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    This London Building Starred in ‘Paddington.’ Now It Can Be Yours for $6 Million

    For fans of marmalade sandwiches and whimsical bear adventures, this Notting Hill property may feel oddly familiar—and for good reason. Located on the corner of Portobello Road and Denbigh Close, the bold red façade of Alice’s Antiques doubled as Mr. Gruber’s Antique Shop in all three Paddington films.  

    Throughout the movies and book series, penned by the late Michael Pond, Mr. Gruber’s antique shop is a beloved setting, where he shares wisdom and adventure with Paddington. According to The Times, the real-life Mr. Gruber is Douglas Carter, the 66-year-old owner of Alice’s Antiques. Now, as Carter prepares to retire, the mixed-use building—which is actually owned by his 87-year-old mother—is available to purchase through Knight Frank for £4.5 million (or about $6 million). 

    RELATED: Inside the Lavish Thailand Villas Featured on ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

    The London shop is stuffed with memorabilia and antiques.

    Knight Frank

    Held by the same family for three generations, this iconic corner building blends historical appeal with practical potential—and a touch of cinematic magic. The ground floor and basement comprise 1,341 square feet of prime retail space. With its position on one of London’s most photographed streets, the shop offers high visibility, significant foot traffic, and room for further development below. And if you have a knack for nostalgia, you’ll be pleased to know it also appeared in the original British crime comedy the Italian Job in 1969, giving it silver screen credentials across the decades. 

    Above the shop, the first and second floors unfold into a beautifully appointed 1,008-square-foot duplex maisonette. With large sash windows on three sides, the apartment is drenched in natural light. Interiors reflect a playful spirit, with a crimson staircase, patterned carpets, a blush-pink bathroom, and Edwardian fireplaces in both the bedroom and living room.  

    RELATED: Walter White’s New Mexico Home From ‘Breaking Bad’ Can Be Yours for $4 Million

    Upstairs is a two-story, one-bedroom apartment.

    Knight Frank

    The kitchen, charmingly compact, opens onto a French balcony and features burgundy floor tiles and matching cabinets. Just upstairs, a secluded roof terrace offers a perfect spot for coffee or cocktails, framed by views of Notting Hill’s famously colorful houses. 

    The property is being offered with vacant possession, allowing for flexibility in how the space is used—whether as a combined home and business, or as a longer-term investment. “Alice’s is an iconic property with so much character and history,” Jack Thomas, sales manager in Knight Frank’s Notting Hill office, told House Beautiful. “We’re thrilled to bring such a landmark opportunity to the market.” 

    Click here to see more photos of the real Alice’s Antiques.

    Knight Frank

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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    Mick Jagger’s Former London Flat Hits the Market for $7 Million

    Rock legend Mick Jagger brings the edge on The Rolling Stones’ 1969 track Live With Me, where he mentions taking “tea at three.” He likely indulged in a cup or two at three in his former sub-penthouse—the unit directly below the actual penthouse—in London’s Marylebone area, where he partied with bandmate Keith Richards and then-girlfriend Marianne Faithfull. Now listed for the first time in 30 years with Prime London and Beauchamp Estates, the $7 million (£5.5 million) home resides in a landmark Edwardian-era mansion. 

    Known as Harley House, the gated apartment house was designed by architects Edward Boehmer and Percey Christian Gibbs and built between 1903 and 1904. Jagger’s former party pad sits on the building’s fourth floor with nearly 2,500 square feet of living space. Two reception rooms sit off its entrance hall, and further in, four bedrooms span the layout.

    View of the grand entrance hall with herringbone wood flooring.

    Beauchamp Estates/Gold Lens Photography

    Shortly after the Stones was founded in 1962 by Jagger and Richards, alongside instrumentalist Brian Jones, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts, the band began to skyrocket to fame. The success of iconic tracks like (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction and Get Off My Cloud is what allowed Jagger to lease the posh apartment in 1966. He had the place decked out that first summer in a “hippie-bohemian” style. 

    Jagger and Faithfull began dating the same year, and by year’s end, she had “become a regular fixture in the apartment,” the co-listing agents claim in a statement. But if there’s one thing for certain, it’s that the rock star left his mark on the abode before moving in 1968 to Belgravia’s Chelsea Square. 

    During its refurbishment, Jagger had photographer Gered Mankowitz capture portraits of him in a fur coat on the roof and in the drawing room, formerly referenced as the “hippie lounge.” A soaring 10-foot ceiling hovers above a wood-burning fireplace there, next to honey-toned herringbone floorboards that span the home. Richards regularly stopped by, often staying for days at a time after Jagger’s no-doubt epic shindigs that reportedly saw the likes of Princess Margaret as well.  

    The elegant primary bathroom with a walk-in shower and soaking tub.

    Beauchamp Estates/Gold Lens Photography

    Jagger did another photoshoot at the property, during which photographer Colin Jones snapped the musician in its entrance hall, where he stood dressed in a vintage military uniform. Today the flat features a sleek, minimalist kitchen; a formal dining room for 10; a study; and a primary suite with large bay windows, a dressing room, and a very modern bathroom that likely bears little resemblance to Jagger’s days. 

    RELATED: A London Mews House With a Private Garage and Home Theater Can Be Yours for $17.8 Million

    Regent’s Park, set adjacent to Harley House, affords homeowners easy access to its calm green spaces; the local underground station makes traversing London a breeze; and, no doubt, when taking a break from performing tracks like Paint it Black or Aftermath, which dropped during his time at Harley House, Jagger and Faithfull visited Harrods and San Lorenzo nearby for lunches. 

    Click here for more images of the U.K. residence.

    Beauchamp Estates/Gold Lens Photography

    Authors

    Demetrius Simms

    Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Following a brief stint in public relations, their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture publications such as Men’s Health, Complex…

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    Fleetwood Mac Legend Christine McVie’s London Penthouse Hits the Market for $9 Million

    “I don’t sing about politics or anything like that. I sing about love.” 

    While the sweet statement once made by late Fleetwood Mac keyboardist and singer Christine McVie speaks to her true nature musically, the artist’s affection for contemporary design was more specifically captured in her London penthouse that’s just come up for sale at $8.9 million with Beauchamp Estates. The sunlit sanctuary’s posh amenities include a rooftop garden enveloped in greenery with open views over the city.

    Formerly part of a band named Chicken Shack, Christine joined British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac in 1970. That was two years after marrying John McVie, the group’s bassist. As part of its classic lineup, she famously cranked out tunes alongside drummer Mick Fleetwood, singer Stevie Nicks, and singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. Hit tracks Christine penned for the band include Don’t Stop and Songbird, among others.

    The parquet-floored dining room has one of the home’s eight fireplaces.

    Beauchamp Estates/Tony Murray Photography

    In 1988, McVie left the band after nearly 30 years to live in semi-retirement in a Grade II listed manor house in Kent. Shortly after making an appearance on stage with the band at London’s O2 arena in 2013, she rejoined the band for a world tour. As a result, she began spending more time in London, where she picked up the penthouse on Belgravia’s Eaton Place in 2015, after selling her estate in Kent. 

    RELATED: In London, an $18.7 Million Penthouse Pours Onto a Stone-Paved Terrace With Sculpted Plantings

    Refreshed by designer Simon Buhl Davis, the penthouse features a double reception room with two seating areas alongside a trio of sash windows that overlook Eaton Place. A doorway embellished with bespoke library joinery leads to the dining room, which seats up to ten guests atop light oak herringbone pattern parquet flooring. The Shaker-style kitchen nearby features yellow ceramic wall tiles, Gaggenau appliances, and a breakfast bar.

    A skylight floods the primary bath with natural light.

    Beauchamp Estates/Tony Murray Photography

    Eight marble fireplaces span the residence, in addition to 9-foot-tall ceilings and tall doors that open to well-appointed rooms like the primary suite. Fixed on the upper level, the bedroom sits beneath a vaulted ceiling, while the marble and tile bathroom sits below a skylight, and the glamorous dressing area comes lined with built-in wardrobes. There are two other bedrooms in the home, which is crowned by a rooftop garden that’s enveloped in mature plantings and overlooks the central district. 

    Privacy and security were priorities for the rock legend, who used the penthouse as a retreat when not on tour until her death at age 79 in 2022.

    Click here for more photos of the London residence.

    Beauchamp Estates/Tony Murray Photography

    Authors

    Demetrius Simms

    Demetrius Simms is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. Following a brief stint in public relations, their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture publications such as Men’s Health, Complex…

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    Herbert Hoover’s ‘White House’ in the U.K. Just Listed for $2.5 Million

    Nearly two decades before Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the United States in 1929, he was living outside of London, in a private residence that’s now on the market for £1.99 million (or about $2.5 million). The stately spread was, ironically enough, known as The White House.

    Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, resided at the Georgian spread in Surrey, England, in 1902 while he worked for Bewick, Moreing & Co., a London-based mining firm. According to the listing, which is held by Knight Frank, Hoover wrote in his memoirs, “My wife searched out a small country house at Walton-on-Thames.” There was also a footnote that remarked, “Curiously, it was known as The White House.” Today, the building sports a commemorative blue plaque affixed to the front wall that denotes that it was once home to the former commander-in-chief. 

    Spacious reception rooms have elegant fireplaces and rounded bay windows.

    GD Impact/Knight Frank

    The approximately 3,000-square-foot home is positioned on the south bank of the River Thames and was last sold in 2009 for £1.08 million (or $1.3 million), property records show. If the next owner is both a history buff and an architecture aficionado, they’ll be delighted to find tons of original period details remain intact, from the parapet walls to the decorative bay windows, stately fireplaces, and friezes. There’s even a bell tower on the roof. 

    Spanning two floors, the ground level is entered via an open-plan entrance hall and features four reception spaces, including drawing and dining rooms. From here, you’ll have access to a generously sized outdoor garden. Opposite the dining room sits the bespoke Tomy Howley kitchen, complete with stylish marble counters, gray cabinets, and brass hardware. Upstairs, the first floor holds all four bedrooms, including the main bedroom, which has its own bath. Each of the bedrooms is adorned with bay windows and a cozy fireplace. 

    The Tom Howley kitchen is equipped with marble counters, brass fixtures, and a cushioned bench.

    GD Impact/Knight Frank

    “The White House offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of history,” says Matthew Scott, head of sales in Knight Frank’s Weybridge office. “Georgian houses in Elmbridge are rare, and the property’s historic significance has generated a huge amount of interest from both British and American buyers.” So far this year, the U.K. has clocked several super-prime sales, including the offloading of a $47 million estate in London’s posh Belgravia district and, more recently, The Holme, once the world’s priciest home, sold for $172 million after two years on the market.  

    Click here to see more photos of the British estate.  

    GD Impact/Knight Frank

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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    Winston Churchill’s London Home Can Be Yours for $25.2 Million

    A London home that once belonged to the late statesman Winston Churchill has hit the market for £19.5 million (or about $25.2 million). The Englishman served as the Prime Minister of the U.K. twice, first from 1940 to 1945 during World War II and then from 1951 to 1955. Following his election defeat in 1945, Churchill reportedly bought 27 Hyde Park Gate for about $310,000 to use as an office. The location was ideal, next door to a townhouse he already owned, and he soon combined the two homes into one giant mansion. However, following his death in 1965, the Grade II-listed spread, just over two miles west of Buckingham Palace, was divided back into separate dwellings. 

    “Having been the cherished home of Sir Winston Churchill during a defining era in British history, this property has an illustrious heritage,” James Pace, head of Kensington sales at Knight Frank, told Mansion Global. 

    The pale-blue reception room’s stately fireplace is embellished with fluted columns.

    Knight Frank

    The elegant abode last changed hands in 2001 and is currently configured with six bedrooms arranged over four floors. There’s also a private terrace and a rather sizable formal garden thanks to its prime location on a quiet cul-de-sac. Inside, you’ll find much of the original character and charm, like wood-paneled flooring, intricate moldings, and stately fireplaces, remains intact. 

    The ground floor holds a dramatic double-height reception room in addition to a library and a sitting room. During Churchill’s time, a bedroom was positioned on this level where he reportedly recovered after breaking his leg while on vacation in Monte Carlo. Elsewhere, there’s a fairly modern-looking chef’s kitchen on the lower ground floor along with a breakfast room and formal dining area. The home now also includes its own gym. Fun fact: per English Heritage, Churchill converted one room at the adjacent 28 Hyde Park into his “snob library,” lined with his collection of finely bound books and portraits of his ancestors.

    The formal dining room spills out to the garden.

    Knight Frank

    Kensington has long been a hotbed of high-profile residents who include Madonna, JK Rowling, Stella McCartney, and, most notably, the late Freddie Mercury, who also owned a Kensington home known as Garden Lodge. The storied estate was put up for sale in February of this year for £30 million (roughly $38 million) by his longtime friend and former fiancée, Mary Austin. According to the listing, which is also being represented by Knight Frank, the late Queen frontman helped design the garden and stored the grand piano that he used to compose Bohemian Rhapsody here. 

    Click here to see more photos of Winston Churchill’s London home. 

    Knight Frank

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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    Tom Ford Snaps Up a Posh London Mansion for $104 Million

    Tom Ford is making headlines again, this time in the real estate arena, where he’s known as a regular buyer and seller of extraordinary homes.

    The billionaire fashion designer, who sold his eponymous label to Estée Lauder for $2.8 billion, has now broken a record for the priciest home sale in the U.K. this year after snapping up a London residence for a staggering £80 million ($104 million), The Times reported. The trophy dwelling, which is “believed to be a white stucco-fronted mansion,” is located in the city’s affluent Chelsea neighborhood near Hyde Park and the River Thames. However, further details regarding Ford’s new digs are still largely under wraps—other than it was last purchased for £16 million ($20 million) about two decades ago. 

    According to the British newspaper, the deal comes not long after Ford, the former creative director of Gucci, offloaded another of his residences, this one in tony Regent’s Park, for an impressive eight figures, and this latest transaction brings the value of his vast property portfolio to an eye-watering £270 million (or $351.6 million). One of Ford’s most notable holdings is Jackie Kennedy’s childhood summer home in the Hamptons, which he scooped up last summer for $52 million. The palatial East Hampton estate, known as Lasata, sits on a sprawling seven acres of land and features an eight-bedroom main residence, a guest house, a caretaker’s cottage, and a three-car garage. The Texas native bought the place from media producer David Zander, and before that, the big spread belonged to fashion designer and retail executive Reed Krakoff and his interior designer wife Delphine (who are currently selling another historic estate in New Canaan, Connecticut).

    So far, London has experienced a bit of a slump in the luxury real estate market in 2024 with a decline in high-end deals. It was previously reported that only 149 homes valued at £10 million (roughly $13.2 million) or more have traded hands in the past 12 months, compared with 192 in the prior period. In terms of who’s doing the buying, wealthy expats have been snapping up the city’s high-end properties thanks to favorable exchange rates. In fact, Knight Frank found that the percentage of U.S. buyers purchasing homes in London rose to 6.1 percent in the first six months of this year from 3.3 percent in the second part of 2023. 

    “There are obvious risks at the moment, but the super-prime market is still functioning, just at a reduced level,” Paddy Dring, global head of prime sales at Knight Frank, said in a statement. “It’s sometimes easy to forget just how attractive London is on the global stage.”

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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    Princess Diana’s Former Family Home in London Just Sold for $14.2 Million

    In one of the fastest celebrity real-estate deals since Emma Stone’s Spanish-style Los Angeles bungalow nabbed a buyer in less than two weeks, the former London home of Princess Diana’s stepmother, Countess Raine Spencer, has sold in just three days. 

    The residence at 24 Farm Street in Mayfair, which Diana frequently visited after her divorce from King Charles, originally went up for sale in late June for £10.95 million (or $14.2 million). It’s believed to be the quickest residential transactions in the neighborhood to go down this year, according to Wetherell, one of the firms that brokered the deal.

    The library was John Spencer’s favorite room in the house.

    WETHERELL

    “This is the first time that the Farm Street house has been on the market in 22 years, and it effectively sold in its first week on the market,” says Wetherell agent Robert Dawson in a statement. The Georgian-style mansion was built sometime in the early ‘80s and later purchased in 1990 by Diana’s father, John Spencer, as a gift for his second wife. After he died of a heart attack in 1992, the countess inherited the trophy property, plus a vacation home in the seaside town of Bognor Regis on the south coast of England. 

    The four-story estate sports a cream-colored stucco facade and features nearly 5,000 square feet of living space. Altogether, you’ll find five bedrooms, an elevator that accesses every floor, and a roof terrace at the tippy top. Most notably, the palatial pad bears similarities to Althorp, Princess Diana’s childhood home. For example, the dining room is decorated with the same red walls and glittering chandeliers as the royal residence. 

    The dining room where Countess Raine Spences used to entertain is modeled after Althorp House.

    WETHERELL

    The first floor of the home is decked out with a grand reception hall, a drawing room, and a stately library which is believed to have been her husband’s favorite room. There’s also a sleek-looking eat-in kitchen that opens onto a private outdoor patio. Upstairs, you’ll find two ensuite bedrooms, each with walk-in wardrobes. On the third floor, a self-contained guest suite offers up a bedroom, a dressing room, a bathroom, and access to the previously mentioned south-facing rooftop terrace. 

    The countess ended up selling the place in the early 2000s to art collectors Alan and Mary Hobart and moving back into the Grosvenor Square apartment where she lived with Earl Spencer. In addition to being a British socialite and local politician, Raine was well-known as the daughter of late romance novelist Dame Barbara Cartland. Interestingly, Cartland’s former Mayfair home was listed last year for $44 million. But that historic property has yet to find a buyer.  

    Click here to see more photos of Countess Raine Spencer’s London home. 

    WETHERELL

    Authors

    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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