Prime Is An Island: How the prime locations of London have evolved
Industry veterans William Carrington & Rupert des Forges tell the fascinating story of how London's premier postcodes have changed over the past few decades, and share their unique insight into the demands of today’s prime buyer...

Written by
William Carrington & Rupert des Forges
William Carrington, Chairman of LonRes & Rupert des Forges, Partner and Head of Prime Central London Developments, Knight Frank at
LonRes, Knight Frank
William Carrington co-founded LonRes.com in 2000. A subscription-only service providing real-time data for estate agents, relocation agents, valuers and surveyors operating in the London area, Lonres.com owns the largest archive of sales and lettings transactions in central London and further provides tailored data and research analytics to its customers. William is a director of CLEA Ltd, which publishes the London Magazine, and is a consultant to Boston Radford Chartered Surveyors. He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the central London residential market and is known to all of London’s best agents. He commutes to and from Northumberland every week.
Prime Central London ‘has now bottomed out’ – Savills
Back to work plans are boosting demand for town and city homes, says Savills, but the country house and coastal property markets are still riding high.
Super-prime recovery: £36.8bn is currently targeting London’s £10m+ property market
Infography: London's super-prime property market in seven charts.
By PrimeResi
New-build homes now account for over a third of London’s super-prime property sales
Resilient demand in the face of uncertainty has boosted new developments' £10m+ market share from 18% to 34% in the last two years, reports Knight Frank, as the super-rich prioritise security and hotel-grade…
By PrimeResi
Companies in this article
LonResMost read
Knight Frank cuts house price forecast; PCL set for -4% drop this year
'A combination of high supply & faltering confidence means we now expect slower UK house price growth this year & in 2026,' says research chief Tom Bill - with prime markets set for sharp declines.
By PrimeResi
London property ‘no longer a safe bet’, warns top wealth manager
'The London property boom is well and truly over,' declares Rathbones
By PrimeResi
Super-prime Notting Hill development opp seeks £12mn
Buyer sought for standout freehold property with "one of the most ambitious planning consents in the area".
£10mn price cut for trophy Knightsbridge penthouse
Ultra-prime residence at The Knightsbridge has been relaunched at £70mn.
‘A market in transition’: Inside London’s evolving luxury resi development scene
New report reveals how policy, branding & global demand are reshaping the next phase of the capital’s ultra-prime development cycle.
Indie estate agency Wilfords branches out in SW London
Boutique firm adds to its growing network with a new base close to Clapham Common.
In Pictures: Inside Finchatton’s new Georgian-inspired country estate project
Super-prime designer-developer lifts the lid on its latest creation - a 22-acre private estate in the Hampshire countryside.
‘A fundamental reshaping of the global wealth landscape’: Europe re-emerges as a prime destination for the super-rich
'What we’re witnessing is more than just a demographic shift,' says Knight Frank, as the firm reveals who is buying what, where, and why...
By PrimeResi
Behind the Schemes: Crafting a family-friendly pied-à-terre at Chelsea Barracks
Rebecca Hughes Interiors lifts the lid on a recent project for a returning client at the super-prime scheme in SW1.
Native Land’s 50-storey Opus tops out ahead of schedule
Developer marks construction milestone at forthcoming luxury apartment scheme on London's South Bank.
LATEST ARTICLES
Industry Reactions: Central bank holds interest rates at 4.0%
The Bank of England 'remains focused on squeezing out any existing or emerging persistent inflationary pressures'.
By PrimeResi
In Pictures: Lamar unveils ‘ultra-luxury’ Madrid apartments amid €250mn European rollout
Developer debuts 22 Patricia Urquiola-designed residences with five-star amenities in the Spanish capital.
London buying agency to host top UK school headteachers at NYC event
"The link between elite schools and property decisions is clearer than ever," says Eccord boss Jo Eccles, as figures show the number of US pupils at UK schools has jumped by over a quarter since 2020.
London rental supply stays ‘strong’ as demand slips
Foxtons registered 13% fewer would-be tenants in August this year than last.
By PrimeResi
Middleton Advisors adds to buying team
Prime property firm brings in new recruit to boost its coverage across Central and North London.