City bonus postcodes - No.7: The City and surrounds

Gaining in popularity with bankers who want to live a short walk away from the office, The City and surrounds, including Clerkenwell, Barbican, Spitalfields and Shoreditch, is home to some stunning apartments as well as some much sort after houses

Property in The CityThe place to be if you want a plush penthouse, or a sexy loft within walking distance of work. The City, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Barbican and Spitalfields is also a great spot for pieds-a-terre.

Ben Howe, of Hamptons International, says: “We’re starting to get enquires through from City workers – they’re up 100% on last year – but they don’t know how much they’ll get yet, so it will be Q1 2011 before it begins to filter into the market.

“This is obviously a prime area for City buyers – typically they’re buying apartments as pieds-a-terre or as main homes. The St Georges development in Spitalfields is very popular – it’s close to offices like Allen & Avery (legal firm) and RBS. I also recently sold a pied-a-terre to an employee from Herbert Smith (law firm) – he had a main home in the country and wanted somewhere nearer work.

“We also get buyers using their bonus as part of a deposit to by a main home here – generally City bachelors looking for a penthouse or a trendy loft apartment.  I recently sold the penthouse in the Sugar House in Leman Street (E1) – it has four terraces, double height, open-plan spaces and lots of AV technology.

“Houses are rare in this market but they do exist – the Huguenot houses in Spitlafields are very sought-after. There are also 13 houses in the Barbican –   perennially popular – and we recently sold one to a City executive for £1.6m.”

Celebrities: Peaches Geldof, David Thewlis, Gilbert & George, Jeanette Winterson, Tracey Emin.

What about the prices?
Primelocation Index says: up by 6% over the past year.