Gledhow Gardens

High class
Just a handful of minutes from the great museums, and a hop, skip, and a jump from Hyde Park, sits lovely Gledhow Gardens. On the ground floor of an imposing building, and with views out onto mature communal lawns, this home is established, refined and entirely tasteful. Inside, the style is exquisite, from the well-chosen antique furniture to the master bedroom’s chic oriental rug. Spacious, bright and gorgeously comfortable, here’s a home for those of us who enjoy life’s finer things.

Who’s who
Your host works in finance, while your hostess is in property development. They and their children divide their time between their London pad, the family home in Kent, and a retreat in Antigua.

True classic
Even the approach to Gledhow Gardens is impressive; think red bricks and tall windows. Once inside, you’ll want to begin in the formal sitting room, with its flashes of emerald green against creamy neutrals and delicate antiques. The sash windows have been lovingly restored, the ceilings are high, and even the radiators are original. The view onto the gardens outside will soothe even the most shattered nerves, or, if you’d rather, put on the flat-screen TV. The kitchen’s modern, with a dining table that’ll seat up to six, while the family bathroom’s dramatically clad in green marble and mirrors.

With its large window and shelves full of books, the guest bedroom can be set with either a super-king or twin beds. Simultaneously, the spacious master looks out to the front of the building, the crushed velvet headboard, antique furniture and hand-woven carpet giving it the feel of a suite in a grand hotel. Next door, the jet blackness of the shower room is offset by gleaming mirrors and yummy White Company toiletries.

Groundwork
South Kensington is a dream location; you’re within walking distance of the city’s great museums, the best parks and the bountiful boutiques, cafes, restaurants and delis of Kensington High Street. So whether you’re picnicking by the Serpentine, stocking up in Europe’s largest Whole Foods, gazing at the Natural History Museum’s dinosaurs or just strolling in South Kensington’s picturebook-perfect back streets, you’ll find yourself enchanted. Should you need to get into the centre of town, you can be at Piccadilly Circus in around fifteen minutes.