What £1 m can buy

They are all homes on the market for an asking price of £1 million. Some are in elegant Georgian terraces, others modern penthouse apartments and some are spacious and rambling Victorian family homes.

A survey has just revealed that, with burgeoning property prices in the capital, the £1 million price tag is no longer the rarity it once was. But what exactly can you get for such a sum? Our look at the current market reveals an intriguing variety.

Ray Barrowdale, a spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said: "In certain parts of London, £1 million does not go very far at all, but if you are prepared to shop around and do your homework you can still find some exceptional properties at that price."

E1, WHITECHAPEL,
2-12 Walden Street

Six Grade II-listed terraced houses for auction on 27 May. The houses are two up, two down and need extensive refurbishment and renovation. These houses epitomise the mismanagement of key worker housing. Although near a hospital crippled by nursing shortages, and being owned by the medical school, they have stood empty and become derelict much to the fury of staff at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel who cannot afford to live in the area. Previously used to house junior doctors and nurses, they were declared unsafe in 1996 and have been boarded up since. The houses could have been converted but the owner, Queen Mary and Westfield College, claims they are too expensive to refurbish. However, after they have been auctioned it is estimated that, once renovated, the houses could be sold for £400,000 each.

Price: £1million (auctioneers: Allsops).

NW3, HAMPSTEAD
Kidderpore Avenue,
115 Elm House

Westfield is a new development of flats set in 2.5 acres of communal gardens. Flats have 24-hour porterage, security, a leisure complex with pool, gym and sauna. The flat is on the third and fourth floors, and has a roof terrace with sweeping views over London. There are three bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms, reception room, kitchen with integrated appliances and cloakroom. The attractions of Hampstead are too numerous to mention. Westfield is in north-west Hampstead, in an area called The Crofts with tree-lined avenues and large period houses. The area is near both Hampstead Heath and the village. Other convenient connections are to Brent Cross shopping centre, the M1 and Heathrow airport.

Price: £1million: (agents: FPD Savills).

E14, CANARY RIVERSIDE,
143 Eaton House

Brand new penthouse with two bedrooms, one with en suite bathroom, second bathroom and cloakroom, and one large living space. On the 14th and 15th floors of one of the four blocks of flats at Canary Riverside. The duplex has spectacular views. It is also convenient for Canary Wharf itself, with all its employment opportunities as well as the Four Seasons Hotel, Holmes Place health club and spa with swimming pool, and the selection of restaurants within Canary Riverside, including the acclaimed Ubon by Nobu. The Jubilee line extension or Docklands Light Railway gets you to central London in just a few minutes.

Price: £1.15 million (agents: FPD Savills).

SW4, CLAPHAM COMMON WESTSIDE

Split-level apartment occupying the lower ground floor and raised ground floor of a Georgian detached house overlooking Clapham Common. Four bedrooms, large kitchen, double reception room, study, two bathrooms and a 215ft garden and shared garage. Transport is by Clapham Junction mainline station, Clapham South Underground and a network of local buses. There is a variety of bars, specialist shops and restaurants on nearby Northcote Road and Battersea Rise. There is also an excellent choice of schools in both the state and private sector.

Price: £1.25 million (agents: Vanstons).

KEW RIVERSIDE
Plot 105 Juniper House

Three-bedroom penthouse with terrace. It includes a reception room with floor-to-ceiling windows, en suite bathroom and shower room, dressing room, fitted kitchen, utility room, cloakroom, terrace, two allocated parking spaces, and storage in underground car park. There are six acres of landscaped gardens and access to a private health club. A 10-minute walk from Kew Gardens Tube and Silverlink, Kew Gardens and Kew Green are both close. There are high performing state, private and Montessori schools. A fairly quiet area for nightlife - nearby Richmond and Chiswick are a better option for clubbers.

Price: £1.15million leasehold (agents: Antony Roberts).

STANMORE
Stanmore Hall, Wood Lane

Two-bedroom apartment in a Gothic-style development set in landscaped gardens of more than two acres. It also has two bathrooms, huge terrace and shared heated indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and gymnasium. The property is situated in Stanmore, at the end of the recently extended Jubilee line in Middlesex. The area is a thriving community with a variety of shops, delicatessens and restaurants. Nearby Bushey is good for shopping and the surrounding green belt area is a haven for golf, tennis and other sports clubs.

Price: £1 million (agents: Preston and Bennett).

SW1, SLOANE SQUARE,
Grosvenor Cottages

An attractive period cottage requiring refurbishment and reinstatement of an internal staircase. Three bedrooms, a bathroom, shower room, reception room, attic storeroom and patio garden. The property is in a quiet mews off Eaton Terrace two minutes walk from Sloane Square and King's Road: shopping at Peter Jones, Harvey Nichols, a host of designer labels, and David Mellor, where David Beckham spent £5,000 on cutlery. Culture includes the Royal Court Theatre.

Price: £1 million (agents: Behr and Butcheff).

N1, BARNSBURY,
37 Belitha Villas

Large, elegant, Grade-II listed, semi-detached, early Victorian four-storey house with landscaped garden. Four bedrooms and two bathrooms, shower and three other rooms. The house is in one of Barnsbury's most sought-after streets and has good transport links, being only a short walk from Highbury & Islington Station. It is also minutes away from trendy Upper Street with its bars, clubs and restaurants. Comedians seem to favour Islington: Jo Brand, Clive Anderson, Kathy Burke, Paul Whitehouse, Bill Bailey and Alan Davies have all lived there. Not so good for schools.