A tale of two cities: Former home of Charles Dickens on Hanover Terrace comes up for sale
His portrayals of London in his literature may have been bleak, but his summer home in the city was anything but.


‘Of course I had no experience of a London summer day,’ wrote Charles Dickens in Great Expectations. ‘And my spirits may have been oppressed by the hot exhausted air, and by the dust and grit that lay thick on everything.’ As I sit here and type, I have all too much experience of a London Summer day, and more than oppressed by the hot exhausted air.
If I were a man of great means, as well as great expectations, I might be tempted to open up my chequebook and investigate purchasing a property on Hanover Terrace, near Regent’s Park in London. One such example is for sale with Sotheby’s International Realty, for a not insignificant sum of £18.95 million.
In 1861, Dickens himself had the same idea, taking residence there for the summer and, considering his usually melancholy opinions of the city in his writing, he found it ‘quite delightful’.
It’s not hard to see why. The property is part of one of London’s most famous streets, designed by John Nash in 1822 and listed Grade I. Nor was Dickens the only famous resident of that street, with Ralph Vaughan Williams, Anthony Salvin, Harold Pinter and H. G. Wells all having lived on Hanover Terrace.
The property for sale is a symphony of luxury. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms, it extends to more than 5,000sq ft of living space set over five floors. In the garden, there is also a separate mews house, offering a further 1,000sq ft on two floors, with two bedrooms. Seven beds, seven baths in total. Not bad for a home inside the Circle Line.
Amenities included within the property are state of the out, blending timeless early-Victorian elegance such as large sash windows and high ceilings with contemporary comfort. There is a gym and a sauna. The garden is south-west facing and spacious. And, of course, Regent’s Park is right on your doorstep.
While Dickens may have written about the overwhelming horror and oppressive nature of the nation’s capital, he certainly wasn’t living it at Hanover Terrace.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Five magnificent country homes for sale, from a palatial Georgian masterpiece to an equestrian dream home in Hertfordshire
Our look at the finest homes to appear on the market via Country Life this week.
Credit: Chris Curl
A remarkable Edwardian country house in one of Herefordshire's most enviable locations hits the market for the first time
Whitney Court stands in the glorious Wye Valley and has been in the hands of the same family for more
Credit: Killens
A castle folly in Weston-super-Mare from which to relax and enjoy views of the Severn Estuary
The aptly named Castle House is a unique three-bedroom home that's been recently refurbished and comes with all the crenellations
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Thatch under threat? Poor harvests, labour shortages and war are causing the industry to struggle
A new report from Historic England suggests that, despite high demand for the work, the profession is struggling.
James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.


















-
A historic villa for sale on the Via Nomentana worthy of Rome's rich history
Three floors, lots of balconies, and a private garden in one of Rome's loveliest neighbourhoods.
By James Fisher Published
-
Eight bedrooms of unlisted Edwardian elegance with sweeping views of Somerset
Ashton House sits near the market town of Chard and comes with a wealth of amenities both inside and out.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
A waterside cottage in Devon with a private quay, idyllic views and the prettiest summerhouse we've seen in years
Right beside the picturesque Yealm Estuary, No 1 Noss Mayo is an idyllic home that feels like an escape from the world. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
This elegant Greek villa offers would-be buyers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in the shadow of the Acropolis
Athenian Legacy consists of two houses in walking —and almost touching — distance of one of the world’s most famous and precious landmarks.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
Six charming homes up for sale, including one dubbed 'one of the most picturesque in Dorset', as seen in Country Life
Our look at the finest houses to come up for sale through Country Life in the past week is full of delights, from a new-Georgian mansion to a perfectly-sized Hertfordshire estate.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A Buckinghamshire mansion built for the speech therapist who set Churchill on his path to greatness
Penny Churchill takes a look at Rignalls, a classic Arts-and-Crafts home that looks like it's stepped out of the pages of an EM Forster novel.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A gorgeous home that offers a slice of country life in the heart of Hampstead
This idyllic Hampstead mansion has seen its price rise nine times faster than inflation — and it's not hard to see why.
By Carla Passino Published
-
Some of Scotland's most beautiful churches are being sold off for as little as £40,000 — but a word of warning before you take the plunge
Lucy Denton examines how best to help former church buildings thrive as times move on and property changes hands.
By Lucy Denton Published