There are a few streets and areas in London that are all but reserved for the ultra-wealthy. We’re not talking about places where others aren’t allowed to go, but rather places that we couldn’t possibly afford to shop or live. Areas like Notting Hill, Mayfair, Hampstead, and Richmond – places with properties we dream of living in and stunning shops selling brands we’re not wealthy enough to have heard of. And, in what should come as no surprise, recent research has even revealed that our city is home to the most expensive main street in the whole world.
That’s right, folks – London is officially very expensive (as if we didn’t know that already). Global real estate company Cushman & Wakefield recently released its 35th annual guide to ‘Main Streets Across The World’and our city rose to the top of a slightly concerning list. That’s because New Bond Street was officially named the most expensive main street in the world.
The world’s most expensive main streets
This year, New Bond Street rose two places to the top of the list, overtaking Milan and New York for the top position. This was largely due to a year-on-year increase in rental prices in the area of a whopping 22%. For the title, London’s New Bond Street beat out the likes of Via Montenapoleone in Milan, Upper 5th Avenue (between 49th and 60th Streets) in New York, and the Avenue des Champs Elysées in Paris.
New Bond Street (otherwise simply known as Bond Street) is home to a wealth of luxury establishments. Walk along its length and you’ll find the likes of Burberry, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and much more. It’s also home to Sotheby’s and Halcyon, two impressive names in the art world.
These are now the top 10 most expensive main streets in the world:
- New Bond Street – London, UK
- Via Montenapoleone – Milan, Italy
- Upper 5th Avenue (49th to 60th Streets) – New York City, U.S.
- Tsim Sha Tsui (main street shops) – Hong Kong, Greater China
- Avenue des Champs Elysées – Paris, France
- Ginza – Tokyo, Japan
- Bahnhofstrasse – Zurich, Switzerland
- Pitt Street Mall – Sydney, Australia
- Myeongdong – Seoul, South Korea
- Kohlmarkt – Vienna, Austria
So if you’re planning on doing your Christmas shopping, maybe head somewhere else – unless you’ve got the cash to splash! (In which case, feel free to buy me a gift…) But if you fancy some window shopping, there’s definitely plenty to see.
Read the full guide to ‘Main Streets Across The World’ here.
