Property for sale or rent in Westminster SW1
The name Westminster comes from it being the area around Westminster Abbey – the West Minster (monastery church). The historic centre of Westminster was Thorney Island, on which Westminster Abbey was built, and where the great majority of English and later British monarchs have been crowned.
Today ‘Westminster’ is synonymous with Parliament, and it’s the House of Commons, House of Lords and other parliamentary buildings which together make up the Palace of Westminster.
The phrase ‘Westminster Village’ also refers exclusively to politics – the atmosphere and gossip being somewhat akin to a village. So sadly there’s no village pub or village green (although there is a College Green, outside Parliament, where TV interviews of politicians are frequently conducted).
As for a village church, you can’t get any grander than Westminster Abbey, where several famous politicians and many monarchs have been interred. There’s also Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of Roman Catholics in the UK.
With all these landmarks, it’s not surprising that Westminster is one of the most visited regions of London. Just as popular are the local open spaces of Green Park and St James Park, while the river is also a popular tourist destination, and a walk across one of the bridges will take you to the many attractions of the South Bank, not to mention Waterloo.
Culturally, Tate Britain just down the road in Pimlico is a must-see, while Westminster offers several theatres, including London’s latest, the St James Theatre. There are also some excellent restaurants and specialist shops.
Property in Westminster
Much of the property in Westminster, at least near Parliament, is taken up by government buildings. The most popular residential areas are around Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street. Unsurprisingly, your neighbours are likely to include MPs, government officials and lawyers. There are some fine Georgian townhouses around Smith’s Square and Queen Anne’s Gate.
Much, however, of the available residential property in Westminster consists of converted office buildings, most recently the old Home Office building and Westminster Hospital buildings. Popular new developments can also be found in Vincent Square, Marsham Street, Horseferry Road and Monck Street. Ecclestone Square also has some interesting rental properties.
Buying or renting in Westminster – useful information
Transport links – Westminster tube station is on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines. You’re also close to Embankment, which is on the Northern and Bakerloo lines. A useful alternative – for example for someone working in Canary Wharf – is the river bus. For train services, both Waterloo and Victoria are not far away. For more details, see Transport for London
Schools – Westminster School is one of the country’s leading private schools, but there are few educational establishments within the immediate area, although St Gabriel’s Primary School and St Peter’s Eaton Square are notable exceptions. In the Borough of Westminster as a whole, however, there’s a wide choice of both primary and secondary schools.
Places of interest near Westminster – Houses of Parliament • Big Ben • Westminster Abbey • Westminster Cathedral • Buckingham Palace • London Eye • Tate Gallery • Churchill War Rooms
Local Authority – Westminster Council; for details such as available amenities and rates, visit the Westminster Council website
Find out more about property in Westminster
We generally have property in Westminster available, predominantly serviced apartments. For current availability, see properties in Westminster
If you’re looking to sell a property in the area, please get in touch. We also provide a reliable, cost-effective property management service
You may additionally want to have a look at some of our property guides in nearby areas, including:
Pimlico Property Guide
Victoria Property Guide
St James’s Property Guide
Waterloo Property Guide
For more information on living, renting or letting, buying or selling in Westminster, please contact us
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