Borough of Westminster

You’ll spot scenes of Westminster on most London postcards, and it’s little wonder. After all, this place hosts riverside icons like the House of Lords, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Not to mention the black taxis and scarlet phone boxes synonymous with England’s capital. Some of the country’s best-preserved Georgian mansions can be found in its neighbourhoods, too, sitting pretty in the quiet, leafy streets of Maida Vale and Belgravia. Also, let’s not forget the glittering lights of the West End, the best place to catch dinner and a show. Read on to read reviews from residents living in some of the best places to live in Westminster.

4.60
Average Location Score

Excellent

65%

Very Good

24%

Average

10%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Borough of Westminster

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Westminster birds eye view

Westminster’s famous landmarks

Despite its modest eight or so square miles, this slice of Central London positively packs in the tourist attractions. Walking tours run all year round, charting thousands of years of history to the delight of millions of visitors. Favourite stop-offs include the Churchill War Rooms, Westminster Cathedral and the Florence Nightingale Museum.

Art fans from all over flock to the Tate Britain on Westminster’s Millbank. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of British art, and residents of Berkeley’s Abell & Cleland development can count it as a neighbour. These stunning apartments were designed by award-winning architecture and interiors studio, Project Orange, and are tucked among landscaped grounds close-by.

There is also, Buckingham Palace, Britain’s most famous landmark of all needs little introduction. Those in-the-know avoid the awestruck crowds in its immediate vicinity, and admire it in the peace and quiet of neighbouring St James’ Park – a glorious 23 hectares of meadows and walkways.

Westminster residents

Naturally, living near the Queen is a privilege that doesn’t come cheap. With home prices here falling largely into the multimillion pound bracket, residents tend to be politicians, celebrities and those born into fortunes.

Just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace is Westminster Quarter, a collection of luxury apartments by Taylor Wimpey Central London spread over three different sites on Monck Street. There are 90 design-led units here, housed across three properties – 73 Great Peter Street, 1 Chadwick Street and Ashley House.

 

While some new developments strive to stand out both in height and appearance, the eight-storey Westminster Quarter quietly slots into its prestigious SW1 neighbourhood – a chic and classy addition to the streetscape. And on closer inspection its intricate brickwork façade, which looked to local architecture as its inspiration, adds further depth and interest to the building.” – HomeViews Property Pro

St James Park

Development in Victoria

The central Victoria neighbourhood is undergoing extensive regeneration. Once a cluster of tired office blocks, developers have breathed new life into the area with a shedload of contemporary apartments. A plethora of new bars, restaurants and stores have followed suit.

Right opposite Victoria Station, The Nova Building is turning heads. This Land Securities scheme features an ultra-modern exterior, complete with a pink angular front. Rated as one of the best places to live in Westminster, scroll down to read reviews from residents who rent in Westminster.

 

It offers up a wealth of luxury shopping and fine dining, including the likes of Aster by DandD London to Rail House Cafe by Adam White. Residents will also enjoy first-class amenities like a 24-hour concierge service, a private residents’ lounge, gym facilities, a cinema and a business centre. There’s also secure underground parking available for a fee of £85,000. Topping everything off, figuratively and literally, is the ninth floor roof garden and terrace, which affords residents views over the palace’s gardens and the capital’s cityscape. ” – HomeViews Property Pro on The Nova Building

 

Kings Gate is an alternative another Westminster base by Land Securities. This one’s got a prime spot on Victoria Street, and overlooks the Royal Parks and Westminster Cathedral. Its 100 private apartments have been designed by Patrick Lynch, Millier and Spinocchia Freund.

ving in some of the best places to live in Westminster. Alternatively, do you own or rent in Westminster? Click here to leave your review. 

Big Ben behind flowers

High-end living

Westminster’s local amenities tend to cater to the wealthy occupants. Expect top schools, members-only clubs, fine dining – including a reputable clutch of Michelin-starred restaurants – and designer boutiques. Bond Street, in particular, offers some of the biggest names in fashion. Chanel, Cartier and Dolce all have flagship stores here. Westminster is also the place to dip in and out of London’s finest establishments, like Harrods, Sotheby’s and The Ritz.

