Once the home of the Elgin Marbles, now a luxury four-bedroom apartment in Mayfair and yours for £26.25 million
A host of historical figures have made their homes at 149 Old Park Lane, from Rolls Royce to Royal Family members.


It might not surprise you to hear that many of the buildings in London’s Mayfair come with some form of interesting history. It was here, after all, that for better or worse the world used to be run. That means that occasionally you read up about properties for sale that once displayed, for example, the Elgin Marbles.
That property is a four-bedroom apartment at 149 Old Park Lane, up for sale with The Family Office, UK Sotheby’s International Realty, for £26.25 million. You might think that’s a little steep for a four-bedroom house, but it does come with 14ft high ceilings.
From the 1760s, a Georgian mansion constructed by the Bruce Family occupied the site, which is why, in the early 1800s, Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, displayed the ‘Elgin Marbles’ there. Thomas intended to turn the property into a private museum for the works of art, but the marbles and their ownership were transferred to the British Museum in 1816.
From 1816 to 1904, the property served as a private palace for members of the British Royal Family, such as Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinbhrugh, Princess Mary, and Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. Following the Duke’s death, the building was replaced by into an Art Nouveau style building designed by Thomas Edward Colcutt and Stanley Hamp, who had designed the Savoy Hotel.
From 1906 until 1971, the building then became the Mayfair Headquarters of Rolls Royce, with a showroom on the ground floor, until its most recent transformation into a fourth floor apartment by the Leconfield Property Group.
Spanning some 5,222sq ft in total, the property retains plenty of the Art Nouveau style from the turn of the 20th century, with beautiful ceiling cornicing, crystal chandeliers, original marble fireplaces and panelled walls. As well it should, for £26.25 million.
The property boasts four bedrooms, tucked away in their own wing, as well as a separate staff flat. The drawing room and dining room can be opened up to create a space for some 100 guests, who can be entertained by professional chefs using their own separate kitchen.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Naturally, No 149 is situated slap bang in the centre of London and, situated on the fourth floor, offers terrific views of Green Park and Hyde Park Corner. Sloane Street, Knightsbridge, Bond Street and Buckingham Palace are all a short walk away.
Credit: Knight Frank
A five-bedroom home that's a mile south of Farnham and a mile north of the South Downs
White Lodge quite literally offers the best of both worlds and is a tremendous example of the English country home.
21 fine homes for sale from £300k to £5.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Our latest look at the finest homes to come up for sale via Country Life this week includes a stunning
Credit: Savills
A wildly dramatic clifftop home built by the man who escaped the Cornish tin mines to become an international diamond trader
The beautiful home of Porthledden is a classic tale of local boy made good — but Francis Oats didn't get to
Credit: Matt Hillier / Savills
An 18th century gem that's immaculate inside and out, with beautiful interiors, spa pool and outstanding equestrian facilities
Normanby Hill House is a beautiful Georgian house that's one of the best homes for sale right now in North

James Fisher is the Digital Commissioning Editor of Country Life. He writes about motoring, travel and things that upset him. He lives in London. He wants to publish good stories, so you should email him.
-
What £1 million buys you across Britain, from a Cornish cottage to a miniature castle in the Highlands
Sprawling country houses, a mini-estate in Scotland and homes where the sea almost laps up at your feet are among the property options open to those with a seven-figure budget. Here's our pick of the best £1 million houses for sale across the land.
By Toby Keel Published
-
England and the 1966 World Cup — which was stolen and later recovered by a dog called Pickles
In celebration of the footballing talents of Country Life's guest editor Sir David Beckham, we look back at the summer of 1966, when the England national team was on top of the world.
By James Fisher Published
-
What £1 million buys you across Britain, from a Cornish cottage to a miniature castle in the Highlands
Sprawling country houses, a mini-estate in Scotland and homes where the sea almost laps up at your feet are among the property options open to those with a seven-figure budget. Here's our pick of the best £1 million houses for sale across the land.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The Hampshire home of a Victoria Cross-winning British WWI ace fighter pilot is for sale, with lake, chapel and some of the best fishing rights in England
Penny Churchill looks at Longparish House, a north Hampshire haven on the River Test.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Five superb country homes, from under £1 million to £20 million, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some the best homes to come up for sale via Country Life in the past week includes a Wiltshire dream home and a vast Kent mansion that's an easy commute to the City.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Rock stars and the country house: Liam Gallagher's life in the Cotswolds is in the finest tradition of music A-listers, from The Beatles to Beyoncé
What is it about the British countryside that draws A-listers from every walk of life? With Liam Gallagher's Cotswold former home on the market, Toby Keel takes a look.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Life on Portugal's Coast of Kings, where Ian Fleming met the triple-agent whose gambling inspired 'Casino Royale'
Once a quiet fishing village west of Lisbon, Cascais became an unlikely hive of activity during the Second World War, attracting regal refugees and intelligence operatives in equal measure. Russell Higham investigates its enduring glamour — and its connection to Casino Royale.
By Russell Higham Published
-
An extraordinary Italian palazzo built in the heart of Oxfordshire is up for sale at £16 million
The Palazzo Pallavicini in Genoa inspired the creation of Newington House, which is on the market for the first time in 35 years.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A bum deal on a bog-standard property? The former public conveniences being sold off for a song
London has several affordable properties with enviable postcodes and great lighting... so long as you're happy spending more than a penny on a Victorian loo.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A castle for sale just down the road from Gleneagles, where everyone from George VI to a farmer and his pigs once roamed the grand halls
Orchil Castle has seen it all in a tumultuous century and a half — but it's getting back to its best, and now needs a brave new owner to take it on the next step of its journey.
By Toby Keel Published