In Fulham, where this four-bedroom cottage with an acre of gardens redefines the meaning of country living in the big city
At Rose Cottage on Crabtree Lane, a former farmhouse has been swallowed up by the city, but somehow kept its rustic charm thanks to its careful owners.


Readers of Country Life the Magazine might know that, in the past, I may have said some unkind things about the London Borough of Fulham. This comes from a mis-spent youth south of the river where, far too often, I would make the journey to SW6 to see friends and bemoan the lack of public transport and the expensive pubs. I also dislike Chelsea Football Club.
However, upon casting my gaze upon the delicately named Rose Cottage on Crabtree Lane, I might have to eat some humble pie. For sale with Radstock Property for £3.75 million, this might be, might be, the nicest house I’ve ever seen for sale in London.
The phrase rus-in-urbe is tossed around with reckless abandon, much like a rugby ball on Parsons Green, but at Rose Cottage, we might have finally found a property worthy of the title. With a garden of an acre, this late-17th-century property will really make you feel like you’ve escaped to the countryside, all while being a few minutes’ walk away from The River Café. That’s about as good as it gets.
The property used to be the farmhouse for the Crabtree orchards, but in recent years has been the home of architects who have updated and renovated the property with care to create a charming family home. The main property boasts four bedrooms over its two floors, while a more modern detached annexe to the rear of the property offers two further bedrooms. There is also a detached art studio of some 182sq ft to the front of the property.
Entered via Crabtree Lane, a walk through a mature front garden leads to the front door. On the ground floor you will find a sitting room with an open fire, a kitchen, a delightful conservatory and the fourth bedroom (or study).
The annexe, as mentioned, offers two further bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a playroom, an office, a kitchenette and a sauna.
Separating the two buildings is the 77ft long garden, which offers an oasis of calm. Features include a pergola covered dining area, a built-in barbecue area and a vast expanse of lawn, surrounded on the edges with mature borders and specimen trees.
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.
If all that green space wasn’t enough (and, in central London, it should be), Rose Cottage provides easy access to Bishops Park and the Thames Path, with plenty of excellent local shops and cafés (River or otherwise) nearby. Hammersmith tube station is also well within walking distance.
Rose Cottage is for sale with Radstock Property. For more information, call 020—3876 0280
Credit: Strutt and Parker
A gorgeous farmhouse next door to Stonehenge with a gardens by an iconic Chelsea gold medal winner
at Moor Hatches, while away the hours fishing on the Avon, enjoying the amazing gardens, or exploring this seven bedroom
Credit: Savills
Live and let live in the gorgeous former monastery that's been home to everyone from iconic Bond girls to legends of music
Jane Seymour bought this stunning house a few years after becoming one of the most celebrated Bond girls in the
Credit: Fine and Country
Red-brick walls, a thatched roof, a barn and an EPC rating of A. This home of the future in Dorset looks suspiciously like the past
At Godwins House near Christchurch, tradition and modernity embrace to create exquisite results.
Credit: Knight Frank
For sale for the first time in 50 years, an unlisted Sussex farmhouse surrounded by a 'thriving 117-acre nature reserve'
https://www.knightfrank.com/properties/residential/for-sale/wards-lane-wadhurst-east-sussex-tn5/CHO180010

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.
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secrets
When it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
By Country Life Published
-
Lewis Hamilton, Claude Monet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 29, 2025
Tuesday's Quiz of the Day looks back at Lewis Hamilton's first win and ponders on the meaning of greige.
By Toby Keel Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive street
Winnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated