Which are the UK's most expensive streets to live on?

Updated: 02 May 2024

It should come as no surprise that London, a city famed for being home to arguably the most popular royal family, also has some of the costliest addresses in the world. This network of streets epitomizes not just luxury living but also price tags that will leave your jaw open—unless you’re a multi-millionaire.

In this article, we will go over the most expensive roads in the UK. We’ll explore the factors that contribute to the extravagant property values of these luxurious roads. Understanding their dynamics can provide valuable insight on London’s property market, benefiting real estate investors, professionals, and enthusiasts.

What are the most expensive roads in the UK?

As expected, the top ten streets with the highest property values in the country are located in London. And if you’d like to live on the priciest street in the capital, you will need to pay a staggering amount of £20,347,000. That is now the average cost of a house in Grosvenor Square.

Below is the list, published by mortgage lender Halifax, of the most expensive streets in London:

Top ten most expensive streets in London according to Halifax

1. Grosvenor Square

Average property cost: £20,347,000

Grosvenor Square takes the top spot on the list of most expensive roads in London. It is the second largest garden square in central London—with a garden space of almost 2.5 hectares—closely following Russell Square. The name “Grosvenor” came from the first Duke of Westminster, Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, the third Marquess of Westminster during the 19th century. Fun fact: the current Duke of Westminster also shares Hugh’s name, Hugh Richard Louis Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster.

Grosvenor Square can be found at the heart of Mayfair, the district that currently holds the title of having the most expensive postcode in the UK.

The Georgian architecture style is prevalent in several of the most remarkable buildings in Grosvenor Square. The design of these structures draws much inspiration from Greek and Roman architecture. Below are some of Grosvenor’s Square’s most notable buildings:

• the 5-star London Marriot Hotel
• the Biltmore Mayfair Hotel
• the Chancery Rosewood, the redesigned building of the Embassy of the United States
• Macdonald House
• former residence of Raine, Countess Spencer

2. Clarendon Road

Average property cost: £19,963,000

Coming in to take the silver medal is Clarendon Road. It is in West London in the Notting Hill district. Clarendon Road extends south to north, originating in Holland Park Avenue. This street in the high-end borough of Kensington and Chelsea is also home to many of the capital’s prized communal gardens.

Clarendon Road got its name from the 4th Earl of Clarendon, George William Frederick Villiers. He was Lord Privy Seal during the street’s construction.

The structures and properties within this road vary in design. For instance, some buildings are framed with magnificent Corinthian pilasters. The best example is one the most beautiful buildings at the corner of Portland Road: the former Clarendon Hotel (No. 85 at the current house numbering system of Clarendon).

While some—like the above-mentioned old Clarendon hotel—have touches of Palladian architecture, other houses are Gothic in style. The high late Victorian design can also be observed in several structures.

3. Knightsbridge

Average property cost: £19,949,000

Situated in Central London, Knightsbridge is one of two global commercial centres in London, the other being West End. The name given to the third costliest street in London, Knightsbridge, means "bridge of the young men or retainers".

A lot of UK’s high-end fashion shops as well as international luxury clothing labels can be found in the area, including the famous department stores Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

Alongside being world-renowned as a retail district, Knightsbridge is also a residential one. House prices in this street are known to rank among the world's highest property values. In 2021, a flat in One Hyde Park was deemed the most expensive as it held a whopping price of £175 million. It is not surprising that some of the wealthiest personalities locally and internationally have resided in the area.

Want to discover the best things to do in Knightsbridge? Watch this:

4. Phillimore Gardens

Average property cost: £19,113,000

Following at number four is Kensington’s Phillimore Gardens in West London. This street extends from north to south, more or less, from Duchess of Bedford's Walk to Kensington High Street. Every house on the west side of this street has its back facing Holland Park Avenue. During the 18th century, the Phillimore family acquired the area and constructed this prestigious road.

In 2022, Phillimore Gardens was crowned the most expensive street in the UK with skyrocketing house prices that averaged £23.8m.

Also, Phillimore Gardens was home to quite a few distinguished individuals consisting of historical figures, celebrities, and other influential icons such as:

• Sir William Dunn, 1st Baronet, of Lakenheath
• James Manning, who was the husband of Kensington Society’s founder in 1865, Charlotte Manning
• David Beckham, former English professional footballer and Victoria Beckham, fashion designer and television personality
• Simon Cowell, also a television personality
• Robbie Williams, English singer and songwriter

5. Ilchester Place

Average property cost: £17,678,000

Fifth on the list is Ilchester Place, a street in Holland Park Avenue. Like Phillimore Gardens, it is also on the west side of the capital in Kensington. Stretching westward from Abbotsbury Road, Ilchester Place curves to the south, intersecting with Melbury Road.

This affluent street was previously named Holland Lane for its proximity to Holland Park. On the northern part of Ilchester Place, several residential properties are directly across the wide green space.

