Property on a street of blue plaques for sale a stone's throw from Westminster


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

London is awash with spectacular properties and The National's London luxury property series showcases the best of them.

This month, the featured property lies in the heart of Westminster.

Featured property

Mansion House, SW1, offers above £30 million

The key details

Extending to more than 11,000 sq ft, the property features seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, a 16-seat dining room, roof terrace and an indoor pool and spa.

There is an eight-person lift and accommodation for staff.

It is for sale via Engel and Volkers.

What's the story?

The grade 11 listed freehold home is a stone's throw from the Houses of Parliament.

Originally built as the headquarters of the North Eastern Railway, the building went on to serve as the headquarters of the British Liberal Democrats. But it has since been repurposed and refurbished as a private residence.

Designed by Horace Field in 1904, the agent said Mansion House was the “epitome of British elegance and design, offering the owner a front-row seat in the very heart of the establishment”.

What are the design features?

The property's facade is more than 15 metres wide, with an ornate gable, while grand stone pillars flank the heavy, wooden entrance doors.

Inside, dark-wood panels are set against light marble floors, high vaulted ceilings and a gilded glass dome, which towers over the main staircase reinforcing the grandeur and elegance of the property.

"The renovation of Mansion House represents the pinnacle of British design and craftsmanship having been guided by the same artisans who have worked at Windsor Castle and the Palace of Westminster,” said Alexander Broadfoot, private office adviser and sales director at Engel & Volkers.

The rooftop view from the house, which is located close to the Houses of Parliament. Photo: Engel and Volkers
The rooftop view from the house, which is located close to the Houses of Parliament. Photo: Engel and Volkers

“From the grand cupola to the sweeping main staircase and oak-panelled drawing room, the property is a bastion of architectural and interior design".

The first-floor drawing room, which is almost 10 metres wide and features five sash windows, is a short reach from a walk-in wine room.

In addition to the extensive living accommodation, the property includes an Italian garden, two terraces as well as a private spa, 10-metre pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room and a fully equipped gym.

There is also a lift on hand to transport up to eight people throughout the building.

What the broker says

What makes the property stand out from the crowd?

It’s over 11,000 sq ft. On top of that it is worth mentioning, it is very rarely seen, a 15-metre wide facade, which is an enormous frontage for the house.

It’s never actually been on the market. There was an off-market campaign by the owner. It’s never been listed with an agent. I guess they’ve had a network of brokers they might have dealt with in the past but the property has been rented out previously, with one long tenancy, which is why we find ourselves several years later now looking for a buyer. And it had a short let recently. It was a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who was paying £50,000 (£61,235) a week.

What is Barton Street like?

It’s riddled with blue plaques, including T E Lawrence [of Lawrence of Arabia].

So it is full of history and certainly political history. That’s something that has been very appealing on the international market. If you are looking for a seat in the epicentre of British political power, then this is not a bad place to set yourself up from.

Has there been much interest?

We have had about 15 inquiries in the past 24 hours, which is really exciting for a property at this level. We have had two from the UK and from the US and China, I would say, the majority.

Alexander Broadfoot, Private Office Adviser, Sales Director, Engel & Volkers

The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE

Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000

Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6

Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm

Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Director: Lulu Wang

Stars: Awkwafina, Zhao Shuzhen, Diana Lin, Tzi Ma

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Hepatitis C is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. This can occur through blood transfusions, contaminated injections during medical procedures, and through injecting drugs. Sexual transmission is also possible, but is much less common.

People infected with hepatitis C experience few or no symptoms, meaning they can live with the virus for years without being diagnosed. This delay in treatment can increase the risk of significant liver damage.

There are an estimated 170 million carriers of Hepatitis C around the world.

The virus causes approximately 399,000 fatalities each year worldwide, according to WHO.

 

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Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

All or Nothing

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20UAE%20men%E2%80%99s%20cricketer%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EWhen%20he%20debuted%20against%20Bangladesh%20aged%2016%20years%20and%20314%20days%2C%20he%20became%20the%20youngest%20ever%20to%20play%20for%20the%20men%E2%80%99s%20senior%20team.%20He%20broke%20the%20record%20set%20by%20his%20World%20Cup%20squad-mate%2C%20Alishan%20Sharafu%2C%20of%2017%20years%20and%2044%20days.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20wicket-taker%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter%20taking%20the%20wicket%20of%20Bangladesh%E2%80%99s%20Litton%20Das%20on%20debut%20in%20Dubai%2C%20Aayan%20became%20the%20youngest%20male%20cricketer%20to%20take%20a%20wicket%20against%20a%20Full%20Member%20nation%20in%20a%20T20%20international.%3Cbr%3E%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYoungest%20in%20T20%20World%20Cup%20history%3F%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EAayan%20does%20not%20turn%2017%20until%20November%2015%20%E2%80%93%20which%20is%20two%20days%20after%20the%20T20%20World%20Cup%20final%20at%20the%20MCG.%20If%20he%20does%20play%20in%20the%20competition%2C%20he%20will%20be%20its%20youngest%20ever%20player.%20Pakistan%E2%80%99s%20Mohammed%20Amir%2C%20who%20was%2017%20years%20and%2055%20days%20when%20he%20played%20in%202009%2C%20currently%20holds%20the%20record.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m

Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

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Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m

Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.

3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m

Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.

3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m

Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.

4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m

Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Belong%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Michael%20Askew%20and%20Matthew%20Gaziano%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%243.5%20million%20from%20crowd%20funding%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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1st Test England win by 211 runs at Lord's, London

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3rd Test July 27-31 at The Oval, London

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

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Updated: December 08, 2022, 11:39 AM