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.

Contact

If you do not wish to receive further communications from us, please email [email protected]. More details on how to opt out can be seen in our Privacy Policy.

James Hyman

Partner, head of residential agency

T +44 (0) 20 7407 3669
James Hyman
Contact

If you do not wish to receive further communications from us, please email [email protected]. More details on how to opt out can be seen in our Privacy Policy.

Jo Leverett

Head of international residential market

T +44 (0) 20 7647 7243
Jo Leverett

Pied-à-terres available to buy

Kilburn Lane, W10
£450,000

Kilburn Lane, W10

Sherwood Court, London, W1H
£1,225,000

Sherwood Court, London, W1H

Clifton Place, W2
£750,000

Clifton Place, W2

Sloane Avenue Mansions, London, SW3
£500,000

Sloane Avenue Mansions, London, SW3

Porchester Place, W2
£725,000

Porchester Place, W2

Essex Road, N1
Offers in excess of £375,000

Essex Road, N1

Chimney Court, London, E1W
Guide Price £630,000

Chimney Court, London, E1W

Wharf Road, N1
Offers in excess of £550,000

Wharf Road, N1

Wenlock Street, N1
Offers in excess of £500,000

Wenlock Street, N1

The Water Gardens, W2
£598,000

The Water Gardens, W2

Elystan Street, SW3
£1,500,000

Elystan Street, SW3

Juniper Drive, SW18
£795,000

Juniper Drive, SW18

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W
£690,000

Halcyon Wharf, London, E1W

Spa Road, London, SE16
£875,000

Spa Road, London, SE16

Edgware Road, W2
Offers in excess of £295,000

Edgware Road, W2

Forset Court, London, W2
£350,000

Forset Court, London, W2

Cleveland Mansions, London, W9
£675,000

Cleveland Mansions, London, W9

St. Anns Villas, W11
£650,000

St. Anns Villas, W11

Stanhope Terrace, W2
Offers in excess of £800,000

Stanhope Terrace, W2

Coniston Court, London, W2
£440,000

Coniston Court, London, W2

Queens Head Street, London, N1
Offers in excess of £365,000

Queens Head Street, London, N1

Plympton Road, NW6
Offers in excess of £475,000

Plympton Road, NW6

The Circle, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £500,000

The Circle, London, SE1

Tamarind Court, London, SE1
£600,000

Tamarind Court, London, SE1

Hanover Steps, London, W2
£550,000

Hanover Steps, London, W2

Canaletto Tower, London, EC1V
£500,000

Canaletto Tower, London, EC1V

Lefkonico House 505-507, London, N7
Offers in excess of £700,000

Lefkonico House 505-507, London, N7

Arlington Avenue, N1
Offers in excess of £550,000

Arlington Avenue, N1

Graham Street, N1
Offers in excess of £1,500,000

Graham Street, N1

The Quadrangle, W2
Offers in excess of £1,300,000

The Quadrangle, W2

Porter Street, London, SE1
£750,000

Porter Street, London, SE1

Curlew Street, London, SE1
£30,000

Curlew Street, London, SE1

Hays Court, London, SE16
£895,000

Hays Court, London, SE16

The Quadrangle, W2
£1,050,000

The Quadrangle, W2

Blenheim Terrace, NW8
Offers in excess of £400,000

Blenheim Terrace, NW8

Berglen Court, London, E14
£850,000

Berglen Court, London, E14

Hermitage Waterside, London, E1W
£645,000

Hermitage Waterside, London, E1W

Corio House, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £500,000

Corio House, London, SE1

Admirals Court, London, SE1
£1,100,000

Admirals Court, London, SE1

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £750,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £350,000

New Caledonian Wharf, London, SE16

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2
£565,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

The Quadrangle, W2
£1,100,000

The Quadrangle, W2

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2
£850,000

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

Devonport, London, W2
£799,000

Devonport, London, W2

Portsea Hall, London, W2
£900,000

Portsea Hall, London, W2

Southacre, London, W2
£1,675,000

Southacre, London, W2

The Water Gardens, W2
£700,000

The Water Gardens, W2

Park Mansions, London, SW1X
Guide Price £3,300,000

Park Mansions, London, SW1X

Portsea Hall, London, W2
£900,000

Portsea Hall, London, W2

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2
£799,999

Quadrangle Tower, London, W2

Millennium Square, London, SE1
Offers in excess of £725,000

Millennium Square, London, SE1

Wheat Wharf Apartments, London, SE1
£1,300,000

Wheat Wharf Apartments, London, SE1

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£800,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Cinnabar Wharf West, London, E1W
£625,000

Cinnabar Wharf West, London, E1W

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
£995,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Rossetti Garden Mansions, London, SW3
£795,000

