Return of the pied-à-terre: 7 properties available to buy or rent now

In our recent blog article, Cluttons’ James Hyman highlighted that a return of the pied-à-terre purchaser was beginning to fill the first-time-buyer-shaped hole in demand felt across London since June.

James noted his teams were seeing an increase in buyers who had previously moved their families to the country but were now returning to the office. Add to that a combination of soaring hotel prices and train fares approaching pre-pandemic prices, it seems that the idea of owning, or renting a secondary residence is becoming an increasingly attractive option once again.

What exactly is a pied-à-terre?

Pied-à-terre is a French term for “foot on the ground”. In practice, it’s essentially a small house or apartment in a city that you own or rent in addition to your main home, where you stay when working in or visiting that city for a short time.

Why might you want to live in one?

According to James, clients typically look to purchase a pied-à-terre in London for a couple of reasons. “It mainly appeals to professionals who have relocated outside of London but want a bolthole in easy distance from both their workplace and a station. Many view it as a long-term investment; instead of putting money into a pension fund, this is an asset that can be rented out and more than likely deliver strong capital growth in the future, as well as something their friends and family can benefit from too if they’re studying or working in London.”

The other increasingly common scenario is for those who want to downsize as they look to spend more time at a European holiday home that’s just a short flight away from London.

Most popular amenities

As they say – location, location, location
Easy access to public transport
Concierge or porter
Pet-friendly
Two bedrooms or one bedroom with a good size living area for when friends and family stay

One perhaps surprising feature that doesn’t top the non-negotiable list, is outside space. James says “Despite changes to how we live and work, it’s a bit of a misconception that outside space is a major driver for all Central London buyer and renters at the moment. Especially when it comes to those looking to buy or rent a secondary residence, because they’re going to be out and about a lot and more than likely have a garden at their primary home. Such a massive proportion of London doesn’t have any outside space – it’s the “London compromise” and always has been. Location and interior space is always important and anything more than that, such as a balcony or terrace, is just a wonderful luxury”.

London hotspots

Whilst everyone has their private wish list, and it really depends what you’re using it for, arguably the most important aspect or buying or renting a pied-à-terre is its location.

Commenting on popular City spots, James says “Obvious locations are Shad Thames and Wapping, due to their proximity to both the City and Canary Wharf. Buyers will be looking at geographies that are affordable but likely to offer good returns, in areas that are undergoing regeneration and infrastructure improvements.”

“Other popular locations are Kings Cross and Paddington thanks to infrastructure. Professionals can literally hop off their train, drop their bags off and be into work in under 30 minutes.”

Searching for your perfect pied-à-terre in London?

Take a look at a selection of Cluttons properties currently available to buy or rent, now.

James Hyman

Partner, residential investment

Head office

T +44 (0) 20 7407 3669

Jo Leverett

Partner, residential investment & international

Head office

T +44 (0) 20 7647 7243

Pied-à-terres available to buy

£750,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Offers in excess of £800,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

£500,000

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16

£633,730

Thames Heights, London, SE1

Guide Price £700,000

River View Heights, London, SE16

£425,000

Pier Head, London, E1W

Offers in excess of £600,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

£595,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Offers in excess of £585,000

Boss House, London, SE1

£550,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

£550,000

Monck House, London, SE1

Offers in excess of £550,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

£525,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

£500,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Offers in excess of £495,000

