Kensington Palace Gardens
Encyclopedia
Kensington Palace Gardens is a street in west central London
which contains some of the grandest and most expensive houses in the world. It was the location of the London Cage
, the British government MI9
centre used during the Second World War and the Cold War
.
A tree-lined avenue half a mile long in the heart of embassy land, Kensington Palace Gardens is the often cited as "most exclusive address" in London, according to real estate agency Knight Frank. It is one of the most expensive residential streets in the world, and has long been known as "Billionaires Row", due to the extreme wealth of its private residents, although in fact the majority of its current occupants are either national embassies or ambassadorial residences. As of mid 2010, current market prices for a property on the street are an average of £18 million.
It is immediately to the west of Kensington Gardens
and connects Notting Hill Gate
with Kensington High Street
. The southern section of Kensington Palace Gardens is called Palace Green.
and the freehold still belongs to the Crown Estate
. The palace, which is the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, fronts the southern part of the street on the eastern side. The houses at the northern end are mostly Italianate, while those at the southern end are mostly in the Queen Anne style
. For much of the 20th century a large proportion of the houses were occupied by embassies and ambassadors' residences. Some still are, but others have been renovated by the Crown Estate
and sold to private buyers on long leases. One of these was bought in 2004 by the Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal
, who in 2008 was listed by Forbes Magazine as the fourth richest man in the world. The sale was widely misreported at £70 million, before accurate figures were available from HM Land Registry
, where records state that on 30 June 2004, 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens, along with three mews
houses at the rear of the property, sold for £57,145,967.
Formerly, this house was owned by Bernie Ecclestone
, the Formula One racing boss. On October 8, 2001, he purchased the house from Iranian property developer David Khalili for £50 million. This was substantially less than the asking price of £85 million when it was placed on the market by Savills in spring 2001. However, it was reported that Ecclestone's wife, Slavica, never liked the 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²), 18-bedroom mansion so they never moved in.
Khalili spent three years and more than £20 million turning the two houses into one, building a swimming pool and indulging in his taste for marble floors and pillars (with marble from the same quarry as that used for the Taj Mahal).
Paul Reuter
, the founder of the Reuters
news agency, was also a former resident.
No 8 was used as an interrogation centre for German POW
s during World War II
and was known as the London Cage
. The house was replaced in 1964 by a glass-and-steel block designed by Richard Seifert
, now divided into four apartments. Flat 3 was on the market in 2006 as a three-bedroom apartment designed by international architect David Chipperfield
, valued at a minimum of £13.25 million through Knight Frank.
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Due mainly to the presence of likely terrorist targets — embassies etc., including those of Russia and Israel — both ends of the street have armed police checkpoints (Diplomatic Protection Group
officers) with crash barriers as well as the original wrought-iron gates. This has the side effect of extremely low traffic for a central London street. Some of the buildings also have barriers to keep vehicles at a distance.
The street is lit by very dim Victorian gaslight
-style streetlights.
East side of Kensington Palace Gardens:
.jpg)
West side of Kensington Palace Gardens:
Previous occupants: Baron de Reuter
, founder of the news agency in the 1850s; John Leech, Punch artist; The de Rothschild family
(early 1900s); The Free Poles (1939-45); David Khalili, dealer in Islamic art; Bernie Ecclestone
, Formula 1 chief.
.jpg)
Palace Green
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
which contains some of the grandest and most expensive houses in the world. It was the location of the London Cage
London Cage
The "London Cage" was a MI19 prisoner of war facility during and immediately after World War II that was subject to frequent allegations of torture...
, the British government MI9
MI9
MI9, the British Military Intelligence Section 9, was a department of the British Directorate of Military Intelligence, part of the War Office...
centre used during the Second World War and the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
A tree-lined avenue half a mile long in the heart of embassy land, Kensington Palace Gardens is the often cited as "most exclusive address" in London, according to real estate agency Knight Frank. It is one of the most expensive residential streets in the world, and has long been known as "Billionaires Row", due to the extreme wealth of its private residents, although in fact the majority of its current occupants are either national embassies or ambassadorial residences. As of mid 2010, current market prices for a property on the street are an average of £18 million.
It is immediately to the west of Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens, once the private gardens of Kensington Palace, is one of the Royal Parks of London, lying immediately to the west of Hyde Park. It is shared between the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The park covers an area of 111 hectares .The open spaces...
and connects Notting Hill Gate
Notting Hill Gate
Notting Hill Gate is one of the main thoroughfares of Notting Hill, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Historically the street was a location for toll gates, from which it derives its modern name.- Location :...
with Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street is the main shopping street in Kensington, west London. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
. The southern section of Kensington Palace Gardens is called Palace Green.
