Property of the Month: Charles Dickens’ former Regent’s Park townhouse
The ‘Oliver Twist’ author summered in this Regency-era home, which is now for sale with a hefty price tag
You know the west edge of Regent’s Park, in front of the Boating Lake? Those giant white stucco mansions that line the Outer Circle? Fancy living in one of those? Thought so.
Who wouldn’t want to reside on the border of one of London’s most illustrious Royal Parks, in a Grade I-listed home? If you’re unaware of how rare that designation is, just 2.5 per cent of approximately 400,000 listed buildings in England are awarded the highest status. Even Battersea Power Station has only received Grade II* ranking.
A key factor in our Property of the Month’s starry designation? Its architect. Who could resist being able to say their property was designed by the man responsible for Buckingham Palace? That’s John Nash, by the way, the architect who masterminded much of Regency London; he built Hanover Terrace in 1823-24.
And, while sensitive restorations are foremost in this property’s period charms, mod cons haven’t been forgotten either. Would you say no to circa 6,103 sq ft of internal space, and amenities such as a gym, sauna, and separate self-contained mews house with a garage and two bedrooms?
Well, now that this seven-bedroom St John’s Wood home has hit the market, all of this can be yours. You’ll need £22,500,000 to purchase it, of course.
The Palladian-style building is one of Regent’s Park’s most sought-after ‘Nash Terraces’. It was also where Charles Dickens summered in London; the writer purchased the home in 1861, often bringing his three children and hosting other members of the literary elite, including Wilkie Collins. Nowadays, Hanover Terrace’s famous inhabitants include Damien Hirst, Sacha Baron Cohen and Tom Ford, according to Business Insider.
The property, which boasts an ornately embellished façade, is set back from the Outer Circle behind a carriage drive. Stretched across five floors, it has recently undergone an extensive restoration. Let’s step inside.
Upon entry via the ground floor, you come across open-plan dining and sitting rooms – both of which benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows. On this floor, we also have the ‘garden room’, whose glass roof fills the space with warmth and light. Steps lead down into the south-west facing garden, where you will find the standalone mews house.
Descending to the lower ground floor, find a kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom (which could serve as a self-contained one-bedroom apartment with private access to a small courtyard). This floor is also home to an entertainment room, gym and sauna.
Upstairs, a reception room with access to a balcony occupies the vast majority of the first floor, while the bedrooms are arranged across the second and third floors; all enjoy far-reaching views across the park.
Located in one of the most recognisable locations in London – and within a terrace deemed by Historic England to be of ‘exceptional’ national, architectural, or historical importance – this property is a real showpiece.
The Hanover Terrace property is on the market for £22,500,000. Visit knightfrank.co.uk.
