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    Freddie Mercury’s Former London Mansion Can Be Yours for $38 Million

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    No, this isn’t just fantasy. The real-life home of late music legend Freddie Mercury has hit the market.  

    Garden Lodge, located in London’s exclusive Kensington enclave, is just listed for £30 million (US$38 million). The former Queen frontman, who died in 1991 at age 45 of bronchial pneumonia, left the Neo-Georgian-style estate and all of its contents to his friend and former fiancée, Mary Austin. In the roughly 30 years since Austin has been living at and looking after the property full-time, but is now ready to part ways with the hallowed home. 

    “This house has been the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth in every room,” Austin said in a press statement. “It has been a joy to live in and I have many wonderful memories here. Now that it is empty, I’m transported back to the first time we viewed it.”

    The late Freddie Mercury helped create the garden at his home in London.

    Knight Frank

    The stately brick residence was originally built in 1907 by architect Ernest Marshall for artist couple Cecil Rea and Constance Halford and was at one time owned by Peter Wilson, a former chairman of Sotheby’s. According to Knight Frank, which is handling the sale, the Mercury bought the place on the spot in 1980 and later tapped interior architect and designer Robin Moore Ede to renovate the palatial pad.

    Internally, the residence sports the finest marble accents, rich wood floors, and tons of bright jewel tones. Most notably, the walls of the dining room are painted a citrusy yellow—the singer’s favorite hue. Other highlights include the double-height drawing room, where Mercury stored the grand piano that he famously used to compose Bohemian Rhapsody. The British singer also helped design the garden, which is dotted with large magnolia trees and sculpted plantings.

    “Ever since Freddie and I stepped through the fabled green door, it has been a place of peace, a true artist’s house, and now is the time to entrust that sense of peace to the next person.”

    Many of the walls in Garden Lodge have been painted using bold and bright hues.

    Knight Frank

    “The sale of Garden Lodge presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a significant property combined with a piece of cultural history, the beloved home of an icon,” added Paddy Dring, global head of prime sales and joint head of Knight Frank’s Private Office. “Having been carefully preserved with love and respect over the last three decades, we expect that the exceptional provenance of the property will be incredibly alluring to buyers across the world.” 

    Last year, Austin sold off a treasure trove of the star’s possessions during a Sotheby’s auction. At the time, Mercury’s belongings ignited a bidding frenzy, so prospective buyers might want to move quickly.

    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, dining, travel and topics…

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      A Nutritionist to the Royals Puts Her Glam U.K. Townhouse Up for Sale

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      After nearly 14  years of ownership, Czech-born model-turned-health guru Gabriela Peacock has decided to return her U.K. mansion designed in the 1850s by noted architect William Radford back to the market.

      The “nutritionist that everyone wants on speed dial”—who is known for an A-list clientele that has included the likes of Prince Harry, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, James Blunt and Dame Joan Collins—is looking to sell the stylish residence in the heart of Notting Hill for around $27 million, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

      Records show the founder of GP Nutrition and her hedge-funder husband David Peacock purchased the Victorian-style dwelling for £13 million in 2010 as newlyweds, after marrying on Lake Como. They spent the next two-and-a-half years extensively renovating the dated interiors, which included tacking on a basement level replete with an office and entertainment room, plus a gym, wine cellar, family room, guest bedroom, and staff wing with its own bedroom and kitchen.

      The 1800s townhouse underwent a full modernization at the hands of its current owners.

      Alex Winship for United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

      Billed in marketing materials as “the perfect blend of period features and modern interventions”—and resting amid one of the neighborhood’s prime tree-lined streets, within walking distance of the shops and restaurants of Westbourne Grove, and less than a mile from Hyde Park—the detached five-story property offers gated parking for two vehicles out front, and features seven bedrooms and five bathrooms in a little more than 6,500 square feet of living space.

      Highlights include a raised ground-level entrance hall adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the rear patio and garden, along with a double reception room ideal for entertaining. The garden level hosts a combination dining/living area spotlighted by folding glass doors spilling outside, as well as a gourmet kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and top-tier stainless appliances. A plush master retreat occupying the entire first floor comes complete with a private balcony, walk-in dressing area and luxe bath, while four more bedrooms can be found on the top level.

