Ennismore Gardens, London SW7

This charming two-bedroom apartment sits in a Grade II-listed townhouse on Ennismore Gardens in South Kensington. Interior spaces of 813 sq ft have been finished in a bright palette of crisp white. There are two private internal courtyards in addition to the beautifully laid-out residents-only garden square. Wonderfully located, Ennismore Gardens is a short walk from South Kensington and the museums of ‘Albertopolis’, with the shopping districts of Sloane Street and the King’s Road a short walk away.

Setting the Scene

Ennismore Gardens was initially conceived as a series of grand residences for aristocrats and the emerging upper middle-classes. The five-storey, white-stuccoed houses are ornamented with porticos and Corinthian columns, with cast-iron railings creating balconies on the piano nobile level. This Victorian interpretation of Palladianism defines the area, which was rapidly developed in 1870 along with its fashionable neighbour Knightsbridge, having been largely farmland at the start of the century. Enduringly desirable, notable residents of the square have included Hollywood actress Ava Gardner, who lived at 34 Ennismore Gardens for 22 years until her death. Her life is commemorated by a blue plaque and an ornamental urn in the green square.

The Grand Tour

The apartment’s front door is reached via a grand communal hallway on the house’s raised ground floor. Straight ahead, along an entrance hall spanning the depth of the plan, is a voluminous sitting room. With smart painted oak wood flooring underfoot, there is space for a large seating area as well as a separate dining area. Finished in a crisp white, natural light filters into the room via patio doors leading to a private courtyard garden.

Beyond lies a contemporary kitchen added by the current owners. The room is filled with natural light from a skylight above and a window overlooking the green courtyard to the side. A bank of glossy white units line one wall, and clever sliding doors sit at the end to hide away additional white goods and appliances.

The front of the plan is home to two bedrooms, centred around a courtyard-come-lightwell. The larger of the two has a wide bay window and plentiful built-in storage. A large primary bathroom sits at the end, with an open shower clad in white subway tiles, a WC, vanity and bespoke fitted storage.

Outside in the hallway are additional banks of useful built-in storage, perfect for hiding away all of life’s necessities.

The Great Outdoors

The apartment has two delightful courtyard gardens. The larger of the two is filled with greenery by established climbing roses and flowerbeds and is perfect for enjoying a morning coffee or entertaining during the summer months. A secondary courtyard, accessed from the reception room, acts as a handy lightwell and houses a seating area.

Out and About

Set on the grand square of Edwardian and Victorian white-terraced houses at Ennismore Gardens, the house is ideally located for Knightsbridge and South Kensington. The square also forms part of the approach to the Prince of Wales Gate at Hyde Park with its 350 acres of immaculate parkland.

This is London’s well-heeled heartland, within walking distance of the world-famous Harrods, the Serpentine Gallery dramatically positioned on a bend within Hyde Park, the National History and Victoria and Albert Museum and London’s most opulent concert venue, the Royal Albert Hall.

The chance to cook in Knightsbridge’s renowned restaurants is highly sought after by international chefs, and the area is home to some of London’s most coveted dinner venues. On Harrods’ rooftop, Studio Frantzen is home to six Michelin star-holding chef Bjorn Frantzen, serving Nordic-Asian fare. Opened in 2022, The Aubrey is an exclusive reimagining of a Japanese bar and its walls are lined with art inspired by the Japonisme movement. For pubs and bars, Nolita Social provides an explosive slice of New York in the UK capital, and the Alfred Tennyson pub in Belgravia is a wonderful Cubitt House venture.

The apartment sits almost equidistant from South Kensington and Knightsbridge stations, both under a 10-minute walk away.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 127 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £1,500 pa
Ground Rent: Approx. £1,000 pa
Council Tax Band: F