Property of the Week: Old Battersea House

A rare Grade II listed country house in southwest London, this 17th-century residence pairs more than 300 years of history with grand proportions, secluded gardens and beautifully restored modern comforts.

Words by: Sophia Baccanello

We all have, at some point, indulged in the fantasy of escaping London without actually leaving it. Somewhere behind a discrete set of gates, perhaps, where the noise of the city gives way to birdsong, the garden stretches out beneath the trees, and a grand staircase leads you home. It is an appealing notion: the romance of the English country house, with the convenience of one of the world’s great cities on the doorstep. At Old Battersea House, that fantasy is rather remarkably real and very rare.

Built in 1699 and widely believed to be the work of Sir Christopher Wren, the architect behind St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Hospital Chelsea, this Grade II* listed residence is one of London’s most extraordinary private homes. Once at the centre of a 200-acre estate stretching all the way to the River Thames, the house has witnessed more than three centuries of London life, welcoming royalty, American Presidents and some of the most celebrated figures of the cultural world.

And yet, despite its extraordinary history, Old Battersea House does not feel like a museum. A meticulous two-year restoration, completed in 2022, has brought the property into the modern era while preserving the architectural character that makes it so special. Baroque interiors, sweeping staircases, panelled drawing rooms, exceptionally high ceilings and beautifully proportioned reception spaces sit comfortably alongside contemporary comforts. Every fireplace remains operational, while Loro Piana curtains throughout add another layer of quiet luxury.

The sense of arrival is suitably grand. Set behind secure gates, the house is approached via a private driveway with parking for eight cars, before the imposing front door opens into a magnificent entrance hall. Here, the sweeping staircase immediately establishes the tone: this is a house designed for entertaining, ceremony and, above all, living generously.

With more than 10,000 square feet of lateral accommodation, the scale is impressive. Large windows draw light into the substantial reception rooms, while views extend towards the walled gardens and beyond. The grounds themselves are a remarkable feature, with a majestic lawn, beautiful walled gardens, lavender fields and watercress beds creating the feeling of a country estate transplanted into southwest London.

The kitchen forms another focal point of the home, combining beautiful detailing with state-of-the-art appliances. It is a space equally suited to an informal breakfast as it is to preparing dinner for a house full of guests.

Upstairs, a galleried landing leads to the principal suite, where the bedroom flows into a separate dressing room overlooking the river beyond the walled garden. Two further substantial suites occupy this floor, one currently arranged as the principal study. A further staircase leads to three additional bedrooms and four bathrooms, while the current children's playroom could, if desired, be divided to reinstate two further bedrooms.

The house has, unsurprisingly, accumulated some remarkable stories over its lifetime. In 1970, the American publisher Malcolm Forbes rescued Old Battersea House and embarked upon a full restoration. During his ownership, the property became a gathering place for royalty and prominent figures, with royal guests photographed within its rooms. There was even a bedroom dedicated to his great friend Elizabeth Taylor, who stayed at the house while in London. Few homes can claim quite such a guestbook.

The more recent restoration has also introduced a number of modern additions without compromising the character of the original house. On the lower ground floor, a cinema with air conditioning provides a distinctly contemporary indulgence, alongside a cellar and storage room complete with both a safe and gun safe.

Then there is the separate new building within the grounds. Currently used as a gym, it could readily be transformed into a generous guest house, offering a degree of independence for visitors, staff or extended family.

Perhaps what makes Old Battersea House so compelling is the rare combination it offers. It has the gravitas and proportions of a historic country estate, yet it sits within London. It offers privacy without isolation, grandeur without sacrificing modern family life, and centuries of architectural history alongside the comforts expected of a contemporary home.

This is not simply a house with a fascinating past. It is a piece of London history that has been carefully reimagined for the future, and a rather extraordinary opportunity to live the country-house dream without ever leaving the capital.