Built in 1840, this west London residence has a storied history and is now listed for £26 million ($33 million) with Aston Chase. Located in the charming Little Venice area, this Grade II-listed home was once owned by Michael Flatley, the Irish-American dancer and creator of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. The property, which has been on the market for the first time in 20 years, was originally designed by English architect Matthew Wyatt and was once acquired by the socialite and royal mistress Lillie Langtry, known for her romantic liaisons with members of the English aristocracy.
The three-story mansion, situated within Park Place Villas and overlooking the iconic Regent’s Canal, was purchased by Flatley in 1998 for £4.75 million after outbidding Madonna and Barbra Streisand. Michael Sulkin of Aston Chase notes, “Two decades ago, three A-listers had a bidding war to acquire it, and we expect strong interest with this new listing as the Langtry villa is one of the most historically significant houses in Little Venice.”
The Victorian home features seven bedrooms, a drawing room with a Regency fireplace, and an adjoining conservatory. Before Flatley sold the property in 2004, he enlisted architect and interior designer Peter Inston to renovate the residence. Enhancements included a lower ground floor leisure area with an indoor swimming pool, gym, and mahogany-clad club room with a cocktail bar and movie screen. Flatley also updated the entrance hall with diamond-pattern marble flooring, added an imported French stone fireplace and red silk wallpaper in the dining room, and installed a Fourneaux de France Aga stove in the kitchen.
The villa, which has also seen remnants of Langtry’s era—such as stone lions at the front door, a gazebo where she entertained Edward VII, and a secret carriage driveway—offers immense potential for further refurbishment. Mark Pollack of Aston Chase comments, “With its rich royal and celebrity history, we anticipate significant interest from discerning buyers worldwide.”
