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KENSINGTON CHURCH STREET
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Rupert Merrison’s Kensington Kensington’s beautiful red brick mansion blocks, boutiques and wine bars
Finish this sentence: ‘You know you’re in Kensington Palace Gardens Terrace, which is a cherry tree lined when…’ street adjacent to Kensington Palace Gardens and …you feel as if Kensington Gardens is your back garden.
What’s the one shop you can’t live without? A lot of people rely on Whole Foods Market in the Barkers building on Kensington High Street to get everything they need under one roof. It has a great juice bar that does all kinds of healthy concoctions you can just grab and go.
What’s your advice for Kensington sellers in the current market? Contrary to some of the headlines, there are plenty of buyers around, so don’t hold back if you do want to sell. We’ve had some record-breaking months in the second half of the year – that’s not a quiet market. Sellers should ignore the naysayers and get some expert guidance from people who really know the area.
You’ve been here for 20 years, so you probably know prime central London better than most? I suppose so! I started with Dexters when we had just two offices 20 years ago. We have very detailed knowledge of Kensington and Chelsea, as well as Belgravia and Knightsbridge, so I run around a fair bit. The feedback is that people appreciate dealing with experts familiar with markets across the area, though for some people it’s W8 or nothing!
What are some of most popular roads in Kensington? There are so many beautiful roads and properties in Kensington. You have locations like the Phillimore Estate with its gorgeous stucco fronted homes tucked away behind Kensington High Street, and
home to some of the most expensive properties in the UK. Then there’s Kensington Court with its lateVictorian mansion blocks just behind the Barkers building. Our office is on Kensington Church Street which you could see as the jewel in Kensington’s crown. There are fabulous antiques shops, great restaurants and the famous Churchill Arms – the front is completely covered in a riot of vivid flowers.
What’s the outlook for 2017 around Kensington?
WE’VE HAD SOME RECORD-BREAKING MONTHS IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR – THAT’S NOT A QUIET MARKET
It’s really bright. Buyers from the UK and abroad still view London as a great place to invest, and Kensington has an enduring appeal that is likely to keep growing, along with property values. The rental market is also very busy.
What’s your favourite part of the day? We start early, which I like because walking through Kensington and Chelsea on a clear, bright morning when the sun’s glinting off the white stucco buildings is such a pleasure.
What are your favourite spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Aubaine is great for a healthy breakfast after the gym while you people watch on Kensington High Street. For lunch, also on the High Street, is the Ivy Kensington Brasserie which does British and international classics (and a great espresso martini, depending on what kind of lunch you’re having). Clarke’s on Church Street, which is a bit of a Kensington institution for lunch or dinner, specialises in serving British seasonal food and bread from its own bakery. After dark, head to the Kensington Wine Rooms – we do!
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Find Rupert and his team at: Dexters Kensington 64 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4DB 020 7067 2430
dexters.co.uk