Description:
It's a rare privilege to stay in this splendid house. The owner is a direct descendent of the 19th century author Sir Henry Rider Haggard well known for his great African adventure novels King Solomon's Mines and She - read them before you come to get yourself into the mood!
The house is presented in classic "old-family" style with antique furniture and walls hung with many family portraits going back to the mid 1600s, including one of Sir Henry and one of his father, William.
It's also in a great position - Harrods is your local store, just 3 minutes walk away, and the wide open spaces of Hyde Park are the same distance the other way. Nearest tube is Knightsbridge (Piccadilly line - trains direct from Heathrow).
The house is arranged over 4 floors and sleeps 4/5 in one double bedroom, one single bedroom, a double sofa bed and another single bed.There are 3 bathrooms. The front door opens onto a large (22ft x 13ft, 6.7m x 3.9m) room functioning as an entrance hall, an occasional sitting area and a formal dining room. The dining table seats 8 comfortably, 10 at a squeeze. There's a mini-grand Steinway piano which you're welcome to play.
On the half landing leading to the first floor, in an alcove devoted to bookshelves, is a glass door opening onto a small roof terrace. On the first floor is the (22ft6 x 13ft, 6.8m x 3.9m) drawing room, although quite formal it's also a comfortable room and furnished with a 3 seater sofa, 4 arm-chairs and two other chairs.
There are side tables with lamps and family photographs. There's a TV here with digital channels, when not in use it's kept discretely hidden away behind a chair. There's also a stereo system with many CDs - mainly classical, and high-speed broadband internet access via a wifi connection - bring your own laptop.
On the second floor are two bedrooms, a double with a 5ft bed and built in cupboards and a single with a 3ft bed. There are two bathrooms, one with shower, basin and loo, the second with bath + hand shower, basin, bidet and loo.
Downstairs from the ground floor dining room, on a half-landing, is the (13ft9 x 10ft, 4.2m x 3m) kitchen. It's light and bright as it gets lots of natural light from a high, atrium-style, glass roof. It has all the expected appliances including a microwave, dishwasher and washing machine (but no dryer), and the breakfast area has a small table with seating for 4/5.
The lower ground floor is almost a separate flat and consists of a comfortable sitting area (12ft x 11ft3, 3.6m x 3.4m) with a sofa that converts to a full size (5ft) double bed, desk and chair and TV. Off this room there's a single bed in a separate (8ft9 x 7ft9, 2.7m x 2.4m) sleeping area (but please note that there's no door separating the two areas). These share a bathroom with shower, basin and loo.
There's a 3rd bathroom, ideal for visiting day guests, on the half-landing between the dining room and drawing room, with basin and loo (it also has a shower).
It's no accident that Knightsbridge is one of the most fashionable places to live as here are some of the best shops and restaurants in London. Apart from Harrods, for the fashion conscious there's Harvey Nichols, Princess Diana's favourite department store.
Beauchamp (pronounced Beecham) Place with its fine collection of fashion shops and at least 6 restaurants is less than 5 minutes walk. The Hyde Park, Sheraton Tower and Berkley hotels, all with renowned restaurants, are all within a 10 minute walk. The wide open spaces of Hyde Park are on your door-step.
Policy: Smoking not allowed
Policy: Smoking not allowed