White City Living: resort style living in the middle of London
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Hello everyone. In the middle of London, a resort, a pool, a spa, cinema rooms and gardens surrounded by ponds. Today, by Berkeley, White City Living is what we are looking at today!
For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: UK Property Guide
Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page
In Shepherd’s Bush, west London, Berkeley Group a comprehensive residential scheme developed by. The concept here is different from the rest: what Berkeley has built is not a block of flats but, in the middle of the city, a way of living close to a resort. A swimming pool, spa and wellness areas, a gym, cinema rooms, a residents’ lounge, a concierge and landscaped gardens surrounded by ponds. And Westfield London: one of the largest inner city shopping centres in Europe, within walking distance. Yes, you read that correctly.
Prices
- One bedroom apartments: £680,000and up
- one, two and three bedroom options
- Apartment size: 54 m²and up
- Handed over in stages, with new phases still running
- Address: White City Living, Shepherd’s Bush, Hammersmith & Fulham, London W12
To find this amenity package in London you would normally have to go into Zone 1 and look above £1,000,000. White City Living brings Berkeley’s "resort inside the city" approach to a Zone 2 price. the advantages of buying a new build home with hotel comfort, one of the strongest options in London.
Why White City Living?
Location: the best connected point in west London: White City is a hub where three tube lines and Westfield meet.
- White City (Central Line), within walking distance; 12 minutes to Oxford Circus, 20 to Bank
- Wood Lane (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines), within walking distance
- Shepherd’s Bush (Central Line and Overground), a short distance away
- Westfield London: one of the largest inner city shopping centres in Europe, within walking distance
- Notting Hill, Holland Park and Kensington a few minutes away
The district’s identity has changed: White City was once the home of the BBC; today, with Imperial College’s new campus, technology companies and creative sector offices, it is turning into a new business centre for London. That brings a constant flow of well qualified tenants to the district.
Daily life: holiday comfort in the city
A morning swim in the pool, then Oxford Circus in 12 minutes on the Central Line. The spa or the wellness area at lunchtime. The restaurants of Westfield or a film in the cinema room in the evening. At the weekend a walk in Holland Park, breakfast in Notting Hill, a wander through Portobello Market. Sitting in the gardens surrounded by ponds makes you forget you are in the middle of London.
White City Living rental yield
A Zone 2 location and a strong amenity package produce a balanced yield. One bedroom apartments usually let for £2,500 to £3,100, 2+1s £3,900 to £4,800 a month. That puts the gross rental yield in the 4.4-5.5% band.
Tenant profile: professionals working in central London, academics and researchers of Imperial College’s White City campus, people in technology and media, and executives around Westfield. Amenities such as a pool and a spa create a clear premium with upper segment tenants, who are willing to pay extra for them. For areas with a similar profile, high yield buy to let areas is worth a look.
The shared areas and the details that set White City Living apart
This section is the scheme’s real selling argument. There is almost no other scheme in London offering this package at this price:
- Swimming pool: an indoor pool for residents only.
- Spa and wellness areas: wet areas and lounges.
- Sports Hall: a fully equipped gym you can use without paying a membership.
- Cinema rooms: screening rooms set aside for residents.
- Residents’ Lounge: a shared living space for entertaining and working from home.
- 24-hour concierge: hotel standard reception and service.
- Landscaped gardens surrounded by ponds: the water landscaping is part of the scheme’s identity.
- Balcony or terrace in most apartments: large glazed facades and an integrated fitted kitchen as standard.
Energy efficiency and comfort
Berkeley standard insulation, a high performance glazed facade and efficient central systems; the apartments are typically EPC B band. Against the Victorian building stock around Shepherd’s Bush and Notting Hill the difference in the bill is very plain. If you let the property you are also ready for the tightening minimum energy standards.
Who is buying?
This project of those who want hotel comfort without paying Zone 1 prices choice. Professionals aged 35 to 55, business people looking for a comfortable apartment to stay in during the week, and international investors. A concept with a pool and a concierge is familiar and attractive, particularly to buyers from markets where the branded residence culture is strong.