Background
The road was originally called The Queen's Road and was re-named Kensington Palace Gardens around 1870 when plane trees were planted in the avenue. It was built from the 1840s onwards, on part of the grounds of Kensington PalaceKensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
and the freehold still belongs to the Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
. The palace, which is the residence of the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, fronts the southern part of the street on the eastern side. The houses at the northern end are mostly Italianate, while those at the southern end are mostly in the Queen Anne style
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
. For much of the 20th century a large proportion of the houses were occupied by embassies and ambassadors' residences. Some still are, but others have been renovated by the Crown Estate
Crown Estate
In the United Kingdom, the Crown Estate is a property portfolio owned by the Crown. Although still belonging to the monarch and inherent with the accession of the throne, it is no longer the private property of the reigning monarch and cannot be sold by him/her, nor do the revenues from it belong...
and sold to private buyers on long leases. One of these was bought in 2004 by the Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
, who in 2008 was listed by Forbes Magazine as the fourth richest man in the world. The sale was widely misreported at £70 million, before accurate figures were available from HM Land Registry
HM Land Registry
Land Registry is a non-ministerial government department and executive agency of the Government of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1862 to register the ownership of land and property in England and Wales...
, where records state that on 30 June 2004, 18-19 Kensington Palace Gardens, along with three mews
Mews
Mews is a primarily British term formerly describing a row of stables, usually with carriage houses below and living quarters above, built around a paved yard or court, or along a street, behind large city houses, such as those of London, during the 17th and 18th centuries. The word may also...
houses at the rear of the property, sold for £57,145,967.
Formerly, this house was owned by Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone is an English business magnate, as president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and through his part-ownership of Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. As such, he is generally considered the primary...
, the Formula One racing boss. On October 8, 2001, he purchased the house from Iranian property developer David Khalili for £50 million. This was substantially less than the asking price of £85 million when it was placed on the market by Savills in spring 2001. However, it was reported that Ecclestone's wife, Slavica, never liked the 55000 square feet (5,109.7 m²), 18-bedroom mansion so they never moved in.
Khalili spent three years and more than £20 million turning the two houses into one, building a swimming pool and indulging in his taste for marble floors and pillars (with marble from the same quarry as that used for the Taj Mahal).
Paul Reuter
Paul Reuter
Paul Julius Freiherr von Reuter was a German entrepreneur and later naturalized British citizen...
, the founder of the Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
news agency, was also a former resident.
No 8 was used as an interrogation centre for German POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
s during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was known as the London Cage
London Cage
The "London Cage" was a MI19 prisoner of war facility during and immediately after World War II that was subject to frequent allegations of torture...
. The house was replaced in 1964 by a glass-and-steel block designed by Richard Seifert
Richard Seifert
Reubin Seifert - normally known as Richard Seifert was a British architect, best known for designing the Centrepoint tower and Tower 42 , once the tallest building in the City of London...
, now divided into four apartments. Flat 3 was on the market in 2006 as a three-bedroom apartment designed by international architect David Chipperfield
David Chipperfield
Sir David Alan Chipperfield CBE, RA, RDI, RIBA is a British architect, born in London. He has offices in London, Berlin and Milan, and a representative office in Shanghai...
, valued at a minimum of £13.25 million through Knight Frank.
Diplomatic Protection Group
The Diplomatic Protection Group is a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's main purpose is to provide specialist protection for diplomatic residencies in London, such as embassies, high commissions and consular sections...
officers) with crash barriers as well as the original wrought-iron gates. This has the side effect of extremely low traffic for a central London street. Some of the buildings also have barriers to keep vehicles at a distance.
The street is lit by very dim Victorian gaslight
Gas lighting
Gas lighting is production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, or natural gas. Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most...
-style streetlights.
Current occupants
Current occupiers and residents include:East side of Kensington Palace Gardens:
- 1-3 — Demolished. Now a coach park on Bayswater RoadBayswater RoadBayswater Road is the main road running across the north of Hyde Park, London. To the east Bayswater Road becomes Oxford Street . It is where the fictional upper middle class Forsyte family live in the BBC series the Forsyte Saga...
. - 4-5 — Embassy of Russia - consular departmentConsul (representative)The political title Consul is used for the official representatives of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, and to facilitate trade and friendship between the peoples of the two countries...
- 6-7 — Embassy of Russia - chanceryChancery (diplomacy)A 'Chancery' is the type of building that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy. The building can house one or several different nations' missions....
51°30′25.49"N 0°11′26.71"W - 8 — Sub-divided private residence
- 9 — Official residence of the High CommissionerHigh Commissioner (Commonwealth)In the Commonwealth of Nations, a High Commissioner is the senior diplomat in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.-History:...
from India - 10 — Jonathan Hunt, founder of FoxtonsFoxtonsFoxtons is a London and Surrey estate agent with 32 offices, dealing with both lettings and sales. It was founded by Jon Hunt in 1981 and was acquiredby private equity firm BC Partners in 2007 for £390m....
