The Holme, which stands within four acres of a private garden in Regent Park in Central London, is predicted to be the UK’s most exclusive residential property ever, with an expected transaction value of an eye-watering £250 million.
This 205-year-old lavish property has been put on the market after a massive loan secured by its Saudi Arabian owner expired, reported Financial Times.
In-Depth Insight into the Holme
Built in 1818 by the Burton family, this enormous mansion is located on Inner Circle by Regent’s Park, one of the eight royal parks in London. It was envisioned and designed by the renowned 19th-century architect Decimus Burton, famous for his neoclassical designs. James Burton, a prominent Regency-era property developer and the son of Decimus, lived in this magnificent residence. Defined by an Ionic-order portico, this exclusive trophy property is synonymous with ultra-luxury, offering a picturesque illustration of Regency architectural design.
The massive home is spread over five floors, comprising 29,000 square feet of living space and 40 bedrooms.
Despite its age, the majestic property has been carefully preserved over the years to ensure it upholds its unique grandeur while also providing all modern conveniences.
The sweeping staircase, the elegant reception rooms with period features and ornate plasterwork all over, the museum-like art gallery, and a subterranean parking lot that can accommodate up to 20 cars are a few unique features that make this stupendous property a perfect blend of modernity and regency.
“It’s the White House in Regent’s Park,” a source told The Evening Standard. “It’s very special because you’ve got the ornamental lake, sweeping lawns, and this magnificent rear façade which looks like the rear façade of the White House. It’s the most incredible property.”
The Holme Could Beat Out the Current Most Expensive Property
Until recently, the three-story penthouse atop New York City’s Central Park Tower was the most expensive abode in the world put up for sale on the market last September for a whopping £208M.
The mansion that hit an all-time high in the history of Britain was a Knightsbridge mansion, dubbed 2-8a Rutland Gate, a miniature private palace on Rutland Gate which overlooks Hyde Park. It was first sold for £210M in 2020, and listed for sale again in October 2022 with an asking price of £200M.
If the lakefront trophy house is transacted at the set price of £250M, it could dethrone the current highest-priced pads taking the title of the most expensive home in Britain—and the world.
London’s Luxury Home Market
Luxury home sale market in London is outperforming the wider London market, with around 15 homes worth £5 million or more being sold in the final quarter of 2022—a jump of 63% from the pre-pandemic average.
Exclusive properties (such as the Holme) located in the city’s most expensive enclaves, are usually acquired by wealthy foreign buyers who invest in luxury properties as part of their effort to maximise their real estate portfolio.
That said, the market for luxury residential property management services offered by businesses such as The London Management Company (TLMC) is flourishing, with uber-rich buyers snapping up upscale properties in Central London.
Fleshing Out the Reasons Behind the Sale
According to the records from the Land Registry, since 1998, Regent’s Park’s mega-mansion mansion has been owned by members of the Saudi royal family for over three decades. However, most recently, the Holme has been seized by the bankruptcy trustees along with a New York City mansion, and a private plane after the Saudi Royals defaulted on a loan worth $180 million (~£150M).
Due to this majestic London mansion being the highest-priced asset in the family’s property portfolio, receivers consider selling it the quickest way to repay the expired loan.
Representatives for Prince Abdullah bin Khalid bin Sultan al-Saud, one of the beneficiaries of the property and a member of the Saudi Royal family, could not be reached for comment.
