As every individual within the M25 will be excitedly telling you, there’s a heatwave happening. You may be looking forward to having a sunbathe on your terrace – perhaps inviting friends over for an al fresco dinner, or having a few intimate drinks. Or you may not have any outdoor space, and be cursing the fact as we speak.

The terrace is an ideal solution for the busy Londoner: realistically, you don’t have time for gardening, and balconies are a little too pokey. Terraces are low-maintenance, spacious and, done right, utterly gorgeous. If the sunny weather is inspiring wistful thoughts, look no further than our guide to the best London homes with terraces currently on the market.

Regent’s Crescent, W1B

Originally built in 1820 for the Prince Regent and designed by famed architect John Nash, a significant portion of Regent’s Crescent has now been transformed into one of London’s most rarefied addresses, and, I don’t mean to cause a stampede, but the penthouse is still available. This duplex residence, situated within London’s only Grade I-listed new build, spans 4,144 sq ft and comprises five bedrooms and six bathrooms – but we’re here to talk about the terrace. The 915 sq ft outdoor space is not only vast, but beautiful – with paving that matches the stone facades of the surrounding buildings and offers panoramic views across Park Crescent Gardens.

£15,450,000, regentscrescent.com

80 Holland Park, W11

Christian Candy’s 80 Holland Park is the first fully serviced residential development in the W11 postcode. Set across five ‘villas’, its 25 homes include lateral apartments, townhouse-style residences and four penthouses; but there are now only three homes remaining. Pictured above are the terrace spaces of the final penthouse and one apartment – as you can see, the aesthetic is clean, chic, and manicured, with pops of green giving things a fresh feel. And if you fancy a further foray into nature, London’s prettiest park is a stone’s throw away.

Remaining residences start from £7,250,000, 80hollandpark.com

Old Queen Street, SW1H

Here’s one for the traditionalists: this property is a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse (built c. 1775) on Old Queen Street, which runs parallel to Birdcage Walk and St James’s Park. The interior, like the provenance, is spectacular, arranged over seven floors and retaining many period details, as well as incorporating modern amenities. In addition to a landscaped rear garden, the Old Queen Street apartment also has a terrace overlooking St James’s Park and a roof terrace with views across Whitehall and the London Eye – so you’ll understand why it had to make this list.

£11,450,000, beauchamp.com

Culross House, W1K

This home has that covetable combination of being a new construction situated in a time-honoured address (just off Park Lane). And I do list ‘new build’ as a pro in this case, because the specification is impeccable. Interiors are luxurious and bespoke; you enter into an entrance hall that provides a vista right through to the huge, south-facing terrace. This space is breathtakingly modern, with marble paving and manicured landscaping.

£29,950,000, beauchamp.com

101 on Cleveland, W1T

101 on Cleveland is the latest development to make waves in Fitzrovia. All one-, two- and three-bedroom homes have private outside space, but the recently-unveiled three-bedroom penthouse takes the cake. Its terrace is accessed up a narrow staircase, where you emerge to an expansive London cityscape and the BT Tower soaring overhead. The rest of the apartment, designed by Bergman & Mar, is pretty special too, informed by an understanding of 18th century Fitzrovia – the bohemian Fitzrovia of Charles Dickens and Thomas Chippendale.

Prices from £1,390,000-£4,000,000, residential.jll.co.uk

Montpelier Terrace, SW7

This picture-postcard home is full of unexpected quirks thanks to a thorough refurbishment – the cream facade and wrought-iron balustrades contrast with touches like sliding doors and a spiral staircase lined with wine storage. There are not one, but two outdoor spaces: a tranquil roof terrace with whitewashed walls and artificial grass, and a very chic patio bordered by floor-to-ceiling windows for seamless indoor/outdoor living. It’s a clever configuration and adds to the sense of modernity in a property that possesses traditional charm in spades.

£5,950,000, residential.jll.co.uk

Gasholders London, N1C

From one refurbishment to a rather more ambitious one. Gasholders resides in King’s Cross’s renovated telescopic gasholder, built in 1824 to provide the storage needed to meet the demand of an ever-expanding city. Our focus is on the three-bedroom penthouse, where Suna Interior Design has treated each outdoor space as a room in its own right. The 1,009 sq ft private roof terrace is a triumph; with the gasholder’s iconic structure towering overhead, residents enjoy sandy decking and atmospheric strip lighting, although the star of the show is the expansive views of King’s Cross and beyond.

£7,400,000, gasholderslondon.co.uk

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