipple, other notable whiskies turning heads in this luxury market are Arberlour’s fi rst-ever 50-year-old single malt, matured under Master Distillier Graeme Cruickshank. With only 20 bottles available worldwide (£31,000, thewhiskyexchange.com), it ’s one of the most exceptional and exclusive fi ne spirits launched in Arbelour’s fruitful history. Another highly regarded bottle is The Macallan’s The Red Collection 2023 Release 40 Year Old Speyside single-malt Scotch whisky (£18,000, selfridges.com). Also aged in sherry casks, its notes of roasted figs and orange marmalade make for a warming combination for the forthcoming new year. A cup o’ kindness indeed. L

The Glenlivet 56 Year Old, £62,500 (at auction), theglenlivet.com

PEAK EXCITEMENT

Got your sights set on slopes? This new year, allow yourself to be whisked away on a European break that will relax and restore you for 2026

ERIRO, AUSTRIA

Accessible by cable car, the hotel has direct access to the Ehrwalder Alm ski area, and is the region’s only hotel with nine bedrooms. You’ll find ample cosiness in every room and suite, and enjoy being immersed in an authentic mountain experience. Skiers will delight in exploring the untouched trails, while tours and full-moon treks are also available. For those who want to retire from the slopes, Eriro provides ice baths and a creative studio (the Hantwerc Atelier), where local artisans lead pottery, woodcarving and painting classes.

Rooms start from £1,365 per night on an all-inclusive basis. eriro.at/en

HOTEL SALTUS, ITALY

Set amid the majestic Unesco World Heritage site, The Dolomites, the hotel invites guests to unwind and press pause. You’ll find grounding and reconnect with nature at this holistic retreat: floating above the tree tops, the Forest Spa has a hay sauna, steam room and treetop relaxation space. The team is able to tailor a bespoke routine for you, with activities such as Pilates, qi gong and meditation. Meanwhile, hikers can explore the vast grounds of the forest, and even partake in foraging. From €320 per night, including breakfast, hotel-saltus.com/en

AIRELLES VAL D’ISÈRE FRENCH ALPS, FRANCE

Composed of chalets and rooms, experience alpine magic at Val d’Isère, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park. There’s plenty of space for a party of eight in the self-contained Chalet Schluss, and guests can enjoy all of the hotel’s amenities, including the indulgent Airelles Spa by Guerlain, gourmet culinary offerings and dedicated staff. Rates for Chalet Schuss start from €10,000 (approx £8,409) per night, including all-inclusive service from staff and daily activities, airelles.com/en L

SNOW ESCAPE

ERIRO IN THE AUSTRIAN ALPS

SKY HIGH HOTEL SALTUS IN THE DOLOMITES

DRIFT AWAY

AIRELLES VAL D’ISÈRE IN FRANCE

COST OF THE

‘SILENT

ARCHITECTURE’ BANKSIDE SCHEME THE ROUND

(FOSTER + PARTNERS)

page: For sale at £44m via Knight

terrace with a verdant pergola, dining space, bar and cold plunge pool Above: This

– available through Dexters – has been immaculately renovated to maintain period features,

a priority, with the use of cameras linked to mobiles and PDAs extended to include internal surveillance,” comments Rosy Khalastchy at Beauchamp Estates in St John’s Wood. Aston Chase’s Mark Pollack provides 72-74 Hamilton Terrace as an example of the “highly secure homes” that are sought after by wealthy downsizers with an international portfolio of homes. And Andrew Clark, founder of HDesign, Hamptons’ new in-house design consultancy, says panic rooms, advanced 24-hour surveillance and fingerprint recognition are must-haves for some HNWIs now.

before. Value will be judged more carefully than ever with London weighed against other world cities, as every purchase is questioned in terms of quality, longevity and lifestyle.”

SIGHT

“OVERSEAS BUYERS HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP”

This could also be the year that the greatest of feels – confidence – returns to the market, says Becky Fatemi at Sotheby’s International Realty. “We could see decisions start to flow again, but with far sharper scrutiny than

We’ll regain our 20-20 vision in 2026, thinks Harrods Estates’ Michael Harte. “Now that clarity has finally arrived, pent-up demand above £6m is starting to resurface as buyers abandon the wait-and-see approach and refocus on securing the best homes.”

