Hidden Houses of London

Although completely hidden from view, the Lodge is just a short walk away from South Kensington station. An iron gate opens onto a private passageway, leading between vine decorated walls and into a courtyard garden. Beyond is a graceful neoclassical five-bedroom family home with shuttered windows.

Over the years, this unique site has been home to a school, a non-conformist chapel, a Turkish baths and an artists’ studio. It was once occupied by the respected painters Henry John Judson and Sir James Jebusa Shannon. But, in 1929, the present house was constructed, creating a private hideaway in the heart of West London.

The building’s traditional interiors and the rustic detail in the kitchen conjure a charming country cottage. Meanwhile, the sheltered location – between the gardens of Alexander Square and the houses of Alexander Place – gives a rare sense of stillness and calm. At the same time, the neighbourhood’s world-class cultural institutions are within easy reach.

Kinnerton Street is one of the most beautiful addresses in Belgravia. This long mews features a mix of brick, white stucco and pastel-painted houses, close to Knightsbridge Station. Midway along lies a private, gated courtyard called Capener's Close, barely visible from the street but offering exceptional privacy.

Step inside and you will find a collection of charming mews properties. One of these is a surprisingly spacious family home, offering six bedrooms, a generous open-plan living area, and a paved courtyard garden.

Despite its protected location, the interiors are bright thanks to wide windows on the garden side of the house. In addition, there is an enchanting roof terrace with wooden decking and open views towards the bell tower of St Paul’s Knightsbridge. Finally, a mature wisteria plant running up the side of the property and enclosing the terrace gives a wonderful impression of colour and perfume each spring.

Old Warren Farm dates back to the seventeenth century. Over the years, it was home to members of a wealthy brewing dynasty and a leading politician. Offering an impressive farm house, a second family home, numerous outbuildings and a swimming pool, it’s hard to believe this extensive estate is just eight miles from the centre of the capital.

The farm is nestled on the eastern side of Wimbledon Common, close to the well-preserved parkland of the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club and Cannizaro Park. It is surrounded by lawns, paddocks and thickly planted woodland, and only accessed via an earth track leading off the main road and passing through trees.

Taken together, the setting offers a wonderful sense of seclusion. Though nearby Wimbledon Station has regular trains into London Waterloo, visiting Old Warren Farm feels like retreating deep into the countryside.

Provost Road is an attractive address in the heart of Primrose Hill. It forms part of a triangle of popular Georgian terraces surrounding the Victorian church of St Saviour’s. But its most special property is a secret: a contemporary family home enclosed by woodland planting.

The property was designed by the award-winning architects Eldridge Smerin, who gave the original house – an 1860s cottage in the Arts and Crafts style – a spectacular glazed extension. This created a series of light-filled living spaces, with French doors and floor-to-ceiling windows creating an incredible sense of closeness to the surrounding garden.

This walled garden was the work of Chelsea gold-medallist Jinny Blom. Its dreamlike design includes a paved area for outdoor eating and open lawns bordered by flowerbeds and silver birch. This serene space evokes the seclusion of living among woodland, just moments away from the restaurants, cafes and boutiques of the Primrose Hill village.