Freddie Mercury's former Kensington home, Garden Lodge.
Photo: Knight Frank
Freddie Mercury’s London Home Hits the Market for $38 Million
The Kensington house has been meticulously cared for by Mary Austin since the Queen frontman passed away in 1991
Freddie Mercury with his friend Mary Austin at an after-party for Queen's Wembley concerts in July 1986. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images
Freddie Mercury certainly had “fame and fortune and everything that goes with it,” as evidenced by Garden Lodge, his palatial spread in London’s tony Kensington district. And now, some lucky—hopefully music-loving—soul will soon get the chance to wander those halls as its new owner: The rocker’s home is up for sale, the first time the property has been listed since Mercury’s untimely passing in 1991.
Since his death, the Georgian-style villa has been under the aegis of his one-time fiancee and close friend Mary Austin, who has reportedly taken meticulous care of it for more than 30 years. “This house has been the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth in every room,” Austin said in a statement.
But the mansion is glorious in more tangible ways as well: Standout features include a double-height drawing room with a wraparound gallery that acts as a library; a Japanese-style garden with magnolia trees, topiaries, and water features; and, of course, ample closet space in the primary bedroom, where Mercury once stored his stage costumes behind floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors.
Garden Lodge, Freddie Mercury's home in Kensington, West London. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
A view from the hall at Garden Lodge looking towards the famous green door. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
And even if prospective owners aren’t dedicated Queen fans, the home is still one of the most unique properties currently for sale in the English capital. “Notwithstanding the legacy of the house, it is very rare that unmodernized homes of this scale, set in such beautiful mature gardens come to market,” said Paddy Dring, Knight Frank’s global head of prime sales. “It is certainly an exciting prospect for any future purchaser.”
Bringing the estate to market was an inevitable next step after much of Mercury’s collection was auctioned off at Sotheby’s last fall, in a sale that smashed early estimates. All lots found bidders—and nearly 99 percent of them above their high estimate—achieving a staggering $50 million. “Like a Russian doll, Garden Lodge has revealed its layers of treasures over recent months, with the rich tapestry of objects we have discovered there taking us all on a glorious adventure through his imagination,” said David MacDonald, Head of Single Owner Sales at Sotheby’s London, at the time of the event. “Opening the door to the very special place that was Freddie Mercury’s home offers us the ultimate backstage pass into his world.”
See more images below:
Exterior of Garden Lodge. Photo: Courtesy of Knight Frank
Photo: Knight Frank
Prints by Erté installed at Freddie Mercury's home, Garden Lodge, that's now for sale with Knight Frank. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
Installed at Freddie Mercury's Kensington home, Garden Lodge, Sudden Shower Over the Shin-Ohashi Bridge and-Atake by Utagawa Hiroshige is estimated to bring between £30,000 and £50,000 in Sotheby's September 6 Evening Sale. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
James-Jacques-Joseph Tissot's Type of Beauty: Portrait of Mrs. Kathleen Newton is presumed to bring between £400,000 and £600,000 in Sotheby's "Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own" auction. Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's
Cover: Freddie Mercury's former Kensington home, Garden Lodge.
Photo: Knight Frank
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