This charming Victorian house is positioned in Pembridge Mews, a secluded no-through cobbled road in the heart of Notting Hill, close to the ever-desirable Westbourne Grove and Portobello Road. Built in 1850 and within the Pembridge Conservation Area, the two-bedroom house is set out over two storeys with internal accommodation extending to almost 1,200 sq ft. The interior has a beautifully simple design, focusing on honest materials; chalky white walls and pale-pitch pine floorboards enhance excellent levels of natural light throughout the house. The home also has a lovely private south-facing courtyard garden.

Setting the Scene

After the successful development of Paddington in the early 19th century, Kensington was expanded, and Pembridge Mews, together with the grand houses it annexed on the adjacent wide stuccoed crescents, were built. Formerly agricultural land, with several Roman settlements nearby, the mews formed part of some 28 acres of land owned by James Weller Ladbroke, who gave his name to several prominent neighbouring thoroughfares. This area formed a small part of his greater land west of Portobello Lane.

Set within an incredibly peaceful, secluded, cobbled, no-through mews, the charming terraced houses are built along an L-shaped plan. This house is set discretely at the quiet interior junction, with an open vista down the entire length of the road.  The brick façade is painted a pretty pink colour, with a wooden box sash and French windows defining the exterior; an EV charger is also positioned to the front of the house. A Juliet balcony adorns the first floor, and there is space for a bench and potted plants outside the front door. The entire house has recently undergone a sensitive and extensive renovation and is beautifully presented with a sympathetic yet contemporary design. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

Entry is to a vestibule opening to the spacious living room. Unusually for a mews house, which are usually built on modest square plans, this ground floor space is exceptionally generous at some 43 ft in depth, meaning it is brilliant for entertaining. Light floods the entire ground floor through the north and south aspects, and a trio of large roof skylights set in the mono-pitch roof at the rear. French windows with side lights frame views of the courtyard at the front of the house, while tall French windows with a large roundhead fan light open to the garden at the rear.

Pine floorboards run underfoot throughout the open-plan living space, while floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are built into recesses along the span of the west wall. The front of the room is utilised as a dining room, while to the rear, the spacious seating area is designed around a beautiful stone classical chimneypiece housing a warming remote-controlled gas fire.

The kitchen is set off the dining area. Here, oak veneer cupboards house integrated appliances with slabs of hardy quartz resting atop. A butler sink and five-hob gas stove from Bertazzoni are inset within, and a large Smeg oven rests underneath. Open shelves run along one wall, perfect for storing china and glassware. Additionally, a guest cloakroom is set off the entrance vestibule.

Ascending the box staircase to the first floor, there are two en suite bedrooms. The principal bedroom has a wall of panelled wardrobes, with one entire wallpapered in an exquisite pastoral scene by the Designers Guild. French windows open to the cast-iron Juliet balcony and frame views along the entire length of the mews. The bathroom is thoughtfully partially papered in the same design as the bedroom, with honed limestone tiles used throughout. A beautiful and considered room, the bath and vanity unit are encased in the same limestone tiles, while nickel-plated brassware is by C.P Hart.

The second bedroom has further wardrobes in the same design. It is exceptionally bright care of a large casement window overlooking the peaceful neighbouring gardens and a large Velux window. This room’s en suite wet room is encased in mosaic limestone tiles, echoing the other bathroom, creating a considered sense of cohesion. There is further storage in the spacious loft, access from the principal bedroom.

The Great Outdoors

The charming garden is laid with stone setts to mirror the landscape of the mews itself. There is space for outdoor seating, with bamboo creating shade on hot summer days.

The garden design embraces a sense of antiquity and forms an incredible grotto; a stone statuary figurine and a wall-mounted fountain are both encompassed within the beautiful design.

Out and About

Pembridge Mews is between Notting Hill Gate and Westbourne Grove, one of West London’s most desirable destinations. The area is celebrated for its restaurants, cafes and boutiques. On the doorstep are Franklin’s Wine, Sally Clarke Bakery, Provenance Butcher and The Notting Hill Fish and Meat Shop. The immediate area has many excellent restaurants, such as the two Michelin-starred The Ledbury, three Michelin-starred Core by Clare Smyth and a branch of Ottolenghi. Further, bars, restaurants and pubs can be found throughout Notting Hill, including The Electric Cinema and the popular Notting Hill Arts Club.

There are several public parks near Pembridge Mews; the green open spaces of Avondale Park and Holland Park are close, while Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are a ten-minute walk away.

Local day schools, from nursery through to 18, are excellent and include Wetherby and Pembridge Hall, Chepstow House and Mynors Nursery.

Notting Hill Gate (Central Line) and Ladbroke Grove (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) are nearby. The Westway provides an easy route out of the city by road for swift access to Heathrow Airport and the southwest.

Council Tax Band: G