London’s Chelsea Flower Show may be a visual feast for the capital’s residents and visitors, but those seeking to set down roots in its neighbourhood will need deep pockets.
According to new analysis from leading London estate agency Foxtons, homes within the SW3 postcode – home to the Royal Hospital Chelsea – carry a staggering 70% price premium compared to the wider borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
With the prestigious horticultural event in full swing this week, drawing global attention to the elegance of urban gardening and floral design, Foxtons has taken the opportunity to highlight the property market dynamics surrounding London’s most beloved green spaces.
The agency, which claims the top spot in London for sales and lettings, has revealed how proximity to some of the city’s historic gardens can still offer relative affordability – despite London’s overall high house prices.
MOST EXPENSIVE
Homes in SW3 average £2.073 million, well above the already lofty borough-wide average of £1.219 million. Kensington and Chelsea, long established as the capital’s most expensive borough, only deepens the contrast.
However, outside of SW3, Foxtons’ analysis identifies a dozen other postcodes boasting historic or landmark gardens where house prices fall below their surrounding borough averages – offering buyers an opportunity to secure greenery without the ultra-premium price tag.
Notably, Richmond’s KT8 postcode, home to Hampton Court Palace and its famous gardens, emerges as London’s most affordable garden-adjacent location. Here, average house prices sit at £597,818—26% below the borough average of £812,034.
Other relatively affordable garden areas include:
- Regent’s Park (NW1, Westminster) – Home to Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens, with an average price of £848,433, 11% below the wider borough.
- Kew Gardens (TW9, Richmond) – Averaging £749,146, or 8% less than the borough’s mean.
- Kyoto Garden, Holland Park (W11, Kensington and Chelsea) – Almost at parity, with prices just 0.3% below the borough average.
Yet not all gardens bring financial relief. Victoria Embankment Gardens, St James’s Park, and Hampstead’s Hill Gardens carry premiums of 60% or more compared to their borough averages, reflecting the enduring value placed on prestigious central green space.
FANTASTIC TIME
Jean Jameson, Chief Sales Officer at Foxtons, says: “The Chelsea Flower Show is a fantastic time of year when a small part of the capital bursts into bloom, signalling that summer is well and truly on the way.
“However, purchasing a property within arm’s reach of the event itself is likely to require a significant premium, even when compared to the already high average cost of a home in Kensington and Chelsea.
“The good news is that the capital boasts a wide variety of historic gardens and, whilst living within close proximity to a great outdoor space is always likely to require a bigger budget, some of these fantastic green spaces are actually home to an average house price below that of their wider respective boroughs.”
As Londoners embrace urban nature amid ongoing housing challenges, the data highlights that beauty, heritage, and even a touch of horticultural splendour can still be found without paying Chelsea prices.
Earlier this week Property Soup revealed how Hamptons had scooped a Gold medal (main picture) for the Komorebi Garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, a Container Garden designed by Masa Taniguchi – an RHS first timer.
