Luxury extras for new London homes: From rooftop yoga in Hammersmith to virtual golf on the Thames
New homes now come with luxury extras as standard to lure in Londoners with busy schedules.
Developers are continually trying to outdo their competitors by incorporating extra leisure facilities into the service charge. And, in time-honoured property fashion, the need to keep up with the Jones’ has led to ever more outlandish services, from virtual golf to sailing clubs.
“It’s not limited to fitness – relaxation and personal time are equally important,” says Kathryn McCombe, sales and marketing director at Berkeley’s St James group. “With such busy schedules, many are looking for their property to cater to wider lifestyle needs.”
Martin Lent, CEO of SCM, a developer manager who is running a Get Connected wi-fi enabled work hub for Oakmayne’s new homes in Southwark, thinks the rise of remote-working has also contributed towards this trend. “People nowadays want to actually live in their homes and not just buy somewhere to sleep,” he says. “I think it has become more popular with the rise of the amount of people working from home for very practical reasons.” For whatever reason, self-improvement is certainly closer to home than it’s ever been.
ROOFTOP YOGA AT QUEEN’S WHARF, HAMMERSMITH
This waterfront development by Mount Anvil and Fabrica next to Hammersmith Bridge will offer residents an on-site cinema and restaurant to enjoy as well as rooftop gardens split over three levels, with a dedicated platform for yoga so you can namaste to the new day with stunning views of the river. First completions are due in 2017.
Studio apartments available from £560,000. Call 020 7205 2973 or visit queenswharf.co.uk for prices and information
Cinema room at 251 Southwark Bridge Road
STAY CONNECTED AT 251 SOUTHWARK BRIDGE ROAD
Homeworkers will welcome the wi-fi enabled gardens and “Get Connected” lounge at Oakmayne’s new development in Southwark, which also has a residents’ coffee shop to keep you caffeinated. Then you can retire afterwards to the cinema room, restaurant or chill out lounge.
Prices start at £450,000. Call 020 3468 9251 or visit twofiftyonelondon.com
Finsbury Park
WATERSPORTS AT WOODBERRY DOWNS, FINSBURY PARK
Berkeley Group’s regeneration of this site in North London will offer its residents access to an on-site sailing club, so they can try kayaking, canoeing, open water swimming, triathlon training and rock climbing at the nearby Castle Climbing Centre. More relaxing amenities include a gym, jacuzzi, swimming pool and spa.
One bedroom apartments start at £425,000. Call 020 8985 9918 or visit woodberry-down.co.uk
Swim at the private members club at Fulham Reach
JOIN A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB AT FULHAM REACH
The other side of Hammersmith Bridge is home to Fulham Reach, whose new homeowners will be automatically inducted into a private members club so they can swim, gym and golf to their heart’s content. This development from St George also features a residents’ snooker table and wine cellar.
New homes at Faulkner House will start at £759,950. Call 020 7870 9500 or visit fulhamreach.co.uk
Play virtual golf at One Tower Bridge
VIRTUAL GOLF AT ONE TOWER BRIDGE, THAMES WALK
Get your swing in without even leaving home at Berkeley Group’s One Tower Bridge, which sits adjacent to the world-famous landmark on the South Bank of the Thames. This “urban golf experience”, as it’s marketed, uses motion sensors and a big screen so you can practice getting a hole-in-one whatever the weather.
Prices start at £1.13m. Call 020 7871 0011 or visit onetowerbridge.co.uk
Head to the gym at Kidbrooke Village
GO RUNNING AT KIDBROOKE VILLAGE, GREENWICH
Four new neighbourhoods are being created at Berkeley’s £1bn regeneration project in Greenwich, including 50 hectares of green space that’s perfect for exercising outside. Sutcliffe Park track and field is on-site, where Olympian Steve Backley trained, or head to the gym in the residents’ clubhouse.
Prices at the Blackheath Quarter from £360,000. Call 020 8150 5151 or visit kidbrookevillage.co.uk