Freddie Mercury’s Former Kensington Home Is Up For Sale
By
7 months ago
...But you’ll need deep pockets if you want to take a peek
From fairytale cottages to chic villas and marvellous mansions, there’s nothing better than taking a look inside the homes of celebrities – and Freddie Mercury’s former Kensington residence is particularly spectacular. While it might have just hit the market, however, you’ll need a cool £30 million if you want to make it yours. Here’s everything you need to know.
Freddie Mercury’s Kensington Mansion Is On The Market For £30 Million
While there are plenty of gorgeous Kensington homes that might catch your eye, none are quite as special as Garden Lodge, the former home of Freddie Mercury. The Queen icon purchased this majestic residence after a single viewing, and he painstakingly renovated it over many years. It’s now complete with eight bedrooms, an array of dazzling entertaining spaces, and a Japanese-inspired garden encompassing numerous water features and huge magnolia trees.
Freddie resided at Garden Lodge from 1980 until his death in 1991, bequeathing it (along with all his possessions) to his close friend Mary Austin, who went on to live there for more than three decades. However, Mary made the decision to sell the property last year, and, after many of Freddie’s possessions were sold in a wildly popular Sotheby’s auction (entitled Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own), Garden Lodge has finally hit the market via Knight Frank.
Sharing her cherished memories of Garden Lodge, Mary commented: ‘This house has been the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth in every room. 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.’
Highlights of the spectacular home include a double height drawing room, which once played host to the grand piano on which Freddie wrote Bohemian Rhapsody. (The piano sold for £1.7 million during the Sotheby’s auction). There’s also a bar/library, a Japanese sitting room, and a breathtaking dining room (painted in Freddie’s favourite shade of citrus yellow and finished off with cornicing that he designed himself). Upstairs, you’ll find a palatial principal suite with a dressing room boasting floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
To prevent gaggles of Queen fans from camping outside the door, however, Garden Lodge is available via enquiry only, and all potential buyers will be vetted before viewings. So, if you’re in love with this historic home, you’ll have to contact Knight Frank directly – and you’ll need to have a lot of cash to spare.
Garden Lodge is available through Knight Frank for offers in excess of £30 million. knightfrank.co.uk