Category: Press

Britons Fleeing Dubai for London Rentals

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Britons who settled in Dubai attracted by its perceived safety are contacting luxury property agents to arrange emergency £5,000-a-week rentals in London, writes David Byers in The Times. Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, shares his insights.

Large pink blossom tree next to white period houses in London's Notting Hill

As property agents report at 15% increase in enquiries from the UAE, Britons who relocated to Dubai are anxious to return to the UK, reports David Byers in The Times. Will Watson, Head of The Buying Solution, and currently acting on behalf of three Dubai-based clients, offers his observations.

Read the article here.

The Return of Service Bells

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Once an integral part of the orderly running of a stately home, service bells fell out of use with the dawn of modern technology. But as our Partner Mark Lawson shares with Lucy Clayton in the Financial Times, these once anachronistic artefacts are enjoying a revival.

From summoning a breakfast tray to requesting a nightcap, service bells have been used since the mid-18th century to ensure the smooth running of stately homes and large houses. As Lucy Clayton reports in the Financial Times, they are now being installed as part of contemporary house renovations, both for aesthetic and practical reasons. Mark Lawson, our Partner for the Southern Counties & High Value Residential & Rural Estates, shares his insights.

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United States of the Cotswolds

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

Some 13 per cent of prime sales in the Cotswolds in 2025 were to Americans, report Melissa York and David Byers in The Times. Our Partner and Head of the Cotswold Harry Gladwin shared his insights.

Sarah Frances Kelley double fronted Georgian house Cotswolds
Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

The Cotswolds is continuing to see a surge of American buyers – and the region is taking note. Melissa York and David Byers writing in The Times explore how the area is adapting to their tastes, with our Partner Harry Gladwin highlighting why the Cotswolds appeals so strongly: top schools, beautiful homes, and lifestyle destinations like Estelle Manor and Soho Farmhouse.

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A New Chapter for London’s St James’s

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

Long associated with aristocratic tradition, St James’s is entering a new chapter as major redevelopment projects transform a historic corner of central London. Head of The Buying Solution Will Watson discusses the appeal of the area with journalist Paul Carey at UAE newspaper The National

While known for its royal palaces and gentlemen’s clubs, St James’s has a more low-key history of innovation, including housing what is considered London’s first skyscraper. That building, the Grade I-listed 55 Broadway above St James’s Park station, is now being redeveloped by Blue Orchid Hotels into a luxury hotel designed by the architects behind The Ned and The Old War Office.

The project forms part of a trio of nearby redevelopments – alongside The Broadway and 102 Petty France – that are revitalising the district between Victoria and Westminster and helping it emerge from the shadow of neighbouring Mayfair. Will Watson explains more about St James’s appeal and the property prices it commands.

Read the article here.

Seeking Value? Discover the North Cotswolds

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

While the Cotswolds’ famed ‘golden triangle’ often grabs the headlines, the lesser-known ‘Northwolds’ – the northernmost villages of the Cotswolds – is where buyers can still find genuine value. Writing in The Standard, local resident Nicky Rampley-Clarke explores the area’s growing appeal, with expert insight from our partner Harry Gladwin, Head of the Cotswolds region.

North Cotswolds Northamptonshire landscape near Banbury ©Getty Images

Having relocated to the north Cotswolds from Tooting – via a spell in suburban Surrey – writer Nicky Rampley-Clarke reflects in The Standard on the appeal and relative value of the so-called ‘Northwolds’: a triangle of Oxfordshire countryside framed by Shipston-on-Stour, Deddington and Banbury.

Within easy reach of Burford, Kingham and Stow-on-the-Wold, yet developing a buzzy social scene and identity of its own, the area offers a compelling alternative to the traditional Cotswold hotspots. As our Partner Harry Gladwin notes, values here can sit 10–15 per cent below comparable properties in the more established prime villages – without sacrificing access, charm or community.

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The Cyber-Attack Disrupting the PCL Property Sector

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

November’s IT breach across three prime London authorities continues to cause problems across the property sector, reports Prime Resi. Our London Partner, Philip Eastwood, is among the capital’s top property brokers, lawyers and developers sharing his insight with the journal.

Georgian terrace in Central London, England. Image: Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

The breach – affecting IT systems in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, City Council and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham – left planning portals and local authority search systems inaccessible, and its impact continues to be felt across the industry.

Philip discusses the knock-on effects while urging that while it is “certainly a very irritating fly in the ointment,” there are still plenty of deals to be done.

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How Multigenerational Living Is Shaping Property Searches

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

With 3.6 million people aged between 20 and 24 still living with their parents in the UK, often due to financial strain, growing numbers of parents require their home to comfortably accommodate their adult children, reports Melissa York in The Sunday Times Magazine. Our Head of the Cotswolds Harry Gladwin shares his insight on the trend in his region.

Our Partner and Cotswolds buying agent, Harry Gladwin, speaks to The Sunday Times Magazine about the impact of multigenerational living on property searches in the Cotswolds region. In particular, he identifies a movement towards substantial independent secondary accommodation, rather than simply an annexe.

Read the article here.

How Celebrity Neighbours Can Impact a Country Village

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

The Cotswolds has become almost as well known for its famous residents as for its beautiful honey-stoned buildings and bucolic countryside. The arrival of a celebrity in a village – here and elsewhere – and the added security and heightened media interest that inevitably follows, often causes a stir, reports Arabella Youens in The Telegraph. Yet, a famous neighbour can bring far more to an area than just designer wellies, shares our Head of the Cotswolds Harry Gladwin.

Sarah Frances Kelley for The Buying Solution

From Jeremy Clarkson to DJ Calvin Harris, the rumoured arrival of Beyonce and Jay Z, even the recent visit by US Vice President JD Vance; the Cotswolds has become a magnet for the rich and famous. Yet our Partner and Cotswolds Buying Agent, Harry Gladwin, explains in this report in The Telegraph that the long-established culture of discretion among locals has made this a very welcoming place for famous residents and visitors, and their positive impact shouldn’t be ignored.

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How London’s Wealthiest Home Buyers are Rethinking Security

Posted on by Rosalind Sack

Despite reports that Tom Cruise has left his London home over security fears, Spear’s magazine suggests that rising crime in the capital is not prompting a mass exodus. Instead, it is influencing how buyers in London’s wealthiest postcodes assess both property and personal security when choosing a home. Featuring insight from our London Partner, Philip Eastwood.

Exclusive Central London homes close to Regent’s Park.

Whether prioritising homes on secure streets or collectively funding private security, crime levels in London are influencing high-value property searches, reports Christian Maddock in Spear’s magazine. Featuring insight from our highly experienced Partner and London specialist, Philip Eastwood, the report explores why rising crime rates in the capital are prompting HNWs to seek enhanced security options rather than leave the city altogether.

Read the article here.

Has the Cotswolds Become a Global Property Brand?

Posted on by Jessica Jonzen

As wealthy buyers from the US, Asia and the Middle East continue to acquire manor houses and large estates in the Cotswolds, John Gapper reports for the Financial Times on how the region has become a global brand akin to the Hamptons in Long Island, and agents are competing for fees. Harry Gladwin, our Partner and Head of the Cotswolds shared his personal insights.

Picturesque Cotswold village of Castle Combe, England

The Cotswolds’ iconic ‘golden triangle’ – stretching from Chipping Norton to Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford – is fast becoming a magnet for Ultra High Net Worth international buyers seeking historic manor houses and sprawling estates. As John Gapper reports for the Financial Times, the region’s allure now rivals elite destinations such as the Hamptons, attracting wealthy clients from the US, Asia and the Middle East. Harry Gladwin, our Partner and Head of the Cotswolds, shares his expert insights into this booming market, and the rise in agents operating in the area.

Read the article here.