Best places to invest in London

Covid-19 restrictions in the UK were officially lifted on 18 March 2022, including all restrictions on international arrivals. Well received globally, we are seeing a significant rise in overseas visitors travelling back to the capital.

For investors, it is the news they have been waiting for 18 months, with international students and corporate clients being welcomed back to London. Many companies are also encouraging their employees to return to the workplace, which is keeping our 19 offices across London busy with rental viewings – the highest in decades.

This wave of interest and lease of life has piqued the interest of our existing landlords and new prospects to revisit their intention to further invest in London. If you too are interested in the best places to invest in London, here are our top choices for your consideration:

1. Acton Town, borough of Ealing

If you are a nature lover, then you would likely enjoy living in Acton, in the Borough of Ealing. Acton is a large residential suburb, home to the famous Gunnersbury Park, with lakes and a former family mansion which is now a local museum – It also houses one of London’s finest gastronomy experiences.

Acton Town is the next hotspot in Borough of Ealing for investors to look at. A hybrid planning application for the regeneration in Acton Town has been submitted with an outline of mixed-use development comprising of residential, flexible commercial and retail spaces, community space, an energy centre and public realm.

Additionally, Acton offers almost unparalleled connectivity to all parts of London; serviced by four Underground Train Lines, namely the Piccadilly line, the District line (Acton Town), the Central line (North Acton), the Overground line (South Acton) and the upcoming Elizabeth line (Acton Main Line) in Summer 2022.

The Borough of Ealing continues to be one of the best value for property rentals and prices in London. According to research by CBRE, house and rental prices are still affordable in Ealing, remaining below the average for London despite its upmarket reputation. The forecast growth for house prices is estimated at 24% over the next 5 years, which is higher than the London average of 19%.

Find out more on where you can invest in Acton.

2. Colindale & Hendon, borough of Barnet

Colindale and Hendon are two of the most popular neighborhoods in Northwest London, perfect for homeowners seeking the best of London’s lifestyle whilst enjoying the tranquility of open green spaces that “suburban countryside living” could offer. These neighborhoods are in the Borough of Barnet, which are currently benefiting from one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, which expects to deliver 27,000 new homes and creating 30,000 new jobs.

With the abundance of opportunity, young families are moving to this borough due to its richness of OFSTED rated outstanding schools, standing at 33% for primary schools and 36% for secondary schools – exceeding the London average of 27%.

Retail and dining experiences are second to none, with residents spoilt for choice, from local hole in the wall cafes, to international cuisines such as at the Bang Bang Oriental Food Hall and Brent Cross Shopping Centre.

Find out more on where you can invest in Colindale & Hendon.

3. Royal Docks, borough of Newham

Royal Docks is the echelon that will transform the Borough of Newham into the hotspot for tourism and new business today, with more than £8bn ($10.5bn) being invested into the Royal Docks over the next 20 years, changing the landscape of East London – offering a modern and new-age twist on living, working and investing in London.

It is a strategically important area owned by the Mayor of London (who has set up a swanky new office on site) as the Royal Docks is the Capital’s only Enterprise Zone – part of the government’s industry strategy, with designated areas that provide tax breaks and other business incentives. Also known as the engine of the UK economy, Royal Docks will be a hive of bright minds, strategizing and looking to attract substantial foreign investment into the country.

In recent years, developers have secured key sites in the Royal Docks area to redevelop more than 7 million square feet of commercial space, which would create approximately create 100,000 new jobs and develop 30,000 new homes in the area.

The Borough of Newham is dedicated to investing in its young and dynamic population, and ensuring that the regeneration improves education, employment and business opportunities for the existing residents. It’s no surprise that analysts are predicting that house price growth is expected to be 20% over the next 5 years, which exceeds the London average of 19%.

Find out more on where you can invest in the Royal Docks.

4. Plumstead and Woolwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich

Plumstead is a priority regeneration area for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, and only a stones throw from the thriving neighborhood of Woolwich, drawing in substantial resources from both the public and private sector to bring forward positive change in the area.

The regeneration will bring in new residential, commercial and public amenities and infrastructure, building on top of the strong sense of community in the area. What’s exciting is that there’s a collective determination to revitalize the social scene, with street food markets, independent restaurants and a quirky art scene developing in the area, attracting a multicultural population intent on expressing the best of what multi-cultural Britain has to offer.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is also home to a myriad of attractions that contribute to its UNESCO World Heritage site status, weaving a rich tapestry of history and culture to keep visitors and residents alike constantly entertained.

What’s more is that the financial centre of London, Canary Wharf, is mere minutes away, attracting young financial services professionals and arguably favorable tenants given their intention to kick-start their careers and desire to be close to the city.

All these factors give rise to favorable conditions, with a younger than average population, with 60% under 40 and noticeably lower than average London house prices of GBP516,000. Current expectations are for housing in this Borough to rise by 22%, whilst rents are predicted to rise by 16% over the next 5 years

Find out more on where you can invest in Plumstead and Woolwich.

The defining factors that led me to conclude that the above areas are your best next investment choice in London are simple; 1) Investment & Capital Injection 2) Sustainable Regeneration Masterplan approved by the local authority 3) Young, Diverse, Ambitious and Bright Population 4) Fantastic Transport Infrastructure 5) Favorable projections of House Price & Rental Growth that exceed London average forecast growth.

Looking for like-minded investors in Hong Kong, you’d be also pleased to know that they were amongst the top investors in Newham (24%), Greenwich (22%), Barnet (15%) and Ealing (8%), so if these defining factors tick your investment requirements in London, please reach out for more information and visit www.benhams.com.hk or write to us at enquiryhk@benhams.com