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.
-
LAPICIDA — Tile & Stone Specialist
Lapicida is a world-class specialist in luxury surfaces.
By Country Life Published
-
What lies beneath: The weird and wonderful things lurking in Britain's museum basements
From radioactive rocks to great white sharks, and a dolphin called Boris, the things stored in Britain's museum basements make the mind boggle — and now plans are afoot to improve visitor access.
By Deborah Nicholls-Lee Published
-
A converted bothy on the shores of Loch Tay from which to enjoy the fresh tastes of Spring
Waterfall Cottage offers four bedrooms and a garden that stretches right down to the lapping waters.
By James Fisher Published
-
An idyllic home in Hampshire that's perfect for the musical mind
Lyewood House sits in 3.5 acres and comes with a purpose built recording studio and an outdoor heated pool.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
A well-connected rural playground with 23 acres on the edge of the South Downs National Park
Old House Farm is an impressive family home with a wealth of amenities that would inspire any rural passion.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
18 magnificent homes for sale from £550k to £20 million, as seen in Country Life
From a charming thatched cottage to a 300-acre estate with its own vineyard, here's our pick of places to come to the market via Country Life of late.
By Toby Keel Published
-
If heaven is on earth, it might be in this home with a converted chapel that is now a swimming pool
5 Wood Barton Town House is part of an exclusive 80-acre development in Devon that also comes with fishing rights on the River Avon and four bedrooms.
By James Fisher Published
-
The sounds of spring and stained glass in an Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece in Dorset
With 35 acres, more than 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and tennis court, Winterfield has it all.
By James Fisher Published
-
An eight-bedroom wonder in East Sussex where the outdoors are an adventure
The interiors of Old Middleton are pretty good too.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
A lakeside farmhouse on the market in the beautiful heart of Pembrokeshire
A lake, streams, 15 acres and five bedrooms. Rogershook might have it all.
By James Fisher Published