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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

By ARTHUR MARTIN and JAMES MCMEEKIN

The figure is 93 times the national average house price of £205,985. Even a single square foot of land in the street would cost you £1,193.


They are beyond the reach of mere mortals. In fact, the homes in Kensington Palace Gardens would be too pricey even for many celebrities, bankers and lottery winners.

A string of eye-watering property deals has helped to turn it into Britain’s most expensive street.

The average price of a mansion in the affluent road in Kensington, West London, is an astonishing £19.2million, according to a study by property company Zoopla.

Britain’s richest man Lakshmi Mittal, a steel magnate worth £23.8billion, bought one of the houses for £57million from the Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2004, and renamed it Taj Mittal.

Since then he has bought another home on an adjoining street for a record £117million from hedge fund tycoon Noam Gottesman.


Pricey: The Boltons in Kensington is among the most expensive streets it the UK. Just a single square foot of land in the London borough now costs £1,193


Residents of Kensington Palace Gardens also include Jon Hunt, who founded Foxtons estate agency which he sold for £390million in 2007.

An extraordinary subterranean playground is being built which will house a tennis court, health centre and a private motor museum for his six vintage Ferraris.


Keeping up with the Joneses: Nigella Lawson and Madonna are just two famous faces who call the borough of Kensington home


The property tycoon is thought to have rejected an offer of £200million for his eight-bedroom home from Mr Mittal’s son Aditya in 2008.

One of his even wealthier neighbours, Russian oligarch Leonid Blavatnik, is also building a massive underground extension for a swimming pool, gym and private cinema.

Mr Blavatnik, who has made at least £4.7billion in the oil business, outbid Mr Mittal and Roman Abramovich in 2004 with an offer of £41million for the 15-bedroom property.

The street’s allure is helped by Kensington Palace, set back from the road on the eastern side. The former home of Princess Diana is still the residence of several minor royals.


Both ends of the street are manned by armed Diplomatic Protection Group officers because it houses several embassies, including those of Israel and Russia.

As prices in the street soared in the past decade the makers of Monopoly chose it as the top square on the board ahead of Mayfair.


The second most expensive street is The Boltons, Kensington, where the average house is £13.3million, with Frognal Way, Camden, third at £10.6million. In fact the top ten expensive streets are all in London.

Virginia Water in Surrey - home to Wentworth Golf Club - is the seventh most expensive postal district in the country, with an average house price of £937,419.

The survey found 5,922 streets nationwide where the average home is more than £1million. Of these, 2,290 are in London, followed by 89 in Guildford and 78 in Cobham, both in Surrey.

Nick Leeming, from Zoopla.co.uk, said: 'Our study has found an enormous gulf between prices at the lowest and highest ends of the property market.

'A home in Britain's most exclusive street is beyond the wildest dreams of all but an extremely wealthy elite.

'At a whopping £19.2million, even National Lottery winners would now struggle to afford a house on Billionaire's Row.

'Those who aspire to live in a wealthy area, surrounded by celebrities, will also need a reality check.


Fashionable: Commuter hotspot Guildford, in Surrey, boasts 89 'million pound streets' - the second highest in the country


Footballers' wives territory: Cobham has the third highest number of 'million pound streets' in the country


'With a single square foot of land in Kensington costing £1,193, it is well out of the price range of your typical British homeowner.

'People have always been obsessed with the value of their home as well as those of neighbours, friends and family.

'Our rich list will give those who live on streets near the top of the list some serious bragging rights.'




source: dailymail

By ARTHUR MARTIN and JAMES MCMEEKIN

The figure is 93 times the national average house price of £205,985. Even a single square foot of land in the street would cost you £1,193.


They are beyond the reach of mere mortals. In fact, the homes in Kensington Palace Gardens would be too pricey even for many celebrities, bankers and lottery winners.

A string of eye-watering property deals has helped to turn it into Britain’s most expensive street.

The average price of a mansion in the affluent road in Kensington, West London, is an astonishing £19.2million, according to a study by property company Zoopla.

Britain’s richest man Lakshmi Mittal, a steel magnate worth £23.8billion, bought one of the houses for £57million from the Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2004, and renamed it Taj Mittal.

