Freddie Mercury's Kensington Home Remains Unsold After Two Years on the Market

Nearly two years since it was first listed, Freddie Mercury's former Kensington residence, Garden Lodge, remains unsold. With the property once again in the spotlight, it's an opportune moment to revisit the remarkable spaces the Queen frontman shaped during the final decade of his life.

Freddie Mercury's Kensington Home Remains Unsold After Two Years on the Market

The eight-bedroom Edwardian house in Kensington was bequeathed to Mercury's former partner, Mary Austin, upon his passing in 1991. It hit the market in February 2024 with an asking price of around £30 million. While its future ownership remains uncertain, reports suggest that the lack of a sale may be viewed positively by Mercury's sister, Kashmira Bulsara, who has expressed concerns about the property and its contents falling into public hands.

Last year, British press reported that Kashmira spent approximately £3 million acquiring items from Freddie's collection that had been slated for auction, believing they should remain within the family. The Queen frontman, a keen collector, amassed a vast array of costumes, art, furniture, and books, which he left alongside the property to Mary Austin. The majority of this collection was sold at a highly successful Sotheby's auction, raising nearly £40 million.

Garden Lodge was also the setting for some of Mercury's most legendary gatherings, including his famous Silly Hat Party for his 40th birthday in 1986, when friends filled the house and garden for one of his most talked-about celebrations. Although the property is not publicly listed, pre-vetted buyers are invited to submit offers in excess of £30 million.

Designed in 1907 by architect Ernest Marshall for artists Cecil Rea and Constance Halford, the house was purchased by Mercury in 1980. It was his first visit, and he made an offer on the spot, referring to it as his "country house in central London." To achieve this sense of escapism, Freddie collaborated with interior designer Robin Moore Ede, who helped transform the large, classically designed house into a luxurious, eclectic space that could serve as a backdrop for his growing collections and host gatherings with friends.

The original double-height artists' studio was converted into a drawing room, featuring a wrap-around gallery repurposed as a library-cum-bar overlooking the space below. It was here in the drawing room that Freddie placed his grand piano, on which he composed (arguably) his magnum opus, Bohemian Rhapsody, which sold at Sotheby's for £1.7 million.

Subtle references to Mercury's Zanzibar upbringing appear throughout the property, such as the sunshine-yellow walls in the hallway and dining room, where geometric cornicing designed by Freddie himself is painted in a striking combination of greens, pinks, and gold. The main hall leads to a grand staircase, which ascends to the first floor, where Mercury's private quarters were located, including his bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom.