London is awash with spectacular prime properties, and following the change to the UK's travel rules, it is now much easier for travellers from the UAE to come and see them.
The National'sLondon luxury property series serves to whet the appetite, and this month we take a look at a four-bedroom Art Deco property, brimming with original features.
Featured property
Hamilton Terrace, St Johns Wood, London, NW8 9UJ – £17.25 million ($23.2m).
The key details
A handsome three-floor, 6,750-square-foot Art Deco detached house built in 1938.
Inside Hamilton Terrace in St Johns Wood, London. Photo: Savills
The principal bedroom suite occupies the whole of the first floor and comprises a large bedroom, two sizeable his and her dressing rooms, a bathroom and a gym or sitting area (depending on how energised its occupant is feeling). The floor also offers access to a terrace overlooking the garden.
There are four more double bedrooms – all with en suites – on the second floor. Portholes light the staircase with natural light.
The garden floor features a commodious gallery ideal for a home office or studio.
It also boasts a housekeeper's bedroom suite, a utility room and an integral garage.
The landscaped garden measures about 125 feet with a heated outdoor pool and sitting area. The house has planning permission for a further 5,000 square feet.
What the broker says
What makes the property stand out from the crowd?
Its history is what makes this property particularly special – Hamilton Terrace is an extremely desirable street and many of the properties along the road are Victorian, so the fact this is an Art Deco home makes it stand out.
The house was commissioned to be built for a prominent London couple, the Marques and Marquesa de Casa Maury, in the late 1930s, and still has many of the original features that they installed such as lit bookshelves and porthole windows.
It is also said that the marques and marquesa regularly entertained some of the glittering stars of the day at the property.
Winifred May, the Marquesa de Casa Maury, was a renowned English socialite. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
It’s definitely retained that sense of being a brilliant house to host guests, particularly as the living accommodation is all on the ground floor and leads out to the garden and the outdoor heated swimming pool. You could imagine someone could have some great parties here.
Are there similar homes in London?
It’s unusual to see a home in this part of London that combines Art Deco features with this sense of scale and specification.
The sale definitely presents an exciting proposition for someone. Particularly in the super-prime market, we are seeing buyers wanting the rarity factor in a property and Hamilton Terrace certainly delivers on that requirement.
What kind of buyer would the property most suit?
This is a fantastic and versatile house in terms of its accommodation. It could work well for a family, particularly as it is in a great location for some of London’s best schools, but we’d also expect it to appeal to the international market who might be drawn by the spread of bedroom accommodation for them and their guests. The principal suite is incredibly impressive – it occupies the entire first floor with his and hers dressing rooms, a bathroom and a balcony overlooking the garden.
Hamilton Terrace is beautifully presented but also offers someone the opportunity and flexibility to create a home that suits them and their needs in the future. There is currently a studio on the garden floor but this could make a great games room, cinema or staff accommodation.
The wider St John’s Wood area combines proximity to central London with a neighbourhood feel and holds many delights, including the home of cricket, Lord's.
Lord's is a mere cricket ball's throw from Hamilton Terrace. Getty Images
Why is now a good time to buy in London?
The top end of the London prime property market is the strongest I’ve seen it. Our researchers recently indicated that the London market has just seen record levels of £5 million-plus ($6.8m) activity. There’s strong demand at the top-end, particularly as buyers recognise the value to be had given that prices are now about 20 per cent below their peak.
Zach Madison, director, Savills St Johns Wood and property agent, Hamilton Terrace
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