Since then he has bought another home on an adjoining street for a record £117million from hedge fund tycoon Noam Gottesman.


Pricey: The Boltons in Kensington is among the most expensive streets it the UK. Just a single square foot of land in the London borough now costs £1,193


Residents of Kensington Palace Gardens also include Jon Hunt, who founded Foxtons estate agency which he sold for £390million in 2007.

An extraordinary subterranean playground is being built which will house a tennis court, health centre and a private motor museum for his six vintage Ferraris.


Keeping up with the Joneses: Nigella Lawson and Madonna are just two famous faces who call the borough of Kensington home


The property tycoon is thought to have rejected an offer of £200million for his eight-bedroom home from Mr Mittal’s son Aditya in 2008.

One of his even wealthier neighbours, Russian oligarch Leonid Blavatnik, is also building a massive underground extension for a swimming pool, gym and private cinema.

Mr Blavatnik, who has made at least £4.7billion in the oil business, outbid Mr Mittal and Roman Abramovich in 2004 with an offer of £41million for the 15-bedroom property.

The street’s allure is helped by Kensington Palace, set back from the road on the eastern side. The former home of Princess Diana is still the residence of several minor royals.


Both ends of the street are manned by armed Diplomatic Protection Group officers because it houses several embassies, including those of Israel and Russia.

As prices in the street soared in the past decade the makers of Monopoly chose it as the top square on the board ahead of Mayfair.


The second most expensive street is The Boltons, Kensington, where the average house is £13.3million, with Frognal Way, Camden, third at £10.6million. In fact the top ten expensive streets are all in London.

Virginia Water in Surrey - home to Wentworth Golf Club - is the seventh most expensive postal district in the country, with an average house price of £937,419.

The survey found 5,922 streets nationwide where the average home is more than £1million. Of these, 2,290 are in London, followed by 89 in Guildford and 78 in Cobham, both in Surrey.

Nick Leeming, from Zoopla.co.uk, said: 'Our study has found an enormous gulf between prices at the lowest and highest ends of the property market.

'A home in Britain's most exclusive street is beyond the wildest dreams of all but an extremely wealthy elite.

'At a whopping £19.2million, even National Lottery winners would now struggle to afford a house on Billionaire's Row.

'Those who aspire to live in a wealthy area, surrounded by celebrities, will also need a reality check.


Fashionable: Commuter hotspot Guildford, in Surrey, boasts 89 'million pound streets' - the second highest in the country


Footballers' wives territory: Cobham has the third highest number of 'million pound streets' in the country


'With a single square foot of land in Kensington costing £1,193, it is well out of the price range of your typical British homeowner.

'People have always been obsessed with the value of their home as well as those of neighbours, friends and family.

'Our rich list will give those who live on streets near the top of the list some serious bragging rights.'




source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Urban phenomenon: The sun shines down on 42nd Street at the end of Memorial Day during the biannual occurrence coined 'Manhattanhenge' by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson


One of the most beautiful things in nature must surely be the sun rising and setting.

When that sunset happens to align with a street grid, basking a city that never sleeps in a radiant glow of light, even busy New Yorkers would be pushed not to stop and marvel at its brilliance.

It's that time of year again known as 'Manhattanhenge' - when the sun aligns precisely with the street grid in Manhattan, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough's grid.


Sun rising up: Manhattanhenge occurs when the setting sun aligns itself with the east-west grid of streets in Manhattan, allowing the sun to shine down all streets at the same time


This special day - also known as Manhattan solstice - comes twice a year. This year it falls on May 30 and July 12 - when the sun sets with half the disc sitting above and half below the horizon. Though fans can also enjoy the spectacular views on May 31 and July 11 when at sunset, you can see the entire ball of the sun on the horizon.

The times are calculated every year by the astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, who coined the term 'Manhattanhenge' in 2002, named after the British Stonehenge, which celebrates summer and winter solstice.

Though in New York it does not signal the solstice - the changing of the season - due to the position of Manhattan's grid.