      Per WSJ, the Peacocks are selling because they want to move to the countryside. The listing is held by Marcus O’Brien and Dan Martin of United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty.

      Click here for more photos of Gabriela Peacock’s U.K. House.

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      English Poet Lord Byron’s Former London Townhouse Just Listed for $37.7 Million

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      A London mansion that was once home to poet Lord Byron and banking heiress Baroness Catherine d’Erlanger has hit the market.

      Listed for a cool £29.5 million (or roughly $37.7 million), the palatial townhouse at 139 Piccadilly most recently served as an office building. However, the historic property is being sold with full planning permission to convert it back into a single-family house—one that listing brokerage Wetherell estimates would be worth a whopping £70 million (or about $87.9 million).

      “The provenance of this Piccadilly mansion building overlooking Green Park is outstanding,” Peter Wetherell, founder and chairman of Wetherell, said in a press statement. “It was once the London home of poet Lord Byron, and during the 1920s and 1930s, it was the Mayfair private palace of French heiress Baroness Catherine d’Erlanger, one of the richest women in Europe at the time. Now a buyer has the opportunity to close the circle and bring this landmark building back to life.”

      An 18th-century London mansion formerly owned by Lord Byron is up for sale.

      Casa E Progetti/Tony Murray

      The Grade II-listed building offers up an impressive 15,339 square feet of living space and still retains tons of period details. Think tall sash windows, ornate ceilings, original fireplaces, and stone staircases.

      As a single-family residence, the mansion would include a stately entrance hall, seven grand reception rooms, and eight ensuite bedrooms. There’s also an elevator and a brand-new rooftop garden. Down below, the double basement could accommodate a recreation complex equipped with a movie theater, game room, swimming pool, and a wellness center that sports a sauna, steam room, and gym.

      Dating back to the 18th century, the abode was originally built sometime between 1760 and 1764. After it was renovated in 1815, it became the home of the British poet Lord Byron and his wife. According to the listing, Byron wrote Parsinia and The Seige of Corinth in the study of this home. However, he was forced to leave the home in April 1816 after his divorce, which involved an alleged infidelity scandal. The property was later scooped up in 1910 by the Baron and Baroness d’Erlanger.

      The British poet penned two poems inside the home’s library.

      Casa E Progetti/Tony Murray

      “This magnificent period building is one of the few surviving private palaces in Mayfair providing a discerning buyer with the opportunity to regenerate and transform it into a single palatial family home, an Embassy, private member’s club, new offices or a flagship retail boutique,” says Robert Britten, sales Director at Wetherell. “Buildings of this scale and importance and in such an ultra-prime Green Park location rarely come up for sale in Mayfair.”

      Click here to see all the photos of 139 Piccadilly.

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      Football Club Boss David Sullivan Puts His Storied London Mansion Up for Sale at $94 Million

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      After eight years of ownership, plus a seven-year, nearly $63 million renovation spearheaded by London‘s MSMR Architects and 1508 design studio, West Ham United Football Club chairman David Sullivan has decided to kick his U.K. mansion back on the market.

      The wealthy Welsh media mogul—who amassed his fortune as a publisher of pornographic magazines and proprietor of erotica shops, and chief of the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport tabloid newspapers—is looking to sell the historic residence for $94.6 million, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Records show he purchased the Georgian-style dwelling for around $34 million in 2015 from convicted fraudster Edward “Fast Eddie” Davenport, a British entrepreneur and socialite known for hosting raucous, celeb-studded parties at the premises during his tenure there.

      The Portland Place mansion has been called “one of the largest and most remarkable houses in central London.”

      Julian Abrams/United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

      Originally designed and built by the noted architect brothers Robert and James Adam way back in the mid-1770s, the Grade II*-listed property has been occupied by numerous aristocrats through the years, including antiquarian and traveler Joseph Wyndham, 4th Earl of Abergavenny William Nevill and James Blyth, a millionaire who founded the famed gin distillery W&A Gilbey.

      More recently, the building served as the Sierra Leone embassy, as well as a main location for the Oscar-winning film The Kings Men, an Agent Provocateur fashion shoot featuring Kate Moss and Amy Winehouse’s Rehab music video.