Frequently asked questions
Is the service charge high? Yes, on schemes that include a pool, a spa, a cinema and a 24 hour concierge the service charge sits clearly above the London average. Do ask for this item when working out the net yield; we obtain the current figure for each apartment.
Is being close to Westfield a disadvantage? The traffic of the shopping centre makes the district lively, but the scheme sits within its own enclosed setting and is quiet, with its gardens surrounded by ponds. If quiet is your priority, consider the inner aspects.
What is the tenure? Leasehold: Berkeley schemes typically grant a term of up to 999 years.
The project is phased, which phase should I buy? The earlier phases have been handed over and the setting has settled; the newer phases offer more modern specification and a longer lease. We decide together according to your goal.
Can I buy remotely from abroad? Yes. For the details, our remote property purchase guide page.
Can I use a mortgage? Foreign buyers can normally borrow up to 65-75% of the value. Berkeley schemes are regarded by lenders as high quality security. UK mortgages for foreign nationals is worth reading.
Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at White City Living
Many overseas buyers look only at the apartment price and meet a surprise at completion. Let us work out the real cost on a £680,000 apartment. Stamp duty (SDLT) in the United Kingdom is banded: 0% up to £125,000, then 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%. On top of that, non-residents pay a 2% surcharge, and if you already own another home, a further 5% additional dwelling rate applies.
| Item | If it will be your only home | If it will be an additional home |
|---|---|---|
| Property price | £680,000 | £680,000 |
| Stamp duty (SDLT) | £37,600 | £71,600 |
| Legal fees | £1,500 to £3,000 | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Searches and Land Registry fees | about £800 | about £800 |
| Approximate total | £719,900 | £755,400 |
With a mortgage there are also valuation and bank charges, and if you let the property, management commission and income tax. The figures above are indicative, based on a £680,000 entry price; we prepare the exact calculation for your own scenario.
The White City Living buying process, step by step
If you are buying from another country, the process runs like this:
- 1. Choosing the apartment and reserving it. We go through the floor plans, the aspect and the view. The apartment you choose is usually held with a reservation fee of £5,000 to £10,000.
- 2. Appointing a solicitor. An independent English property solicitor (conveyancer) is appointed. That solicitor acts for you, not for the developer.
- 3. Identity and source of funds checks. You will be asked for a passport, proof of address and documents showing the source of your funds. This step is compulsory in the United Kingdom, and having the papers ready shortens the process.
- 4. Exchange of contracts and deposit. Contracts are usually exchanged within 21 days of the reservation, with a 10% deposit. The signature can be given digitally from abroad.
- 5. Stage payments. In off plan projects these follow the payment schedule; for completed apartments the step is skipped.
- 6. Completion. The remaining balance and the stamp duty are paid and the title is registered in your name. For completed apartments this stage can take four to eight weeks.
You can run the whole process from your own country; you do not have to travel to the United Kingdom.
Risks and what to watch for
We have set out the strengths; in fairness there are points to watch as well. For White City Living, these are the ones worth pausing on:
- High service charge: a pool, a spa, a cinema and a 24 hour concierge are costly amenities; ask for the figure at the outset.
- The traffic around Westfield: the shopping centre makes the district lively; if quiet is your priority, consider the inner aspects.
- A long running, phased scheme: construction continues around the newer phases.
- Yield in the mid band: gross 4.5-5%; for anyone targeting a high yield, Eastman Village or Manchester suits better.
None of this makes the project a bad one, but there is a wide gap between buying with your eyes open and finding out afterwards. We give every client this list up front.
How does White City Living compare with the alternatives?
Before you decide, it is worth looking at the other projects in the same budget band:
- Royal Arsenal Riverside: for anyone after the pool and spa package at a more affordable price.
- The Green Quarter: the Elizabeth Line and generous green space in west London.
- 100 Kensington: for anyone after a more prestigious postcode in west London.
We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. For an overview, our guide to UK property investment for international buyers is worth reading too.
Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Is Buying a Home in London a Good Idea?
