Living Well in the World's Second Most Expensive City International Living Postcards--your daily escape Wednesday, June 23, 2004
London, England 
The Tower of London: one of the most famous landmarks
in the world's second most expensive city.
London is the second most expensive city in the world (Tokyo is first), according to the Mercer survey released this month. Does that mean you should cross it off your to-visit or even to-live-in list? Absolutely not; you just have to know how to live like a local. For example, if you want to see a show, don't join the tourists at the West End. Instead, go to the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square; just as central as the West End, but with a better restaurant, more comfortable seats, and cheaper tickets. If you move to London, either full- or part-time, consider renting over buying; in the past five years, rents have increased slightly, but purchase prices have doubled. In central London, a one-bedroom apartment in good condition rents for £350 to £400 ($650 to $750) per week; a two-bedroom apartment, for $900 to $1,100 per week; and a three-bedroom penthouse with a balcony, for $1,650 to $2,000 per week. A one-bedroom apartment in Chelsea (one of the prettiest parts of town with some of London's best shopping and dining) costs £350,000 ($640,000). If you don't mind living in Zone 2 of the tube system (about 20-30 minutes from central London) then you can buy a two-bedroom apartment for £200,000 ($360,000) in tree-lined Kensal Green. Sven Lorenz
for International Living P.S. The latest issue of the Zagat restaurant guide has just crowned London as the new culinary capital of Europe--well ahead of Paris. I recommend Hakkasan at Hanway place, the only Chinese restaurant with a Michelin Star. Editor's note: When Sven Lorenz isn't encouraging readers to visit his adopted city, he's International Living's roving Profit Hunter, relentlessly scouting out unknown and undetected companies in overlooked markets. You can profit as he flushes out companies with hidden reserves or earnings potential not yet priced in by the market. Read the free report Sven has put together for International Living readers--about a little-known company poised to earn you 515% to 1,030%--here. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also on http://www.InternationalLiving.com today:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * London on the Cheap, Part I
Here are some ideas for furnishing your London pied-à-terre for less. *The World's Best
England has the oldest pub in the world, is one of the best places to hunt for antiques, and is home to the most romantic bed-and-breakfast. Full details on these, and other, world superlatives--including the best changing of the guard (it isn't at Buckingham Palace)--can be found in The World's Best report. * Moving to London
With his retirement, my British husband decided we should look into living in his native city, London. * Polo, Picnic, and Pimm's
My husband and I have a pretty good idea of how to spend a sunny afternoon in the deepest Cotswolds; the sort of afternoon that doesn't cost more than a picnic, gets the adrenaline going, and is quintessentially British. | 