- 11 — Official residence of the Ambassador of France
- 12 — Saudi royal family
- 12a — Embassy of Nepal
- 13 — Official residence of the Ambassador of Russia
- 14 — Official residence of the Ambassador of Finland
- 15 — Leonard BlavatnikLeonard BlavatnikLen Blavatnik is a Russian-American businessman, currently living in New York and London, including at a home on Kensington Palace Gardens. He has made his fortune through diversified investments, through Access Industries, in Russia, Europe, North and South America.-Origins:Born in the Soviet...
(Double plot) Building completed in 1855 and first occupied by the Victorian merchant and philanthropist George MooreGeorge Moore (philanthropist)George Moore was an English merchant and philanthropist. He was born in Mealsgate but later acquired a mansion in Kensington Palace Gardens.-Further reading:...
who moved in with his first wife Eliza Moore née Ray in 1856. - 15b — Leonard BlavatnikLeonard BlavatnikLen Blavatnik is a Russian-American businessman, currently living in New York and London, including at a home on Kensington Palace Gardens. He has made his fortune through diversified investments, through Access Industries, in Russia, Europe, North and South America.-Origins:Born in the Soviet...
West side of Kensington Palace Gardens:
- 15a — Leonard BlavatnikLeonard BlavatnikLen Blavatnik is a Russian-American businessman, currently living in New York and London, including at a home on Kensington Palace Gardens. He has made his fortune through diversified investments, through Access Industries, in Russia, Europe, North and South America.-Origins:Born in the Soviet...
- 18-19 — Lakshmi MittalLakshmi MittalLakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
, 51°30′25.41"N 0°11′29.80"W, Bird's eye view
Previous occupants: Baron de Reuter
Paul Reuter
Paul Julius Freiherr von Reuter was a German entrepreneur and later naturalized British citizen...
, founder of the news agency in the 1850s; John Leech, Punch artist; The de Rothschild family
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild was an English banker and Conservative politician best remembered as the creator of Exbury Gardens...
(early 1900s); The Free Poles (1939-45); David Khalili, dealer in Islamic art; Bernie Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone
Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone is an English business magnate, as president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration and through his part-ownership of Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. As such, he is generally considered the primary...
, Formula 1 chief.
- 20 — Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei. The number eight can be seen on the roof, symbolizing the phrase Ba Shi Fa Cai" ("the number eight brings prosperity"). 51°30′27.38"N 0°11′30.68"W
- 21 — Embassy of Lebanon
- 22 — Official residence of the Ambassador of Kuwait
- 23 — Official residence of the Ambassador of Japan
- 24 — Official residence of the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia
- 25 — Embassy of Slovakia
- 26-30 — Embassy of the Czech Republic
Palace Green
- 2 — Embassy of Israel 51°30′11.24"N 0°11′22.43"W
- 3 — Residence of the late Hasib SabbaghHasib SabbaghHasib Sabbagh, also spelled Hassib , came from a Palestinian Christian family in Safed in Palestine, although he was born in Tiberias...
. - 4 — Embassy of Romania 51°30′14.36"N 0°11′23.85"W
- 6 — Noam GottesmanNoam GottesmanNoam Gottesman is an Israeli-American businessman living in the United Kingdom. He is co-founder , chairman and co-chief executive of GLG Partners, a London and New York-based hedge fund....
, hedge-fund trader. Said to have now been sold to Lakshmi MittalLakshmi MittalLakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
for £117 million, for the use of his son Aditya. Sale said to have later fallen through. - 9a — Former Embassy of the Philippines. Sold to Lakshmi MittalLakshmi MittalLakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
for £70 million in 2008, for his daughter Vanisha. 51°30′18.81"N 0°11′26.71"W - 10 — Official residence of the Ambassador of Norway.
External links
- Kensington Palace Gardens at the Survey of LondonSurvey of LondonThe Survey of London is a research project to produce a comprehensive architectural survey of the former County of London. It was founded in 1894 by Charles Robert Ashbee, an Arts-and-Crafts architect and social thinker, and was motivated by a desire to record and preserve London's ancient monuments...
online: - Planning decisions for Palace Green and Kensington Palace Gardens, 2000-2008
- Even £200m can’t buy a house here, The Sunday TimesThe Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, 14 May 2008 - Article about Abramovich buying property on the road, FindaPropertyFindaPropertyFindaProperty.com is a commercial sales and lettings listings website for the UK consumer residential housing market. It has offices in London and Brighton and lists approximately 800,000 properties uploaded by estate agents for a monthly fee....
, 17 August 2011