      A large formal dining room opens to a reception room via a hydraulic wall.

      Julian Abrams/United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

      Billed in marketing materials as “one of the largest and most remarkable houses in central London”—and sited on the unusually wide Portland Place street, within walking distance of Regent’s Park, West End and Marylebone High Street—the property features a six-story main home and separate mews house, for a total of 11 bedrooms and 10 baths in nearly 21,000 square feet of meticulously preserved living space replete with bespoke joinery, marble finishes, hand-painted wallpaper and artisan chandeliers.

      Highlights include an opulent entrance hall adorned with a curving staircase, along with a formal dining room spotlighted by a hydraulic wall that disappears at the push of a button to reveal an adjoining reception room. There’s also a gourmet kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and accompanying breakfast nook.

      An indoor lap pool and hot tub offers the perfect spot for relaxation.

      Julian Abrams/United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty

      A plush master retreat occupies the entire second floor, and comes complete with dual dressing rooms and baths; and elsewhere is a screening room, wine cellar, gym, massage room, an indoor pool and spa, and a top-level atrium “sky lounge” boasting a seated bar and access to a terrace overlooking views of the BT Tower.

      The listing is held by James Gubbins of United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty.

      Click here for more photos of David Sullivan’s London mansion.

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      Rihanna’s Lavish London Mansion Just Sold for a Record $33.4 Million

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      A London mansion rented by Barbadian superstar Rihanna has just been sold for £27.5 million, or roughly $33.4 million. 

      According to Savills and Aston Chase, who were the appointed agents, the Diamonds singer’s 6,332 square-foot former rental on swanky St. John’s Wood Park was snapped up by a family from overseas for a record-breaking £3,500 (or about $4,250) per square foot. The Fenty Beauty founder lived at the palatial pad for about two and a half years when she was based in the U.K. between 2018 and 2020, reported The London Evening Standard. At the time, the multihyphenate billionaire mogul was leasing the place for a whopping £18,000 (or $21,870) per week.  

      “This sale is indicative of the surge in demand from Chinese buyers for super-prime homes in London,” explains Mark Pollack, co-founding director of Aston Chase, in a press statement. “As a result of an inability to travel during the pandemic many wealthy Chinese and Hong Kong residents are prioritizing a ‘Plan B’ in the eventuality of another unforeseen event leading to the Chinese government restricting movement.” 

      A London home once rented by Rihanna just sold for $33.4 million.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray Photography

      The white stucco mansion, designed by renowned architect John Shaw Junior and built in 1844 by local builder William Holme Twentyman, first belonged to De Beers diamond tycoon Daniel Francis. The fully refurbished five-story home contains eight bedrooms, multiple reception rooms, a library, and an open-plan kitchen. An impressive 21-foot terrace that overlooks a sprawling rear garden. 

      A notable perk is the dwelling’s private gym, which features a weight room and exercise studio. While it’s not clear whether the new owner intends to expand the abode’s current wellness offerings, the property includes approved plans for an additional health spa with a swimming pool, a sauna, a steam room, and massage facilities. 

      The St. John’s Wood Park property features a fully equipped gym and approved plans for an extensive wellness complex.

      Aston Chase/Tony Murray Photography

      “Savills is delighted to have introduced the buyer and successfully sold this famous house on St John’s Wood Park in one of the biggest deals in St John’s Wood in 2023,” added Stephen Lindsay with Savills. “This is an extremely special house, the only one of royal architect John Shaw’s original villas on St John’s Wood Park to have survived into the 21st century. The substantial price achieved firmly underlines the value and quality of this unique trophy home and the enduring appeal of St John’s Wood with buyers from both the UK and from around the world.”

      Click here to see all the photos of Rihanna’s former London rental.

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      A London Townhouse Once Owned by the Manager of The Beatles Just Listed for $10.6 Million

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      Not only did Brian Epstein launch The Beatles into superstardom, he also offered up his home in London as a hideout for the Fab Four to escape their hordes of screaming fans. Fast forward to today, and the late manager’s Mayfair townhouse has hit the market for £8.75 million (or roughly $10.7 million).