Beautiful: This occurs in Manhattan due to a clear view to the horizon beyond the grid - across the Hudson River to New Jersey - as well as the tall buildings that line the streets, creating a vertical channel to frame the sun


Mr deGrasse Tyson explains: 'In spite of what pop-culture tells you, the sun rises due east and sets due west only twice per year on the equinoxes - the first day of spring and of autumn. Every other day, the sun rises and sets elsewhere on the horizon.

'Had Manhattan's grid been perfectly aligned with the geographic north-south line, then the days of Manhattanhenge would coincide with the equinoxes. But Manhattan's street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment elsewhere into the calendar.'

Mr deGrasse Tyson notes that the dates correspond with Memorial day and Baseball's All Star Break.

He said: 'Future anthropologists might conclude that, via the sun, the people who called themselves Americans worshipped war and baseball.'


Namesake: Manhattanhenge is named after Stonehenge in England when the sun Sun rises in perfect alignment with several of the stones, signaling the change of season



Last year: The sun illuminates New York's 34th Street during 2010's Manhattanhenge as well as the city's iconic Empire State Building


He explains that the reason this unique urban phenomenon occurs in Manhattan is due to a clear view to the horizon beyond the grid - as New York does across the Hudson River to New Jersey. Combine that with the tall buildings which line the streets, creating a vertical channel to frame the sun and you get a rare and striking photographic opportunity.

To get the best view of this rare and beautiful sight, sun watchers need to be as far east in Manhattan as possible and look west across the avenues.

The best places to get a view are the Empire State or Chrysler buildings as well as along 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets.

Tonight, Manhattanites can view the full ball of the sun at 8.17pm for about ten minutes.


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Me, ruthless? Nicole Scherzinger, who is set to replace Cheryl Cole as a judge on the U.S. X Factor, puts on an affectionate show with fans outside her hotel in Paris, France, today


Nicole Scherzinger has struggled to wipe the smug grin off her face since managing to snare Cheryl Cole's U.S. X Factor job last week.

But perhaps the Machiavellian singer, who has been promoted from co-host to judge in the wake of Cole's sacking, was attempting to show a softer side today as she put on an affectionate display with fans.

The former Pussycat Doll put on her best smile as she greeted a small crowd of young supporters, who were waiting for her outside her hotel in Paris, France.


Check me out: The singer showed off her toned figure in a form-fitting beige dress and thigh-skimming animal print bots


The 32-year-old star look perfectly groomed in a form-fitting asymmetrical beige dress, teamed with thigh-skimming animal print boots.

Of course, Nicole is no stranger to ruffling feathers.

Back in 2009 the Pussycat Dolls, of which she was the frontwoman, imploded amid reports of infighting and jealously.

The other girls were said to be bitter about Scherzinger's rising profile - while all they got to do was be her backing dancers.

Nicole has since admitted she has not remained in touch with her former gal pals - Carmit Bachar, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt.

She is now focused on her solo career and, of course, the U.S. X Factor and the exposure it will give her.


Moving on up: Nicole pictured last month with Cole (R), Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, LA Ried and Steve Jones (L)


Last December, Scherzinger coolly glossed the acrimony between herself and other members of the Pussycat Dolls, merely saying rows were 'inevitable'.

Nicole flew to Europe a few days ago to support her motor racing driver boyfriend in the Monaco Grand Prix.



Queen bee: As the former frontwoman of the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole isn't used to taking second place


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Me, ruthless? Nicole Scherzinger, who is set to replace Cheryl Cole as a judge on the U.S. X Factor, puts on an affectionate show with fans outside her hotel in Paris, France, today


Nicole Scherzinger has struggled to wipe the smug grin off her face since managing to snare Cheryl Cole's U.S. X Factor job last week.

But perhaps the Machiavellian singer, who has been promoted from co-host to judge in the wake of Cole's sacking, was attempting to show a softer side today as she put on an affectionate display with fans.

The former Pussycat Doll put on her best smile as she greeted a small crowd of young supporters, who were waiting for her outside her hotel in Paris, France.


Check me out: The singer showed off her toned figure in a form-fitting beige dress and thigh-skimming animal print bots


The 32-year-old star look perfectly groomed in a form-fitting asymmetrical beige dress, teamed with thigh-skimming animal print boots.

Of course, Nicole is no stranger to ruffling feathers.

