It may not have experienced the stratospheric increases we have experienced in Ireland over the last decade, but the UK has undeniably enjoyed a boom of its own.

"This is a secure, openly traded market and major international investors are still coming into the UK, " explained Andrew Martin, head of the commercial division at Strutt and Parker.

"We have a strong economy and the London economy in particular is consistently attracting new money and investment."

The area that continues to show the brightest performance is the office sector, particularly London and the south east where pricing has adjusted accordingly said Tony Thesiger, investment partner in Strutt & Parker's West End business team.

However, the office market has shown rental growth across the country and while the retail sector has cooled, it is still pretty strong. The top end of the residential market is another sector where there is confidence about the long term prospects for growth.

"Now is the time for investors to be very careful with stock collection, " added Andrew Martin. Strutt & Parker Property Consultants, Tel: 00 44 (0)20 73185024