Rossetti Garden Mansions, London, SW3

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1
£595,000

Cinnamon Wharf, London, SE1

The Triangle, London, SE1
£650,000

The Triangle, London, SE1

Ashmore Road, W9
£599,999

Ashmore Road, W9

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1
£2,500,000

Butlers Wharf Building, London, SE1

Rotherhithe Street, London, SE16
Offers in excess of £725,000

Rotherhithe Street, London, SE16

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1
£775,000

Vogans Mill Wharf, London, SE1

Park West, London, W2
£425,000

Park West, London, W2

Goswell Road, EC1V
£850,000

Goswell Road, EC1V

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1
£1,350,000

New Concordia Wharf, London, SE1

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1
£485,000

Vanilla & Sesame Court, London, SE1

Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3
£275,000

Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3

Java House, London, E14
£600,000

Java House, London, E14

Riverlight Quay, SW11
£950,000

Riverlight Quay, SW11

Maida Vale, W9
£899,999

Maida Vale, W9

Chantrey House, Belgravia, London, SW1W
£1,850,000

Chantrey House, Belgravia, London, SW1W

West India Quay, E14
£850,000

West India Quay, E14

Eluna Apartments, London, E1W
£575,000

Eluna Apartments, London, E1W

Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3
£1,040,000

Chelsea Cloisters, London, SW3

Waterside Building, London, E1W
Offers in the region of £1,000,000

Waterside Building, London, E1W

Pied-à-terres available to rent

Shad Thames, London, SE16
£427 per week

Shad Thames, London, SE16

Upper Berkeley Street, Marylebone, London, W1H
£695 per week

Upper Berkeley Street, Marylebone, London, W1H

Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7
£410 per week

Holloway Road, Islington, London, N7

Sanctuary Court, Wapping, London, E1W
£635 per week

Sanctuary Court, Wapping, London, E1W

Kipling Street, Bermondsey Street, London, SE1
£288 per week

Kipling Street, Bermondsey Street, London, SE1

Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge, London, SW3
£600 per week

Egerton Gardens, Knightsbridge, London, SW3

Montagu Place, Marylebone, London, W1H
£1,188 per week

Montagu Place, Marylebone, London, W1H

Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3
£1,150 per week

Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW3

Seymour Street, Hyde Park, London, W1H
£765 per week

Seymour Street, Hyde Park, London, W1H

Shepherds Bush Road, Brook Green, London, W6
£519 per week

Shepherds Bush Road, Brook Green, London, W6

Manchester Street, Marylebone, London, W1U
£750 per week

Manchester Street, Marylebone, London, W1U

Upper Berkeley Street, Marylebone, London, W1H
£1,200 per week

Upper Berkeley Street, Marylebone, London, W1H

Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X
£395 per week

Sloane Street, Chelsea, London, SW1X

Montagu Place, Marylebone, Marylebone, W1H
£1,153 per week

Montagu Place, Marylebone, Marylebone, W1H

Butlers Wharf Building, Shad Thames, London, SE1
£675 per week

Butlers Wharf Building, Shad Thames, London, SE1

Eagle Wharf Court, Tower Bridge, London, SE1
£519 per week

Eagle Wharf Court, Tower Bridge, London, SE1

Island Apartments, Islington, London, N1
£692 per week

Island Apartments, Islington, London, N1

Red Square, Islington, London, N16
£577 per week

Red Square, Islington, London, N16

Fulham Road, Fulham, Fulham, SW6
£323 per week

Fulham Road, Fulham, Fulham, SW6

Montagu Street, Marylebone, London, W1H
£875 per week

Montagu Street, Marylebone, London, W1H

Royal Street, Waterloo, London, SE1
£508 per week

Royal Street, Waterloo, London, SE1

Gloucester Place, Marylebone, London, W1U
£845 per week

Gloucester Place, Marylebone, London, W1U

Lonsdale Place, Islington, London, N1
£346 per week

Lonsdale Place, Islington, London, N1

Mackenzie Road, Islington, London, N7
£346 per week

Mackenzie Road, Islington, London, N7

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W2
£1,406 per week

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W2

Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, London, SW3
£575 per week

Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, London, SW3

Clephane Road, Islington, London, N1
£577 per week

Clephane Road, Islington, London, N1

King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3
£550 per week

King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3

Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3
£900 per week

Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3

Fulham Road, South Kensington, London, SW3
£1,050 per week

Fulham Road, South Kensington, London, SW3

48 Sloane Square, South Kensington, London, SW1W
£875 per week

48 Sloane Square, South Kensington, London, SW1W

Gloucester Place, Marylebone, London, W1U
£690 per week

Gloucester Place, Marylebone, London, W1U

Knightsbridge, London, SW1X
£1,950 per week

Knightsbridge, London, SW1X

Duke Of York Square, Chelsea, London, SW3
£850 per week

Duke Of York Square, Chelsea, London, SW3

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W2
£1,160 per week

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, London, W2

Edgware Road, Paddington, London, W2
£982 per week

Edgware Road, Paddington, London, W2

Hill Street, Hyde Park, London, W1J
£1,100 per week

Hill Street, Hyde Park, London, W1J

Grosvenor Hill, Mayfair, London, W1K
£1,050 per week

Grosvenor Hill, Mayfair, London, W1K

Raven Wharf Apartments, Shad Thames, London, SE1
£888 per week

Raven Wharf Apartments, Shad Thames, London, SE1

Metropolitan Wharf Building, Wapping, London, E1W
£2,000 per week

Metropolitan Wharf Building, Wapping, London, E1W

Millennium Square, Tower Bridge, London, SE1
£635 per week

Millennium Square, Tower Bridge, London, SE1

Edgware Road, Paddington, London, W2
£1,508 per week

Edgware Road, Paddington, London, W2

Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V
£577 per week

Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1V

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, Bayswater, W2
£1,230 per week

Kensington Gardens Square, Bayswater, Bayswater, W2

Wapping Wall, Wapping, London, E1W
£1,900 per week

Wapping Wall, Wapping, London, E1W

Hill Street, Mayfair, London, W1J
£740 per week

Hill Street, Mayfair, London, W1J

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