International buyers will be looking for hallmarks of quintessentially British quality too. “When they choose London, it’ ll be because the home offers something they can’t replicate elsewhere. What that means is real British architecture, character and sense of

place rather than anonymous ‘global luxury’,” says Fatemi.

Andrew Clark agrees: “Overseas buyers have fallen in love with British craftsmanship, embracing bespoke joinery, such as handcrafted cabinetry, safes and lavish well-lit wardrobes over off-the-shelf solutions.”

Eye-catching art is on the rise too – such as at The Capston in Embassy Gardens –marketed by Savills – where residents can enjoy a curated collection of sculpture, painting and photography in the Artists’ Parlour.

TASTE

The ingredient of the year is lion’s mane. Whether you have it in your drinks, gummies or in powdered form, you can’t escape the benefits of mushrooms. But what does that have to do with property though? It’s all about wellness, which has entered a new stratosphere in luxury property, as wealthy buyers dedicate their time to biohacking their way to optimal health and longevity.

LAVISH LODGINGS Previous

Frank, the five-bedroom Chelsea Barracks penthouse apartment boasts a wraparound sky

rather grand £3.75m five-bedroom Victorian family home in Teddington

alongside all of the highest spec modern conveniences

with apartments for sale via

sale through Marsh & Parsons, is ideal for buyers

The HiLight, Ghelamco’s towering new development in Battersea – with apartments on sale through Savills and JLL – is leading the way in embedding wellness in every aspect of residents’ experience. It has partnered with a dizzy ing array of life-enhancing brands, including mushroom drinks brands Dirtea and Muush as well as nootropics experts Manapura, to turn residents’ wellness terrace into a haven for self-enhancement.

Taste is knowing what you like too – and turnkey, lateral space will continue to win over the big spenders this year. Large, open-plan kitchen/family rooms – ideally in calming, feminine tones, says designer Claire Sà from De Rosee Sa – will “remain highly desirable”, adds Rosy Khalastchy. Sustainability is also ﬁ rmly on the HNWI radar. “There’s a great deal of interest in homes with eco-friendly and energy-e cient features, such as integrated solar panels and EV charging points,” says James Staite of Dexters Marylebone. And home studies and o ces are “very much still

the rage,” says HDesign’s Andrew Clark. Turn an outbuilding into part-o ce, part-gym and you’re on to a winner.

SMELL

Luxury developers know the power of a good scent to set the scene and sell the lifestyle the moment you walk in – and 100 Kensington, the tallest tower in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, is among the new schemes to have a signature scent, in this case by the heritage British ﬁ rm Charles Farris.

Smell is also good for our health. Wellness, again. Aromatherapy specialist Moods will be wafting its way around The HiLight.

But when it comes to sni ng out opportunities this year, where should you look? Broadway, baby, thinks JLL’s Alex Carr. Northacre’s The Broadway brings ﬁve-star homes, retail and restaurants to the former New Scotland Yard. Now there’s the planned hotel conversion of TfL’s Grade I-listed HQ at 55 Broadway and rumours of Formula 1

moving into 40 Broadway. “St James’s Park and the surrounding neighbourhood is going through a renaissance with some of its most notable buildings being reimagined,” says Carr. Hamptons’ Daniel Elliott has value in mind with West Kensington. New schemes include 149 Hammersmith Road, which launches in January and has “competitively-priced” studio, one- and two-bed ﬂats. “Historically the area has been seen as relatively low value compared to neighbouring Kensington, but with substantial new developments in the pipeline and a new live music venue to open in Olympia, this is an area worth watching,” says Elliott. Those with a nose for value and a love of leafy suburbs should head to Beckenham, suggests John D. Wood & Co’s Kesha FossSmith. South-east London’s green villages o er far better value than prime west London equivalents, but high-performing state schools, transport links, parks and a lively, local high street means “Beckenham is hitting the sweet spot,” says Foss-Smith. L

TRENDY TURNKEYS Above, clockwise from top left: Marketed by Savills, The Capston is known for its art collection and Japanese-inspired garden; The HiLight in Battersea,

Savills and JLL, oﬀers residents a wellness rooftop sanctuary; this £2.4m three-bed Notting Hill mews house, on

seeking an eﬀortless move; if its serenity you seek, Bankside development The Round has “binaural soundscapes”