The ultimate Wimbledon property has come to the market at £13.5 million
Old Warren Farm is as close as you'll get to having a country estate just eight miles from the centre of London. Toby Keel takes a look.
It's that time of year again, when the eyes of the world turn to a leafy corner of south-west London: Wimbledon.
The world's oldest tennis tournament came from unlikely beginnings: the All England Croquet Club needed a way to boost their coffers to pay for a new roller, and thus decided to hold a championship in the then-new-fangled sport of lawn tennis. Almost 150 years later (the sesquicentennial is in 2027) it is still the best tournament in tennis, and an irresistible spectacle — both for tennis-watching and people-watching.
It's also the most astonishing possible advertisement for the joys of living in Wimbledon, a part of London that has some beautiful homes, excellent schools, a lively atmosphere, superb links in and out of London and, of course, huge amounts of green space. All those factors make it an expensive place to live, with an average house price around £900,000. But a property is for sale right now that costs fifteen times that amount: Old Warren Farm, which is being sold by Savills and Russell Simpson at £13.5 million.
That is a lot of money, but in an area where a detached family home can cost over £7 million (here's an example) and even a three-bed semi goes into seven-figure territory, it's hardly a surprise. What is a surprise, however, is that Old Warren Farm isn't just a house, but a full on 17th century farmhouse complex with a string of separate houses, a barn, outdoor pool, stables and woodland.
And yes, it does of course have a tennis court — albeit a hard court, rather than a grass court.
The grounds are big by Wimbledon standards at two acres, but that's not the sort of space you'd normally put in the 'country estate' bracket. There was farmland here once but it was sold off over the years (a fair portion of it now houses the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club).
What does make it feel like a country estate is that it's accessed via a track, sits amid protected land, and while it's not part of Wimbledon Common itself, it is immediately adjacent. Not only is that wonderful for walking, running, cycling, horse riding, golf, picnicking and more, it also means that you're about as protected as you can be from having your rus in urbe vibes upset by new buildings popping up around you.
As mentioned above, there's more than one house within the property: the original farmhouse, with a fountain outside the front door, has four bedrooms set over three floors. It's the oldest of the buildings, full of character and charm, with exposed beams, lattice windows and huge fireplaces.
Wych Elm, meanwhile, is a separate two-bedroom house, which the agents note is perfect 'for staff or guests'. And then there's The Lodge, a four-bedroom, family home with its own gated driveway and separate gardens.
There's also a converted barn — an ideal party spot — as well as several other outbuildings, all of which add to that mini-estate feel.
The agents certainly double-down on the 'country estate in town' angle: 'Old Warren Farm is a one of a kind property — a country estate discreetly located within one of London’s most desirable villages,' says Cory Askew of Savills, while Leo Russell of Russell Simpson calls it, 'a remarkably secluded country estate.'
'Despite its peaceful and almost rural setting, it lies just eight miles from the centre of the capital,' adds Russell. 'Its unique character and surroundings will appeal to those who value heritage and are seeking peace, privacy and nature.'
Which nearly says it all: we'd say peace, privacy, nature... and tennis.
Old Warren Farm is for sale through Savills and Russell Simpson at £13.5 million.
