- “The Holme,” a 205-year-old mansion in London’s Regent’s Park, is reportedly up for sale.
- The mansion was allegedly repossessed as part of repayment of an expired loan to a member of the Saudi royal family.
- The agents handling the sale are reportedly asking for up to 250 million British pounds, about $300 million.
A 205-year-old mansion in London’s Regent’s Park is for sale with a reported price of up to £250 million, or just over $300 million.
The 40-bedroom mansion sits on four acres of parkland near the heart of London and was put on the market after it was acquired from a member of the Saudi royal family, according to the Financial Times.
If it reaches the reported asking price, the property will be the most expensive ever sold in the United Kingdom. It is the most expensive home currently listed for sale in the world, according to luxury magazine Robb Report. Holme has snapped up a three-story penthouse in New York City’s Central Park Tower, which was put on the market in September for $250 million.
Another large mansion holds the previous UK record – 2-8 Rutland Gate, overlooking London’s Hyde Park was sold in 2020 for £210 million, or $232 million. The mansion was put back on the market in October for £200 million, or about $221 million.
Holme was built in 1818 by Georgian property developer James Burton, and was first occupied by his family before being used by Bedford College. It became a private residence again in the 1980s, according to the Evening Standard.
An 1820s sketch of The Holme in Regent’s Park, which has now sold for an estimated $300 million.
Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
An unnamed source who spoke to the Evening Standard called the London mansion “the White House in Regent’s Park,” comparing the building’s facade and its grand scale to Washington’s historic home. The mansion reportedly has 40 bedrooms, eight garages, a tennis court, a sauna, a library, and a “grand dining room” as part of the 29,000 square feet of living space.
Especially expensive properties like The Holme often draw interest from foreign investors who may not intend to live in the house, but add it to their portfolio. Bloomberg reported last summer that 48% of homes sold in London’s most expensive districts in the first six months of 2022 were sold to international buyers.
The Times reported that it was withdrawn as a way to pay off a debt of nearly $180 million, along with a New York residence and a private jet.
Knight Frank and Beauchamp Estates are reported to be the agents handling the sale, and both declined requests for comment on the proceedings.