‘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.
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.
-
It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of itIn design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
-
How good is your Claudia Winkleman trivia? Find out in The Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 13, 2025What secrets lurk beneath that fringe?
-
An outrageously opulent mansion in London's answer to Beverly Hills, with a gym that 'wouldn't look out of place in a 7* hotel''One of the finest houses in St George's Hill' is on the market. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what's on offer.
-
Six homes with fantastic features, from pools and paddocks to waterside settings, as seen in Country LifeOur look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a Chipping Norton farm and a Cornish dream home
-
Queen Victoria's chaplain's house on the Isle of Wight is for sale, and it's a riot of colour, charm and joyA stone's thrown from Queen Victoria's beloved Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, the house where her chaplain lived is now on the open market.
-
An Art Deco masterpiece with five-bedrooms, a private pool, a cinema, a helipad and the ability to conquer oceansLady Christine is the very essence of opulence and could be yours for a cool €55.75 million.
-
The elegant 19th century townhouse where JFK and Jackie Kennedy dreamed of the presidency, and made their wish came trueThis beautiful five-bedroom house in Washington DC's Georgetown was once home to perhaps the most celebrated couple of the 20th century: John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie Kennedy.
-
This five-bedroom thatched cottage in the Chilterns looks quite like Claudia WinklemanMuch like everyone's favourite TV host, this property is beautifully presented.
-
A heartbreakingly pretty old rectory in the idyllic Cotswolds valley that offers charm, beauty, sophistication and a fast train to LondonPenny Churchill takes a look at the Old Rectory in Charlbury, which has become available for the first time in almost 35 years.
-
The abolition of Stamp Duty: Will it happen? Could it happen? What would replace it? And what would be the impact?The Conservative Party promises to abolish Stamp Duty on primary residences if it wins the next election. We canvassed property experts from across the housing industry to see what the impact would be.