      The Grade II-listed Georgian dwelling measures 3,800 square feet and features five bedrooms plus an adjoining mews house. The latter is connected to the main house through the basement and is where Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr used to hang. It’s also believed to be the place where they worked on their eighth studio album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

      Originally built in the 1750s, Epstein acquired the swank abode in the 1960s as his private residence. He later turned the townhouse into an early version of the Apple Corps headquarters before he died of an accidental overdose in 1967. Following Epstein’s passing, the residence was purchased by author and politician Norman St John-Stevas, Lord St John of Fawsley, a close advisor to Margaret Thatcher.

      The Beatles used to hide out and hang out in the home’s adjoining mews house.

      Wetherell

      “This Charles Street townhouse and mews was the Mayfair base of two famous showmen, firstly Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who allowed the Fab Four to use the mews as their bolthole, and later Norman St John-Stevas, one of British politics’ most colorful characters,” explains Peter Wetherell, founder and executive chairman of Wetherell, in a press statement. 

      The Charles Street townhouse dates to the 1750s.

      Wetherell

      The 18th-century pad spans six floors and was designed by master carpenter John Phillips. On the outside, you’ll find tons of period details like a slate roof, sash windows, and wrought-iron railings. Internally, the reception spaces are decked out with parquet flooring, fireplaces, plaster paneling, and gilded ceiling motifs. The various living and entertaining spaces include a drawing room, a home office, a modern kitchen, and a roof terrace. Fun fact: Lennon once tagged the kitchen tiles with graffiti, but they were later removed and sold at auction. 

      “It is extremely rare to find a Grade II listed townhouse in the heart of Mayfair that has not only retained so many wonderful traditional Georgian features but comes with its original mews house intact and several private outdoor spaces,” adds Wetherell. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Brian Epstein’s Charles Street townhouse. 

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      Richard Burton’s Former London Mansion Hits the Market for $9.8 Million

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      Richard Burton went from being a humble, stage-trained Welsh actor to an international movie star, and it was while he lived in a handsome house in London’s leafy Hampstead Village that he cemented his status as an Old Hollywood legend. 

      The late performer lived on Lyndhurst Road with his first wife, Sybil Christopher, between 1949 and 1956. The couple originally bought a one-bedroom, ground-floor apartment in the building and eventually purchased the remaining floors following Burton’s success. It was while in residence on Lyndhurst Road that he took on some of his most famous roles, including those in The Desert Rats, The Robe, and Alexander the Great.

      It’s also where he lived when he first met Elizabeth Taylor in 1953. Burton and Taylor would not, however, get to know each other romantically until after they were reacquainted in the early 1960s on the set of the epic period drama Cleopatra. They would later and famously go on to marry—twice.

      The London residence where Welsh actor Richard Burton once lived has hit the market

      Grant Frazer

      Fast-forward to today, and the Victorian residence is now on the market for £7.95 million (or roughly $9.8 million). A blue plaque near the front door commemorates Burton’s time in residency; the historic destination was unveiled in 2011 by fellow Welsh actor Michael Sheen. 

      “This Blue Plaque house is not only notable due to the provenance of its former famous resident, but it also represents a rare opportunity to purchase a magnificent family home situated in the heart of Hampstead and within easy walking distance of Hampstead Heath,” says Mark Pollack, co-founding director of Aston Chase, in a press release. 

      The primary suite has views of St Paul’s Cathedral

      Grant Frazer

      The abode, built by architect Henry Davidson, dates back to the 1860s. Altogether, the spread comprises a semi-detached dwelling with six bedrooms plus a separate self-contained two-bedroom garden apartment. 

      There are heaps of original period details throughout, like high ceilings, tall windows, marble fireplaces, and French doors. Other highlights include a top-floor penthouse studio, a 60-foot-long rear garden, and views of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the primary suite.

      “It’s a rare find on one of Hampstead’s most sought-after tree-lined streets,” adds Knight Frank’s Katy Brookes, who’s co-listing the home. 

      Click here to see all the photos of Richard Burton’s house.

