A chance to live next door to The Queen, in a house originally built for royal guests
It really is what it seems: No 1 Palace Street, within St James's Park, is set to become the most sought-after address in London – apart from the place next door. Thomas Gordon-Colebrooke reports.


The opportunity to live next door to The Queen has arisen in the form of a new development in the heart of St James’s Park.
No 1 Palace Street, in the heart of St James’s Park, was originally constructed as the Palace Hotel for the overflow of Queen Victoria’s guests, built on land formerly surrounded by James I’s mulberry-tree garden and aviary.
Now, it is being turned into 72 apartments, with the redevelopment of the 300,000sq ft building set for completion in 2019.
The building had subsequently been used as office space until it was bought in 2013 by Abu Dhabi Financial Group – they paid £310 million for it, but seem likely to recoup their investment fairly easily. They sold the first apartment for £20 million before construction had even begun – demand is expected to be fierce.
The development company in charge of the project, Northacre, is working with architect Squire & Partners to convert the beautiful Grade II-listed building from offices, using Italian and French Renaissance, Beaux Arts and Queen Anne styles.
Niccoló Barattieri di San Pietro, Northacre’s CEO, believes that the combination of ‘outstanding architecture, high ceilings and contemporary interior design’ will ‘tempt the most discerning of buyers’. Not to mention the wealthiest: prices for the 72 apartments will start at £2,500,000.
What you get for your money, however, is something very special. Residents can expect a full concierge service, valet underground parking, a courtyard garden and a restaurant.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Also on the site will be a 20m pool, a 2,000sq ft gym and a library.
Once complete, it’ll be the only residential property in the capital with views over Buckingham Palace’s gardens.
And on top of that, you never know who might pop round from next door when you throw your housewarming party…
You can find out more about No. 1 Palace Street at Northacre’s website, and you can find more properties within a stone’s throw of St James’s Park here.
How my Buckingham Palace garden party invitation turned sour
Is harsh, stentorian language always unacceptable – no matter who it comes from?
The Garden at Buckingham Palace: An Illustrated History
The garden at Buckingham Palace is the Queen's largest drawing room, writes Roy Strong, but is it a showpiece? Jane
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by His Majesty The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family home
Hadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Some Like (to quiz when) It Hot: Country Life Quiz of the Day heatwave special, July 11, 2025
If you're struggling to keep cool — and who isn't? — our Quiz of the Day will at least take your mind off the soaring temperatures.
By Country Life Published
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family home
Hadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every window
Penny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new owner
In the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countryside
Hartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston Martin
A new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
By James Fisher Published
-
The Mediterranean Magic of Malta
With historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
By Holly Kirkwood Published