Property of the Week: Ormeley Lodge Estate, Richmond, South West London

There are very few private homes in London that can genuinely be described as estates. Ormeley Lodge is one of them. Occupying an extraordinary position between Richmond Park and Ham Common, this magnificent early Georgian residence offers something almost impossible to find within the capital: complete seclusion, 2.3 acres of beautifully enclosed gardens, and more than 2,500 acres of Royal Parkland quite literally on its doorstep.

Dating from the final years of the Stuart period and the dawn of the Georgian era, Ormeley Lodge is one of London's finest surviving country houses. Grade II* listed and extending to almost 16,000 sq ft, the estate is a masterclass in early eighteenth-century architecture, where English Baroque grandeur meets Classical restraint. Throughout, elegant proportions, soaring eleven-foot ceilings, original fireplaces, intricate cornicing and magnificent sash windows flood the interiors with natural light, creating rooms that feel every bit as graceful today as when they were first conceived.

As with any great house, the stories are woven into its walls. Over the centuries, Ormeley Lodge has welcomed an extraordinary cast of owners, most notably the Goldsmith family, whose ownership became an integral chapter in the estate's history. Their careful stewardship helped preserve both the house and its remarkable collection of ancillary buildings, allowing the estate to remain unusually intact. Today, it offers a rare glimpse into how one of London's great private estates once functioned, preserving not only the principal residence but an entire way of life that has all but disappeared from the capital.

The grandeur begins immediately upon arrival. A magnificent entrance hall and sweeping staircase establish the tone before unfolding into beautifully proportioned reception rooms designed equally for entertaining and everyday family life. A handsome library, elegant drawing room and formal dining room each retain their period character, while the generous kitchen, breakfast room, pantry and staff accommodation ensure the house remains wonderfully practical for modern living. Below stairs, extensive wine cellars and storage rooms continue the theme of effortless functionality that has long defined Britain's finest country houses.

Ascending through the house, the bedroom accommodation is equally impressive. A magnificent principal suite enjoys its own private study, while a second suite benefits from a dedicated dressing room. Further bedrooms provide generous accommodation for family and guests, complemented by a self-contained apartment complete with its own sitting room, ideal for extended family or long-term visitors.

Beyond the principal house, the estate unfolds even further. Ormeley Mews provides garaging, gardeners' facilities and a first-floor studio apartment, while a charming guest cottage has been arranged as two independent flats. Beyond sits the picturesque Ormeley Lodge Cottage with its own private gardens, creating a remarkable collection of ancillary accommodation rarely found so close to central London.

Outside, the gardens possess all the romance one hopes to find behind the walls of a historic English estate. Formal gardens give way to wildflower meadows, productive orchards and fruit gardens, while secluded pathways reveal an aviary, an all-weather tennis court and a south-facing swimming pool hidden discreetly within the grounds. Despite sitting barely ten miles from Hyde Park Corner, there is an overwhelming sense of peace, heightened by the neighbouring expanse of Richmond Park where herds of wild deer roam freely beneath ancient oak trees.

Few London homes manage to feel quite so detached from city life while remaining exceptionally connected. Richmond's boutiques, restaurants and railway station are only minutes away, while Petersham Nurseries, The Dysart, Scott's Richmond and The Ivy Richmond Brasserie provide some of the capital's finest dining within easy reach.

Properties of this calibre seldom become available. Ormeley Lodge is more than a magnificent Georgian residence; it is one of London's last great private estates, offering the increasingly rare privilege of country house living without ever leaving the capital.

Sotherby's

Ormeley Lodge Estate

£25,000,000

Buy Now - £25,000,000