Westminster
Westminster is the historic heart of London, around the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and St James's Park, in the SW1 postcode. The name is also used for the much larger City of Westminster borough; this guide covers the Westminster neighbourhood itself, between the Thames, Victoria and St James's.
Living in Westminster
Behind the landmarks are quiet residential streets, such as the Georgian terraces of Smith Square, Lord North Street and Queen Anne's Gate, and mansion blocks and modern apartments around Victoria Street and Horseferry Road. St James's Park, Green Park and the Victoria Tower Gardens on the river are close by, and Pimlico and Belgravia are a short walk away.
Getting around
Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle lines), St James's Park (District and Circle) and Victoria (Victoria line, District and Circle, and mainline trains to Gatwick and the south coast) serve the area. The West End and the City are minutes away.
Cost of living in Westminster
Westminster is one of the most expensive parts of central London. Flats are the most common type of home, and period houses near Smith Square are rare and sought after.
Westminster postcode: SW1
The Westminster neighbourhood is in the SW1 postcode area, mainly SW1P (around Smith Square and Horseferry Road), SW1H (St James's Park and Victoria Street) and SW1A (Parliament and Whitehall). Pimlico and Victoria are also SW1.
House prices in Westminster
Across the City of Westminster, the average price paid for a home was about £887,000. Flats and maisonettes averaged about £785,000, and terraced houses about £1.64 million. Westminster neighbourhood flats close to Parliament and St James's Park usually sit above the borough average.
Source: HM Land Registry UK House Price Index, August 2026, borough-wide averages. Prices in individual streets vary widely.
Homes to rent and for sale in Westminster
See our current homes to rent and homes for sale in London.
Guides for renting, buying and selling in Westminster
Top 5 areas to live in central London
Letting agent fees: what landlords and tenants pay
The cost of selling a house in the UK
How property valuation works in London
Why you need a survey before buying
All our guides: letting, selling and buying.
What is your Westminster property worth?
Thinking of selling or letting? Ask our London team for a free sales valuation or rental valuation.
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