The National's London luxury property series serves to whet the appetite, and this month's offering is a real "piazza de resistance" in the heart of Covent Garden.
Featured property
43 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8JY. Approximate market value: £8.25 million ($11.42m).
The key details
The restored two-bedroom flat in Covent Garden's oldest building occupies the entire first floor.
Period features in the central reception room include Baroque plaster decoration, bolection mouldings, panelling and cornice detailing across the walls and ceiling.
King Street provides an enviable panorama of Covent Garden piazza. Photo: Savills
The spacious kitchen / dining room comes with fully integrated appliances and a feature fireplace, and there is a further reception room / study also with a feature fireplace.
The principal bedroom suite is at the back of the apartment and so away from the piazza's hubbub. It includes a dressing area with fitted wardrobes and ensuite bathroom with a bath and separate shower.
There is a further generous double bedroom with ensuite bathroom, and a separate guest cloakroom.
Lofty ceiling heights in excess of four metres provide a sense of space, and seven grand sash windows across the width of the building's facade bathe the flat in natural light.
The windows also provide south-facing views over the beautiful Covent Garden piazza, taking in St Paul’s church which dates back to 1633.
What's the story
Built in 1716, 43 King Street is Covent Garden’s oldest and arguably most important building.
The handsome Grade II-listed house was built by the Baroque architect Thomas Archer, and was originally named Russell House after its first owner Lord Russell, First Lord of the Admiralty.
Covent Garden Piazza, as it would have looked when King Street was first built. Getty Images
The fully restored property is perfectly positioned for the area's upmarket boutiques, restaurants, theatres, museums and hotels.
Covent Garden itself has benefitted from significant investment and development in recent years, and is now one of London's finest and most picturesque retail and restaurant neighbourhoods.
What the broker says
What makes this property stand out from the crowd?
It's a very well protected and preserved apartment given its position in the oldest building in Covent Garden.
The first floor in every period building is absolutely the best because you've got the floor-to-ceiling windows, you've got the high ceilings and you've got the intricate detailing of period features.
It is arguably the best apartment in Covent Garden and is the most unbelievable entertaining space. Everyone who has looked round it says it is just magnificent.
The light and spacious apartment is perfect for entertaining. Photo: Savills
Are there many similar apartments in London?
Apartments like this don't come up very often. We sold a similar property in St James's earlier this year and the buyers actually bought it unseen, such was the rarity of its period features.
We think the same thing could happen with this one. It's one of the most special first floor apartments we've had on our books.
Who would the property most suit?
Anyone who wants to buy a very beautiful and very special piece of history that works both as a living and entertaining space.
Those with an interest in arts and culture would also be ideally suited.
You've got the the British Transport Museum. You've got all the shops and all the street entertainers. And, of course, you are right on the doorstep of the Royal Opera House − not to mention the multitude of theatres and world-class restaurants London's West End has to offer.
Not many people can step out of their front door and into the Royal Opera House. Getty Images
Why is now a good time to buy in London?
Pricing in central London is still 20 cent below the peak of 2014 but all areas in London have recorded price growth in every quarter this year.
Savills research team forecasts 2 per cent growth this year for prime central London and 8 per cent growth next year in terms of pricing. So in terms of timing, now's a really good time to buy.
Claire Reynolds, co-head of PCL and head of Mayfair at Savills
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory Videographer: Jear Valasquez Fashion director: Sarah Maisey Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
