Location: London

After nearly six years in the doldrums, there are strong indications that the UK's regional markets are on the road to recovery.

Fears of a Labour win in 2015's General Election, and the subsequent likelihood of a mansion tax being installed, are already putting off some super-rich foreign buyers, according to W.A.Ellis.

The sealed bid is making a comeback in London as a "severe shortage of homes" drives bidding frenzies for family homes and Zone One one-beds, according to Cluttons.

Average property prices in prime central London hurtled through the £1.5m barrier in May, according new research by London Central Portfolio.

So it turns out that not many people had heard of "Tyburnia" until a few days ago.

Gladrags and wallets at the ready: It's the Masterpiece Midsummer Party in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care tonight (2nd July).

The first new development to regenerate the much vaunted Nine Elms area around Battersea Power Station - St James's 802-unit Riverlight scheme - was topped out this morning by none other than Boris Johnson.

The West End, traditionally home to Topshop, traders and tourists rather than real people, is swiftly turning into a residential neighbourhood according to the latest from Mayfair specialist Wetherell.

One property in particular illustrates how the West End is being transformed back into a super-prime residential address, according to Wetherell's new West End Residential Developments Report.

Berkeley Group's St James arm has done a deal for 10 acres of White City, buying the site from Marks & Spencer for around £100m.

Prime central London prices have gone up by 3.7% in the first half of this year, with June seeing a 0.4% hop, according to the latest from Knight Frank.

In only ten years, the Economist has revised its definition of Africa from “the hopeless continent” to the “hopeful continent”.