Listing of the Day
Location: London, England
Price: £4.95 million (US$6.9 million)
Behind a recently refurbished five-story, five-bedroom townhouse in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London’s oldest and largest fig tree continues to spread its branches and bear fruit. This common fig tree is more than 30 feet tall with a 25-foot diameter and a canopy that twists across the garden’s back walls; it dates back to 1847, when the property was first built.
While the tree may be the home’s most unique element and certainly brings a "wow" factor to the listing, Jake Russell, director at Russell Simpson, points to the home’s abundance of space as being its best attribute.
"London townhouses can always look small and cramped from the outside, but this home just has an abundance of space," Mr. Russell said. "This helps add diversity across rooms—you can do an awful lot with 2,400 square feet across five floors."
A wide variety of people have expressed interest in the home, but a family will most likely be the buyers, according to Mr. Russell, who said, "the sheer number of rooms, the garden, its close proximity to King’s Road and various good schools make it perfect for families."
More:Click to Tour a London Residence with Hidden Depths
Stats
The home provides 2,400 square feet of living area spaced across five floors, and includes five bedrooms, three full bathrooms and three reception rooms.
Amenities
The home has Scandinavian-style minimalist interior design and an open-plan kitchen/dining room leads onto a glass balcony and a garden room with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a quaint garden terrace. "The full-height glass doors and skylight fill the room with natural light, creating a wonderful homey ambience," Mr. Russell said.
Talking point
According to the listing, Cardinal Pole planted England’s first fig tree in 1525, as he had grown fond of the fruit while traveling in Italy. Fig trees are also prominent along Chelsea Embankment—they were planted there in 1874. This fig tree was planted 27 years earlier than those and still produces fruit. "It does so year-round, with at least 50% edible," Mr. Russell said. "Quite the benefit when one wishes to make a fig cake."
More:Historic London Townhouse That Took a Recent Trip to Hollywood
Neighborhood notes
King’s Road and Harrods department store are a short walk from the house, and the nearby Sloane Square Underground station provides quick access across London via the Circle and District lines.
Agent: Jake Russell, Director at Russell Simpson
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