Back in 2009 the Pussycat Dolls, of which she was the frontwoman, imploded amid reports of infighting and jealously.

The other girls were said to be bitter about Scherzinger's rising profile - while all they got to do was be her backing dancers.

Nicole has since admitted she has not remained in touch with her former gal pals - Carmit Bachar, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt.

She is now focused on her solo career and, of course, the U.S. X Factor and the exposure it will give her.


Moving on up: Nicole pictured last month with Cole (R), Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, LA Ried and Steve Jones (L)


Last December, Scherzinger coolly glossed the acrimony between herself and other members of the Pussycat Dolls, merely saying rows were 'inevitable'.

Nicole flew to Europe a few days ago to support her motor racing driver boyfriend in the Monaco Grand Prix.



Queen bee: As the former frontwoman of the Pussycat Dolls, Nicole isn't used to taking second place


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


But I'm a WAG! Helen Flanagan argues with Wembley senior safety supervisors to try and be let back into the Swansea football match


Helen Flanagan might be a premiership WAG now, but staff supervisors at Wembley didn’t recognise the Coronation Street star at her boyfriend’s match yesterday.

The 20-year-old actress went to watch Scott Sinclair play for Swansea in yesterday’s play off against Reading, but was refused entry into the stadium.


She's on Corrie! Fans stepped in to tell security who she is


The star, who plays Rosie Webster in Corrie, left the stadium during the match and when she tried to return, security staff didn’t want to let her back in.

Fans stepped up to defend Sinclair’s girlfriend though and after convincing staff she was who she said she was, they eventually escorted her back in.

Luckily she managed to catch the end of the match, during which her boyfriend scored a hat-trick that has sent Swansea into the Premier League.


Thanks guys! Helen finally talked her way into their good books and was let back into the match


The 22-year-old footballer has been dating 20-year-old Flanagan for 18 months.
They met while the striker was on loan to Wigan from Chelsea and was living in Manchester.

But it seems the WAG hasn’t become as well-known yet as fellow footballer’s girlfriends by stadium staff.


Happy couple: Helen Flanagan and Scott Sinclair on a date in Manchester in April this year


Man of the match: Scott Sinclair of Swansea celebrates after scoring



Co-stars: Helen seen out last week in Manchester with her Corrie co-star Brooke Vincent

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


But I'm a WAG! Helen Flanagan argues with Wembley senior safety supervisors to try and be let back into the Swansea football match


Helen Flanagan might be a premiership WAG now, but staff supervisors at Wembley didn’t recognise the Coronation Street star at her boyfriend’s match yesterday.

The 20-year-old actress went to watch Scott Sinclair play for Swansea in yesterday’s play off against Reading, but was refused entry into the stadium.


She's on Corrie! Fans stepped in to tell security who she is


The star, who plays Rosie Webster in Corrie, left the stadium during the match and when she tried to return, security staff didn’t want to let her back in.

Fans stepped up to defend Sinclair’s girlfriend though and after convincing staff she was who she said she was, they eventually escorted her back in.

Luckily she managed to catch the end of the match, during which her boyfriend scored a hat-trick that has sent Swansea into the Premier League.


Thanks guys! Helen finally talked her way into their good books and was let back into the match


The 22-year-old footballer has been dating 20-year-old Flanagan for 18 months.
They met while the striker was on loan to Wigan from Chelsea and was living in Manchester.

But it seems the WAG hasn’t become as well-known yet as fellow footballer’s girlfriends by stadium staff.


Happy couple: Helen Flanagan and Scott Sinclair on a date in Manchester in April this year


Man of the match: Scott Sinclair of Swansea celebrates after scoring



Co-stars: Helen seen out last week in Manchester with her Corrie co-star Brooke Vincent

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Not classy! Lydia Bright tried to recreate the same ensemble as Kate today, she did not quite pull off the look


Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge turned heads in her £175 beige Reiss dress last week but when Lydia Bright tried to recreate the same ensemble today, she did not quite pull off the look.

The Only Way Is Essex star was spotted strutting into a London office with a Selfridges bag in tow, wearing the same high street dress as Kate.