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      The Former London Home of Late Romance Author Dame Barbara Cartland Just Listed for $44 Million

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      The late and famously prolific English author Dame Barbara Cartland, whose 720-plus novels sold upwards of 750 million copies, was the so-called “Queen of Romance,” so don’t be surprised if you fall in love with her sumptuous former London home. Located in Mayfair, one of the most affluent areas of the British capital, the novelist’s lavish five-story mansion is newly listed for a hefty £35 million (or roughly $44.2 million).

      Originally built in 1902 for Liberal politician and stockbroker Sir Cuthbert Quilter, the Edwardian-style abode has played host to its fair share of high-profile residents. The elegant abode was purchased by Cartland in 1936 and is where she raised her daughter, Countess Raine Spencer, better known as the stepmother to Princess Diana. (Despite the connection, Cartland was not invited to Diana’s wedding to Charles in 1981.) In the century-plus since it was erected, the palatial pad also served as the birthplace of Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who briefly served as Prime Minister in the mid-1960s.

      The former London townhouse of British novelist Dame Barbara Cartland just listed for $44.2 million

      Christophe Schaillee

      “This remarkable property is widely regarded as the quintessential London mansion. It exudes elegance and sophistication, with its exceptional features and prime location just moments away from Park Lane and Grosvenor Square,” notes the listing, which is held by Michael Holt and Nicole Hay of Compass.

      Designed by acclaimed architect Detmar Blow, the 8,500-square-foot property features a stately red-brick exterior adorned with neo-classical cornices. Inside, soaring and embellished ceilings, stone fireplaces, and a sweeping wooden staircase are among the home’s original period features.

      For all the historic detailing and traditional finery, there are, however, a notable number of modernizations. For example, the basement has been turned into a full-blown spa, where you’ll find an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a designated relaxation zone, and even a bar.

      The lower level has an indoor pool and spa that opens to a patio.

      Christophe Schaillee

      No stranger to entertaining, Cartland made good use of the grandly proportioned principal reception areas on the ground and first floors, which combined can accommodate over 100 guests. Elsewhere, the deluxe digs comprise six bedrooms, including a swanky primary suite that occupies the entire second floor. The space is decked out with a projector over the bed, an enormous walk-in closet, an ensuite bath, and its own private terrace.

      “Undoubtedly, this truly magnificent home stands as the epitome of luxury living in London,” crows the listing. We concur.

      Click here to see all the photos of 28 South Street. 

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      Rolling Stones Guitarist Ronnie Wood’s Former London Manse Hits the Market for $26 Million

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      Gimme shelter? The London manse where Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood once lived is up for grabs. 

      The Gothic-style estate that used to belong to the British musician just hit the market and can now be yours for a cool £20 million (or about $25.5 million). Spanning a whopping 12,295 square feet, Wood scooped up the property back in 1997 alongside his now ex-wife, Jo, The Observer reported. Despite only posting up here for the better part of 10 years, the bassist left an imprint on the abode in more ways than one.  

      Today, the palatial pad still sports his personal recording studio. There are also a few of his sculptures strewn about the gardens, plus a portrait of bandmate Keith Richards hanging on the wine cellar wall. In its lifetime, the roughly two-acre spread has housed more than just rock royalty. In fact, the residence was originally constructed as a hunting lodge for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.  

      The former home of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood just listed for $25.5 million

      DDRE Global

      Nestled behind a gated drive, the three-story stunner has 13 bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Inside, you’ll find tons of dark wood paneling, along with arched doorways, opulent chandeliers, ornate ceilings, and more medieval embellishments. Though, Wood’s former flame did make a couple of modernizations before she sold the digs in 2010, specifically to the primary suite, kitchen, and gym. Did we mention it’s also energy efficient? 

      The Gothic-style mansion has its own screening room

      DDRE Global

      Some of the standout features include a swanky movie theater with a projector, a billiards room, and an adjacent 3,425-square-foot swimming pool annex. The glass-roofed complex is equipped with a jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room. Not that you’ll be looking for a reason to leave, but the dwelling itself is positioned right along the edge of Richmond Park. At 2,500 acres, you’ll essentially have the largest Royal Park in London as your backyard. Turns out, you can always get what you want. 

      DDRE Global has the listing.

      Click here to see all the photos of Ronnie Wood’s former London home.

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