- Name: 27 Charles St, London
- Type: Georgian Style Townhouse
- Price: $11,058,000 USD (£8,750,000 – Dec 2023)
- Bedrooms: 5
- Bathrooms: 7
- Size: 3,798 sq. ft.
- Levels: 6
- Built: 1750’s
Set within the heart of London’s prestigious Mayfair district lies an extraordinary property with a storied past. 27 Charles Street is a sensational Grade II listed Georgian style townhouse residence spanning six floors. Originally developed by aristocratic landowner Lord Berkeley in the 1750’s and meticulously designed by master carpenter John Phillips, this historic residence is steeped in both architectural elegance and cultural significance. Its brown brick façade, slate roof, sash windows, and ornate wrought-iron railings harken back to its mid-18th century roots. With nearly 3,800 sq ft of living and entertaining areas, this residence encapsulates the timeless allure of Georgian architecture however, what truly distinguishes this property is its unique historical resonance.
In the swinging 1960s, 27 Charles Street served as the primary residence and creative hub for Brian Epstein, the visionary manager behind The Beatles’ meteoric rise to fame. Epstein, instrumental in the Fab Four’s global success, utilized this townhouse for both personal and business purposes. The adjacent mews house, affectionately known as the “Beatles bolthole,” provided the legendary band with a secluded sanctuary away from the frenzy of their adoring fans during the early days of Beatlemania. This mews house, linked to the main home via the basement, even boasted its own discreet entrance on Hay’s Mews, ensuring the Fab Four’s privacy and security.
Within the walls of the mews house, The Beatles not only found respite but also inspiration. It is believed that this cozy retreat played host to some of their creative sessions, including the development of lyrics for their seminal 1967 album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Iconic photographs capture the band together in a bathtub placed prominently in the mews house’s sitting room, a testament to their unique blend of music and mischief. John Lennon’s graffiti, once adorning the kitchen tiles, became a relic of their time here, later sold at auction as an emblem of pop culture history.
As a remarkable twist in its narrative, 27 Charles Street was later acquired in 1967 by prominent conservative politician and author Norman St John-Stevas, Lord St John of Fawsley, who served as a cabinet member and close advisor to Margaret Thatcher. The property’s historical fabric has been meticulously preserved, including original features such as parquet flooring, detailed plaster paneling, and a roof terrace offering a serene escape amidst the urban landscape. Its architectural grandeur is matched by its prime location: nestled at the northwestern end of Charles Street, it is a stone’s throw away from Berkeley Square, within walking distance to Hyde Park and Green Park, and moments from Green Park tube station.
- Developer: Lord Berkeley (1750’s)
- Designer: Master Carpenter John Phillips (1750’s)
- Photography: Wetherell
- Past Owner: Brian Epstein – The Beatles manager (1960’s)
- Past Owner: Apple Corps – The Beatles’ music company (1960’s)
- Past Owner: Norman St John-Stevas – Member of Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet (1967)
- Notable Guests: The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Star
- Location: 27 Charles St, London W1J 5DT, UK