But instead of displaying a classic royal style, Lydia’s ill-fitting dress was not flattering and the Essex girl even had VPL.

Just like Kate, she also paired the above-the-knee number with black heels but Lydia’s clunky shoes were anything but dainty.


At least the handbag's different! Lydia wears the same Reiss dress and black heels like Kate but carries a different bag


The camel-coloured ‘Shola’ design is from one of the Duchess’s favourite brands and she wore the Reiss frock to meet Barack and Michelle Obama during their UK visit last week.

After the new bride showed off her impeccable figure in the design, the fashion chain’s website crashed and the dress sold out within 24 hours.


VPL: Lydia was displaying visible panty line through the dress as we caught a glimpse of her underwear


Obviously Lydia was one of the women to flock to the site to quickly grab herself the same dress.

After the mania, it was advertised on eBay for £600 and a £30 copy is being prepared by Tesco.

Reiss then announced that the dress will be re-released in five to six weeks to cater for the demand.


Special occasion: Kate wore her Reiss dress last week while meeting Michelle Obama (right) and President Obama


But after more investigation into the British fashion chain, it was found that the original Reiss dress was manufactured by women paid only 99p an hour in a poor suburb of Romania’s capital.

It was produced for less than £15 by seamstresses earning significantly less than the average salary for textile workers in the Eastern European nation.

The 170 employees of clothing firm Rimcor Ex work in a factory which resembles an industrial compound with bars on the windows, 8ft walls and solid metal fences.


Red carpet glamour: Lydia looking lovely at the Bafta TV Awards with on/off boyfriend James Argent


But the average high street shopper is no doubt blissfully unaware of how their favourite dresses find their way onto the shelves.

Lydia Bright was back in London after her recent trip to Marbella, Spain, with the rest of her cast-mates from The Only Way Is Essex.

And despite her underwear being on show through the ill-fitting dress, her holiday tan did suit the beige frock nicely.




source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Not classy! Lydia Bright tried to recreate the same ensemble as Kate today, she did not quite pull off the look


Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge turned heads in her £175 beige Reiss dress last week but when Lydia Bright tried to recreate the same ensemble today, she did not quite pull off the look.

The Only Way Is Essex star was spotted strutting into a London office with a Selfridges bag in tow, wearing the same high street dress as Kate.

But instead of displaying a classic royal style, Lydia’s ill-fitting dress was not flattering and the Essex girl even had VPL.

Just like Kate, she also paired the above-the-knee number with black heels but Lydia’s clunky shoes were anything but dainty.


At least the handbag's different! Lydia wears the same Reiss dress and black heels like Kate but carries a different bag


The camel-coloured ‘Shola’ design is from one of the Duchess’s favourite brands and she wore the Reiss frock to meet Barack and Michelle Obama during their UK visit last week.

After the new bride showed off her impeccable figure in the design, the fashion chain’s website crashed and the dress sold out within 24 hours.


VPL: Lydia was displaying visible panty line through the dress as we caught a glimpse of her underwear


Obviously Lydia was one of the women to flock to the site to quickly grab herself the same dress.

After the mania, it was advertised on eBay for £600 and a £30 copy is being prepared by Tesco.

Reiss then announced that the dress will be re-released in five to six weeks to cater for the demand.


Special occasion: Kate wore her Reiss dress last week while meeting Michelle Obama (right) and President Obama


But after more investigation into the British fashion chain, it was found that the original Reiss dress was manufactured by women paid only 99p an hour in a poor suburb of Romania’s capital.

It was produced for less than £15 by seamstresses earning significantly less than the average salary for textile workers in the Eastern European nation.

The 170 employees of clothing firm Rimcor Ex work in a factory which resembles an industrial compound with bars on the windows, 8ft walls and solid metal fences.


Red carpet glamour: Lydia looking lovely at the Bafta TV Awards with on/off boyfriend James Argent


But the average high street shopper is no doubt blissfully unaware of how their favourite dresses find their way onto the shelves.

Lydia Bright was back in London after her recent trip to Marbella, Spain, with the rest of her cast-mates from The Only Way Is Essex.

And despite her underwear being on show through the ill-fitting dress, her holiday tan did suit the beige frock nicely.




source: dailymail