Soho & Covent Garden

It’s not all grandeur and glamour, though. Edgy Soho offers a great mix of laid-back bars, restaurants and live music venues, while Covent Garden is alive with quirky street performers and bohemian market stalls. For high street names like Zara and Topshop, there’s no beating Oxford Street. As well as this, traditional selections such olde-world shops and pubs are to be found in St James’s.

Read more about living in Westminster. Click on the developments below for reviews from residents li

Reviews in Borough of Westminster

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Great location and facilities

Review Date Oct 2023

There’s a bit of everything close by: the building itself has a convenience store, a hairdressers, a gym… the closest supermarket, however, is a bit far (15 min walk), but if you forgot something you can always get it fast from the 24h shop in Grosvenor road or at the convenience store. The neighborhood is extremely calm and very well connected to the city center.

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The building and gardens are very beautiful and they are slowly renovating everything. Everything looks very clean and taken care of, especially in the gardens. Many apartments have been renovated and have a beautiful, minimalist design that allows you to bring your own decorations and make it your own.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

This building is undergoing renovation works. It’s not very disturbing, but it means different parts of the facilities will become unavailable from tome to time.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Yes, we had a couple of technical issues and they always responded — albeit sometimes it took a bit of time.

5
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
3
Value
2
Management
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Really nice residence

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Oct 2023

Really nicely located, close to Victoria and Pimlico Station. Our flat is really good but very expensive. The maintenance team is really helpful, so is the reception.

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The design of our flat is really good. We have a very nice view on the Thames and Battersea Power Station. We don’t really like the carpet and would prefer wooden floor, but other than that it’s really good. There is a lot of storage, the furniture is brand new and quite good design

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The rent increases massively every year. Also the windows are really bad

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Really well. We had a leak a few weeks ago and the maintenance team changed our dishwasher while we were away.

4
Facilities
3
Design
4
Location
2
Value
2
Management
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Do not recommend this development

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jun 2023

Good location, central with Pimlico tube station few minutes away. Few gardens nearby. It has a garden but also opened to public as the gym is used by public and residents.

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I have lived in DSQ here over 1 year 4 months now and my new contract was until Dec 2023. I was forced to move out of Howard House to Collingwood House after 12 months, accepted the price increase and still moved in but then the sheer amount of harassment and issues started at my new flat. I have been constantly harassed with section 21 for not being able to accommodate x4 days per week for water flashing every month in my flat (they didn’t tell me I had to be home 4 days in one week, they put me in sentinel flat and never disclosed this prior to moving). I have been constantly threatened with section 8 and 21, and they refused to fix massive gaps in windows during all winter since I moved in Dec. I did not use the bedroom over 4 months yet paying my rent in full. They entered my property without notice and illegally. They also refused to accept me fixing it the windows. They advised they will only fix if I grant all these visits and agree to be home 4 days in one week every month (I have all emails and correspondents). I went through two operations so couldn’t handle it anymore and now moved out of the development after 4 months moving in new flat. Currently I am talking to solicitord as it’s cost me so much moving in and out within 4 months.

I really hope people find this page before making any commitment at this development as I wouldn’t want anyone going through this.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I read friends of dolphin square on Facebook page or looked at reviews. The site is under construction so always issues with electricity, heating or water

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

the ‘director’ incompetent, rude and not helpful at all

1
Facilities
1
Design
4
Location
1
Value
1
Management
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Construction site – visit before you overpay

Review Date Mar 2023

Good is location, lifts in the building bin collection. On negative side the building is a construction site, west side and garden are under constraction, despite this prices went up. Check friends of dolphin square group on facebook to get an idea

Please review your development:

Check friends of dolphin square group on facebook to get an idea on the issues with the management and rents
Regarding design it is good if you simple interior design, they also collect the bins and maintenance team helps a lot, but this is not enough to cover the chaos sorry

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

That west side and garden will be a construction site, which is ok, but rents should go to stratospheric levels with no room for negotiation, they prefer to have empty flats and be aggressive, good luck

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The answers are out there

2
Facilities
3
Design
3
Location
2
Value
1
Management
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