The attraction of Twickenham, it’s not just about the rugby

Since last Friday, rugby fans around the world will be focussing their attention on the 8th Rugby World Cup, culminating in the Final at the world renowned Twickenham Stadium in west London on the 31^st of October.

Although the origins of rugby can be found on the playing fields of Rugby School in Warwickshire, the home of rugby union has been at ‘Twickers’ since 1910, when England were victorious over Wales. They will be looking to repeat this success as they face Wales in their group on 26^th September.

But Twickenham itself can trace its roots back to 700 A.D. After the Norman conquests, the area was used as farming land, with the River Thames providing opportunities for boatbuilding, fishing and trade. Since then, the area has built up as an affluent, residential suburb of London, with excellent connections to the centre via London Waterloo Station, as well as being only 20 minutes drive from Heathrow Airport. Superb local schooling, as well as an abundance of shops, restaurants and parks means that families flock to the area as a greener, more affordable alternative to inner city living.

In Twickenham, a period-style 4 bedroom family house will typically sell for between £1,500,000 and £1,800,000, while a 2 bedroom flat will more likely be in the region of £700,000. With over 20 estate agents covering the TW1 postcode alone, it is clear there is a vibrant residential market place and with the nearby areas of St Margarets, Teddington, Hampton and Richmond competing strongly, this is an area that will remain attractive to buyers for a very long time.

However, it is not immune to the market forces that are prevalent throughout the London area. A lack of supply has driven prices up and continues to do so. While it remains good value compared to the Chelsea’s and Notting Hill’s of Prime Central London (£750 per square foot vs. £1,800 per square foot on average), buying a property here is not easy. Preparation is key, especially if the need for finance is a factor. Any buyer will more than likely be competing with others over the property they want, so being in the best possible position to proceed is vital.

All the teams in the Rugby World Cup will be prepared, but some will have gone the extra mile to ensure they can make the difference when push comes to shove. If you will excuse the pun, it is a scrum out there and having a team like Garrington on your side can really make the difference.