Bridget Jones’s quirky, chaotic life once felt relatable to many, but could she afford her iconic Borough Market flat in today’s London? With property prices soaring by 182% since Bridget Jones’s Diary first hit cinemas, the answer is likely no. As housing costs skyrocket, Bridget’s charming London lifestyle has become an increasingly unrealistic dream.
The Truth Behind the Fiction
Bridget Jones’s charming apartment has seen an astronomical rise in value over the last two decades. When the lovable character first hit screens in 2001, purchasing the one-bedroom flat above the Globe Tavern pub would have set a buyer back just £147,347 according to research by the Good Money Guide.
Today, that price has soared. Selling to a cash-buying company like We Buy Any Home which would carry out a desktop valuation and issue an offer within 24 hours, based on recent property sales in the area as well as other factors like size, condition, and market trends, would see Bridget’s flat sell for around £400,000. That’s an increase of more than 170%.
Meanwhile, if the flat were to be sold on the high street, the Good Money Guide says it would fetch around £415,090. That’s a 182% increase. While Bridget’s lifestyle once felt aspirational yet attainable, the cost of owning a similar home in 2025 is now significantly out of reach for many Londoners, underscoring the widening gap between salaries and housing affordability.
Source: Unsplash
The financial leap isn’t limited to purchasing. Renting in the capital has also become an increasingly costly endeavour. In 2001, the average one-bedroom rental in London would have been around £7,924 per year.
Fast-forward to today and, according to The Guardian, typical rents per month in the city were at £1,341 or £16,092 per year. That’s a 103% rise. While Bridget’s story remains timeless, her modest yet picturesque London life is now an expensive fantasy for most.
A Much-Loved Series
The Bridget Jones film series, based on Helen Fielding’s bestselling novels, has become one of the most beloved romantic comedy franchises of the past two decades.
Starring Renée Zellweger in the iconic role of Bridget, the films chronicle her journey through love, career struggles, and self-discovery, with the ever-charming Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) and the roguish Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant) playing key roles in her romantic entanglements.
The series began with Bridget Jones’s Diary in 2001, which was a massive box office hit. The sequel, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, arriving three years later, was equally successful commercially, leading to a third film in 2016. Most recently, after a nearly decade-long gap, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy marked the character’s return in 2025.
These films have continued to resonate with audiences for their relatable portrayal of love, self-doubt, and personal growth, and turned Renée Zellweger into an Academy Award-nominated Hollywood superstar along the way.
A Dream That’s Out of Reach
Bridget Jones may remain a beloved and relatable character, but her London lifestyle is now a luxury few can afford. As property prices continue to rise, the dream of owning a charming Borough Market flat like Bridget’s is out of reach for many.