Mayfair is without a doubt the most exclusive district in London, located in the very heart of the capital it is one of the most exciting places to live, work, and visit in London.

Renowned as the most expensive property on the monopoly board game, Mayfair attracts some of the worlds wealthiest and most influential people with it’s luxurious Georgian-style contemporary and chic property.

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Here is a countdown of Gartoo’s pick of the top five properties in Mayfair and the West End.

5. North Row
Located in the very heart of the Mayfair, North Row runs parallel to the popular commercial shopping area of Oxford Street, and features some of the most expensive properties in Mayfair. The North Row Place is one of the most luxurious 3 bedroom apartments on North Row, valued at £7.5million.

Properties in North Row

4. Grosvenor Square
Developed in 1721, Grosvenor Square was the third most fashionable residential addresses in London at the time, and forms the centerpiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of West minister, taking it’s name from his surname (Richard Grosvenor). The properties in this area now consist of impressive Neo-Georgian style apartments, surrounded by embassy’s and hotels.

Properties in Grosvenor Square

3. Queen Street
Situated in one of the more peaceful residential areas in the London’s West End, the properties on Queen Street ooze luxury, and tranquility. The property below is valued at almost £7,000,000 and has five stylish en-suite bedrooms, two dining rooms (one of which has a gallery), two reception rooms, a kitchen, and balcony.

Queen Street, Mayfair property

2. Park Lane
The properties on Park lane are optimally located overlooking one of the largest green spaces in London (Hyde Park), the apartments are predominantly Mid-Georgian in style and were historically one of the most fashionable residential addresses in London.

This apartment in Park lane is valued at £6,500,000

Properties in Park Lane

1. South Audley Street
Following an extensive refurbishment programme, the new romantic town houses on the south end of South Audley Street have some of the most impressive contemporary designs in the district. Unlike the north end of Audley street, the properties on the south side of maintain a large deal of their Georgian characteristics. Properties in this area value up to £11,000,000.

Properties in South Audley Street

There you have it, Gartoo’s pick of the top five properties in the Mayfair area. For more information on property in London visit the Gartoo property search engine.

Thatching has been used as a form of roofing in England for hundreds of years. The word itself is of Anglo-Saxon origin, although there is reason to believe that the craft of thatching is one of the oldest building techniques known to man. Roof tiles are no younger, having been extensively used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, although their use was historically reserved for larger and more expensive buildings than the average home. After the Industrial Revolution when mass production of roof tiles became possible, their popularity took off in the UK largely replacing thatching as a roofing material, but at what cost to the environment?

In spite of this illustrious pedigree, the demand of thatched roofs remains very much in demand nowadays. A search for “thatched roofs in Devon” yields a few dozen nice cottages currently on offer.

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Thatched roofs have always been less expensive

The manufacture of roof tiles requires more resources than the processing of natural fibres. While the water reed or straw necessary for thatching both grow naturally, clay or slate need to be mined. Not only does this mean that thatch is a renewable resource, it also means that cultivating it will generate far less carbon emissions than producing roof tiles, whilst possibly providing a habitat for wildlife. Water reed, by definition, only grows on land that is non-arable and so can be used to generate income from marshy ground without destroying animal habitats.

A local thatch is a good thatch

Nowadays a large proportion of English thatch is imported from abroad, although for those looking to earn their green credentials a local source is a must. As a matter of fact, the regional aspect of thatching, the local traditions, techniques and craftsmen, are a big part of what makes it so green. As all good locavores know, when things are locally sourced they create far less carbon emissions than when they are flown in from elsewhere. That includes the building material and the labour, both.

Energy saving by insulation and durability

The other main benefit to the environment is a result of thatch’s insulating properties. People with thatched roofs have no need to purchase additional loft insulation, making their heating demands a lot lower than many other homes.

However, above and beyond all of the other effects upon the environment, thatched roofs have one more advantage over roof-tiling: they blend in. As it slowly ages to a textured charcoal colour, thatching blends the line between your home and the natural world surrounding it. Birds like to nest in it (or, regrettably, steal bits of it and fly away), and mini-creatures like to live in it although you won’t notice them any more than in a normal house (or so I‘m told).

After the several decades that it will take before your thatch needs replacing, nature will have thrown up a new batch of building material that has housed ten generations of river voles before it did you. All in all, it’s hard to think of a more environmentally friendly building material for a modern house, and with thatched roofs slowly falling back into fashion, it’s certainly an interesting option for those who are willing to make the investment.