New Tannery Way, London, SE1

£475,000

Ginger Apartments, London, SE1

£450,000

Monck House, London, SE1

£450,000

Knot House, London, SE1

£400,000

Cole Street, London, SE1

Guide Price £400,000

Fleming House, London, SE16

£230,000

Bracken House, London, E3

£500,000

Daventry Street, London, NW1

£715,000

Ovington Square, London, SW3

£2,250,000

Park Street, London, SE1

£550,000

Lancaster Gate, London, W2

£700,000

Harrington Gardens, London, SW7

£1,150,000

Hyde Park Crescent, London, W2

Guide Price £425,000

Arundel Square, London, N7

£820,000

Hyde Park Square, London, W2

offersOver £699,000

Paultons House, London, SW3

£525,000

Cheyne Place, London, SW3

£999,999

De Vere Mews, London, W8

£600,000

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W

£880,000

Wimpole Street, London, W1G

£775,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

£600,000

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W

Offers in excess of £650,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

£425,000

Seymour Street, London, W1H

£405,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

£450,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

Offers in excess of £350,000

Burr Close, London, E1W

£795,000

Linden Gardens, London, W2

Guide Price £460,000

Monmouth Road, London, W2

£899,950

The Quadrangle, London, W2

£700,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

£895,000

Calico House, London, SE1

£625,000

Strathearn Place, London, W2

Offers in excess of £1,750,000

New Crane Wharf, London, E1W

Offers in excess of £725,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

£600,000

Leeward Court, London, E1W

£450,000

Harrowby Street, London, W1H

£735,000

Porchester Square, London, W2

Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Capital Wharf, London, E1W

£895,000

Eagle Wharf Court, London, SE1

£1,650,000

Anchor Brewhouse, London, SE1

Offers in excess of £700,000

Monck House, London, SE1

£680,000

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

£700,000

Cinnabar Wharf Central, London, E1W

Guide Price £700,000

China Wharf, London, SE1

Guide Price £850,000

Caraway Apartments, London, SE1

£900,000

Tamarind Court, London, SE1

£2,600,000

Conquest Tower, London, SE1

£525,000

Tower Bridge Wharf, London, E1W

Offers in excess of £650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

£690,000

3 Ovington Square, London, SW3

£2,150,000

Betterton Street, London, WC2H

£399,995

Upper Berkeley Street, London, W1H

£550,000

Falconet Court, London, E1W

£625,000

Hermitage Court, London, E1W

£950,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

£295,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

£575,000

Southwick Street, London, W2

£1,850,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

£650,000

Merchant Court, London, E1W

£600,000

Walker House, London, SE1

Offers in excess of £970,000

Tanner Street, London, SE1

£500,000

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W

£750,000

Lion Court, London, SE1

£1,225,000

Jacana Court, London, E1W

£900,000

Butlers & Colonial Wharf, London, SE1

£1,195,000

Spice Quay Heights, London, SE1

£2,250,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

£575,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

£565,000

Westbourne Terrace, London, W2

£735,000

Devonport, London, W2

£670,000

Wyndham Street, London, W1H

Offers in excess of £2,000,000

Craven Hill Gardens, London, W2

£590,000

Blandford Street, London, W1U

Offers in excess of £400,000

Dalston Square, London, E8

£480,000

Free Trade Wharf, London, E1W

£625,000

Axis Court, London, SE16

Guide Price £700,000

Cardamom Building, London, SE1

£2,095,000

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

offersOver £700,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

£515,000

North Rise, London, W2

£575,000

Rampart Street, London, E1

£780,000

Tea Trade Wharf, London, SE1

£762,500

Lower Sloane Street, London, SW1W

£685,000

Millennium Square, London, SE1

£850,000

Chronicle Tower, London, EC1V

Offers in excess of £1,050,000

Clifton Place, London, W2

£575,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

£800,000

Westgate Terrace, London, SW10

£430,000

Compass House, London, E1W

Guide Price £650,000

Wenlock Road, London, N1

£500,000

Southgate Road, London, N1

£2,999,950

Hyde Park Gardens, London, W2

£765,000

Southwell House 34-36 Egerton Gardens, London, SW3

Guide Price £500,000

Book House, London, EC1V

£625,000

Porchester Place, London, W2

£650,000

Harrow Road, London, W9

£625,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

£475,000

Edgware Road, London, W2

£1,700,000

Mansfield Street, London, W1G

Guide Price £1,150,000

Graham Street, London, N1

Guide Price £350,000

Caledonian Road, London, N1

£550,000

Codling Close, London, E1W

£489,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Pied-à-terres available to rent

£575 per week

Free Trade Wharf, Wapping, London, E1W

£542 per week

Caraway Apartments, Shad Thames, London, SE1

£635 per week

Queen Square, Bloomsbury , London, WC1N

£885 per week

Seymour Mews, Marylebone, London, W1H

£1,268 per week

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W2

£462 per week

Mackenzie Road, Islington, London, N7

£808 per week

Parr Street, London, N1

£381 per week

Edgar Road, Bow, London, E3

£575 per week

Prospect Place, Wapping, London, E1W

£900 per week

Queen Elizabeth Street, Shad Thames, London, SE1

£865 per week

Compass Court, 39 Shad Thames, Shad Thames, London, SE1

£635 per week

Graham Street, Islington, London, N1

£542 per week

Wapping High Street, Wapping, London, E1W

£575 per week

Caraway Apartments, Shad Thames, London, SE1

£323 per week

Kipling Street, Borough, London, SE1

£438 per week

Wapping High Street, Wapping, London, E1W

£750 per week

Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, London, N1

£658 per week

Shad Thames, Tower Bridge, London, SE1

£995 per week

South Kensington, London, SW7

£600 per week

Odessa Street, Rotherhithe, London, SE16

£1,205 per week

1 Collingham Road, Earls Court, London, SW5

£1,192 per week

1 Collingham Road, Earls Court, London, SW5

£900 per week

Upper Berkeley Street, Marylebone, Marylebone, W1H

£504 per week

31 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London, SW3

£647 per week

31 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London, SW3

£941 per week

31 Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London, SW3

£570 per week

Draycott Avenue, Chelsea, London, SW3

£704 per week

Southwick Street, Hyde Park, London, W2

£600 per week

142 Battersea Park Road, Battersea, London, SW11

£485 per week

Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7

£650 per week

Wapping Lane, Wapping, London, E1W

£612 per week

Chelsea, London, SW3

£762 per week

Shirland Road, Maida Vale, London, W9

£1,038 per week

Earls Way, London Bridge, London, SE1

£1,050 per week

145 Fulham Road, South Kensington, London, SW3

£760 per week

145 Fulham Road, South Kensington, London, SW3

£750 per week

Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3

£1,200 per week

Southbank Place, Waterloo, London, SE1

£1,569 per week

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W2

£1,200 per week

Manchester Street, Hyde Park, London, W1U

£531 per week

Shepherds Bush Road, Brook Green, London, W6

£1,800 per week

11-13 Young Street, Kensington, London, W8

£630 per week

Hill Street, Mayfair, Mayfair, W1J

£1,355 per week

Rainville Road, London, W6

£1,385 per week

161 Fulham Road, South Kensington, London, SW3

£800 per week

Kendal Street, Hyde Park, London, W2

£1,140 per week

Edgware Road, Hyde Park, London, W2

£650 per week

Hill Street, Mayfair, London, W1J

£790 per week

Rainville Road, Fulham, London, W6

£900 per week

Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3

£1,148 per week

Stanhope Gardens, London, SW7

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Return of the pied-à-terre: 7 properties available to buy or rent now

In our recent blog article, Cluttons’ James Hyman highlighted that a return of the pied-à-terre purchaser was beginning to fill the first-time-buyer-shaped hole in demand felt across London since June.

What exactly is a pied-à-terre?

Why might you want to live in one?

London hotspots

Searching for your perfect pied-à-terre in London?

Pied-à-terres available to buy

Pied-à-terres available to rent

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