- Stratheden House on The Bishops Avenue in north London is one of the largest houses in a very expensive street
- It boasts a subterranean cinema, champagne bar, hairdressing salon, nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms
For the adult who’s never outgrown a childhood love of Lego, this could be the home of their dreams.
Because while Stratheden, which is for sale in north London’s exclusive Bishops Avenue is undoubtedly sophisticated, it also bears more than a passing resemblance to the plastic construction bricks we all remember from our youth.
Inside, however, the £34m house offers the ultimate in grown-up luxury, with wall-to-wall mirrors, steam-room, and a ballroom with polished floor the size of a normal house.
Built in Cape Dutch style in 1925, it is one of the largest houses on a street that boasts some of the UK’s most impressive – and expensive – properties.
The Bishops Avenue, also known as Billionaires’ Row, is home to oil barons, oligarchs and royalty from Russia,the Middle East and Africa.
Knight Frank and Glentree International, the agents who are selling the vast home, are sure the house’s features and high-end specification will ensure finding a buyer for Stratheden will be no trouble.
The ambassadorial style house boasts nine bedrooms, eight bathrooms, five reception rooms and – despite being located only a short drive from the centre of London – almost one acre of land.
One of the stand-out features of the mansion, which was recently rebuilt and has a look of (albeit very expensive) Lego about its exterior, is the ballroom which takes up a staggering 2,700sq/ft – making it perfect for entertaining guests.
The room, which could also double up as an art gallery, has the same floor-space as an average family home.
Stratheden, which will attract a stamp duty bill of £2.4m if it sells for the asking price, also has a 12-metre indoor swimming pool with separate gym, steam and sauna rooms, and a massage/hairdressing/spa room.
There is also a champagne bar, complete with glitzy silver seating and mirrored bar, where the new owner will be able to toast his or her purchase.
Trevor Abrahmsohn, director of Glentree, has sold £3 billion worth of properties on The Bishops Avenue over the past 35 years.
He said: ‘Stratheden has Cape Dutch architecture and this is unique in the area. That is why the local authority has listed the building and, as such, preserved its architectural heritage.
‘The pool and leisure area is absolutely stunning and what can one say when you have your own bespoke art gallery/ballroom area and champagne bar, how decadent.
‘This is a home for the family that has everything except a home of this quality. You just have to bring your food and clothes and you are ready to rock and roll.’
The property is spread over four floors with the leisure complex which includes a cinema based on the subterranean level.
Outside, there is a huge drive at the front while the rear boasts an Italian sunken garden, raised garden, water features and a two-bedroom cottage for staff.
This pretty bedroom has expensive carpet, sloped ceiling and an attractive round window dating back to the house’s origins in the Arts and Crafts period
The Bishops Road is already home to oligarchs, royalty and oil barons, but Stratheden is still one of the biggest houses on the street
The nine-bedroom house looks dramatic at night with its state of the art lighting system and landscaped garden
With corridors lined with gleaming marble and abstract art, the £34m house looks more like an expensive hotel than a home at the moment
To afford a house like this you probably have a business or two – Stratheden comes with a smart office where the new owner will be able to work in peace
The £34m house boasts a stunning, aquamarine tiled steam room where the residents and their guests can sweat away their worries in some style
This kitchen is rather more attractive than the other one, and boasts natural light as well, so perhaps the family of the house might find themselves tempted to cook the odd thing in here – in one of the four ovens…
You wouldn’t want to have a ‘fat day’ in here, no matter how rich you are – the heavily-mirrored dressing room would be a nightmare if you weren’t feeling confident about how you looked
The in-house hairdressing salon has more mirrors, plus leather-padded walls, as well as a bed for massage treatments
This spare room has a built-in flat-screen TV and plenty of room for guests at Stratheden in north London to sprawl out in the super king-size bed
Whoever designed the house for its recent refurbishment was fond of geometrically-framed vistas: The marble staircase and the garden’s pergolas are both stunning
Natural light pours in through the cupola, highlighting the expensively polished wooden floor – and acres of space (plus more mirrors)
An in-house sauna is de rigueur for the mega-rich these days, so Stratheden is fitted with a large one as standard
This ensuite bathroom offers views onto the garden, a large bath with marble surround, and modern sink and high-pressure shower
Luxury fittings in the house include smart polished wood wardrobes, top, and a breath-taking shower lined with astonishingly beautiful polished stone, bottom