Residents and casual visitors alike can enjoy outdoor activities like:

• stroll around the picturesque Japanese garden in Holland Park
• play sports at the Holland Park Golf School and the Holland Park Tennis Courts
• do workout at the Exercise Park (features free machines and equipment)
• eat at the Belvedere Restaurant or the Holland Park café

6. Grosvenor Crescent

Average property cost: £16,397,000

At number six of the most expensive roads in London is Grosvenor Crescent, which is within the prestigious Belgravia neighborhood of London. It extends from the edge of Grosvenor Place to the northeast intersection of Belgrave Square. This opulent street is famed for having several elegant townhouses that are styled in Georgian architecture. It is also a few steps away from prominent landmarks which include:

• Hyde Park
• The Peninsula London
• St. Peter's Church in Eaton Square
• Buckingham Palace
• Screen at Hyde Park Corner Entrance - Decimus Burton

Foreign embassies can be found near Grosvenor Crescent:

• Embassy of Belgium
• Luxembourg Embassy
• Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
• Singapore High Commission
• Malaysian High Commission
• Embassy of Argentina
• Embassy of Ireland, Great Britain

In 2017, Grosvenor Crescent secured the top spot as the UK's most expensive residential street.

7. Ashburton Place

Average property cost: £15,048,000

At the seventh spot, we have the City of Westminster’s Ashburton Place in Mayfair, Central London. Many posh hotels are close to Ashburton Place. Some of them are:

• The Ritz London
• The Washington Mayfair Hotel
• Flemings Mayfair Hotel
• The May Fair, A Radisson Collection Hotel
• The Mayfair Townhouse
• 1 Hotel Mayfair
• 10 Curzon Street by Mansley
• The Chapter - Mayfair Residences

In addition, luxury car enthusiasts may find the Porsche Centre Mayfair just around the corner of this exclusive street. Now aside from several townhouses, hotels, and restaurants, this upscale site is also near multiple open green spaces like:

• The Green Park
• St. James's Park
• St. James’s Square
• Constitution Hill Memorial Garden
• Hyde Park
• Berkeley Square

Hyde Park is one of the many green spaces near Ashburton Place, one of the most expensive streets in London.

8. The Little Boltons

Average property cost: £14,925,000

The Little Boltons at Chelsea, Central London, takes the eighth position among London’s priciest streets. This road trails closely behind the average house price of Ashburton Place. Additionally, The Little Boltons is adjacent to Redcliffe Square and meets Tregunter Road at a corner. St. Mary The Boltons, an ancient Anglican parish church in the early Victorian era, can be found near this prestigious street.

There are many places in The Little Boltons where tourists and residents can try dishes of the highest standard in a variety of cuisines:

• Kings Mediterranean
• La Pappardella London
• Il Trillo Ristorante & Giardino
• Mestizo Restaurant & Margarita Bar
• Stecca, an Italian restaurant
• Margaux, a French restaurant
• Mamalu Restaurant
• Cacciari's South Kensington

9. Chepstow Villas

Average property cost: £14,775,000

At no. 9 is Chepstow Place, another posh street in the capital that stretches east to the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the west. It is joined by Pembridge Place to the north and meets Ledbury Road at an intersection.

Like Ashburton Place, there are also numerous hotels surrounding Chepstow Villas:

• The Portobello Hotel
• Vincent House
• Notting Hill House
• The Princess Royal Pub & Boutique Hotel Notting Hill
• The Laslett
• Hotel Bluebells
• Notting Hill Gate Hotel
• The Hayden Pub & Rooms

Chepstow Villas is also a few steps from Westbourne Grove, a well-known street filled with high-end designer shops, trendy stores, and fashion boutiques like:

• Sézane L'Appartement London
• Rails Notting Hill
• ERES, a store for swimwear
• Sweaty Betty
• LOVE BRAND & Co.
• Orlebar Brown Notting Hill

10. Chelsea Square

Average property cost: £14,666,000

Finally at number ten, we have Chelsea Square. As the name suggests, this location is a garden square in the wealthy area of Chelsea, West London.

This area was known as Trafalgar Square until 1937 when it was renamed Chelsea Square. Meanwhile, the Trafalgar Square that we know today is in Westminster City, in central London.

There are open parks near Chelsea Square where leisure activities can be enjoyed by residents:

• Chelsea Common
• Dovehouse Green
• St Luke’s Gardens

Average house prices in the UK

The costliest streets referenced earlier are almost seventy-two times more expensive than the usual property values in other parts of the UK. For instance, the average house cost in other areas outside of London is £283,615—a far cry from £20,347,000 of Grosvenor Square, the most expensive road in London.

Most expensive streets outside London

Still, there are prestigious addresses outside of the capital. One can find the most expensive street beyond London in Surrey, located in East Road, Weybridge. Here, house prices typically average an astronomical amount of more than £9,000,000.

Why are these streets so expensive?

There are many elements that enhance the desirability of a location or street. Among them are:

• being within walking distance from historical landmarks
• availability of top-notch amenities
• a large selection of restaurants, shops, leisure facilities, etc.
• the design and architecture of the surrounding buildings

The lavish roads ranked above are expensive due to their desirability. This means that real estate buyers are after the prestige and appeal that these streets offer.

Do you think that residing in one of UK’s most expensive streets is worth the price? Let us know in the comment section below.