Keira Knightley buys east London property
Thursday, 17 February 2011 2:52 PM
Keira Knightley has bought a new home in Shoreditch, east London, consolidating a trend that has seen this bohemian part of the capital become hot property for household names.
According to the latest Primelocation survey, prices for the area's elite residences rose 1.5 per cent this month, while in north London, which is well-established as a trendy celeb haunt and is home to Kate Moss and Jude Law, house prices remained flat.
Property analyst Nigel Lewis said that a growing number of celebrities were looking at areas like Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, which until recently had been considered "rather grungy" and largely the reserve of "urbanites in their 20s" wanting the cheapest possible digs.
"Now the bohemian atmosphere is a positive attraction for celebrities who could well be in their 20s themselves, and the fact that these areas are slightly off the beaten path provides some welcome privacy too," he added.
"Last but not least, the fact that prime properties start at about £500,000 in east London, compared to nearly £1 million in the more traditional celeb-heavy areas of north London like Camden and Islington, shows you can get a lot more for your money there too."
Other famous east London residents include model and TV presenter Alexa Chung, who shares a pad with her Arctic Moneys beau Alex Turner, as well as Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker and controversial artist Tracey Emin.
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