Reese Witherspoon and boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal are said to be seriously considering buying a London pad after viewing a number of properties in the capital.

The Hollywood couple " who have been dating since last year " have been looking to buy in upmarket Mayfair, according to the 'Chicago Sun-Times' newspaper.

A real estate source claims the Legally Blonde star is keen to find a safe house for her 2 young children, stating: "Reese was extremely concerned about security issues.

The source added "She seemed to particularly like places where they could enter and exit not directly onto the street. That's not always an easy thing in Central London, especially Mayfair. But we were able to come up with a couple of places both she and Jake seemed to like."

There have been rumours that the couple are set to marry after Reeses divorce from Ryan Phillipe was finalised earlier this year.