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Infiltrating the hidden world of the London super-rich
Artist and writer MILES ELLINGHAM decided to go undercover to discover the city we don’t see
A Mercedes C Class car crashes into the basement of a luxury apartment block at Lancaster Terrace

IN 2018, I began a longitudinal study, in which I’d call up luxury London estate agents, pretend to represent a well-known billionaire and go to house viewings on their behalf.

What I found was an “impossible city,” one that sits somewhere out of sight yet oversees our lives.

It’s not a particularly difficult undertaking. Swiftness is key; just pick up the phone (never leave an email, else you’ll be inundated with marketing), call one of the major luxury agents and arrange a viewing.

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