Kennington is one of London’s best kept secrets. Only two miles from Trafalgar Square and a quick commute to the City, Westminster and the West End, this south London district is less well known than its neighbours, Clapham and Wandsworth.
But, it has plenty to offer. An affluent enclave of Georgian houses and pretty garden squares, Kennington is on the rise thanks to its abundance of large family homes, outstanding schools and a strong sense of community. Lots of MPs have pied- à-terres here so that they can dash over the river to Westminster for late-night votes and sports fans appreciate the district’s proximity to the Oval, London’s beloved international cricket ground.
The area’s major thoroughfare is Kennington Road, a street lined with beautiful period townhouses which are quickly snapped up by families looking to upsize. Today, the largest property on this street, a remarkable four bedroom Georgian home covering 2,571 sq. ft, has just hit the market. It features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two reception rooms.
As you enter the house, you’ll find the home’s first reception room with double volume ceilings and two skylights that flood the space with natural light. This area has been recently renovated and converted from a former courtyard that was enclosed under architect guidance. As a result, the original windows of the main house look into the upstairs dining room and lower ground living room, which creates a panoramic view of the home.
On the raised ground level, a mosaic tiled floor takes guests to a large open dining room and a separate Smallbone kitchen, accessed via Crittall doors. The lower ground floor was once home to former Conservative Prime Minister John Major who lived in it when it was a basement. Today, this space offers a cosy living room as well as a study for those who are working flexibly.
The home’s three double bedrooms are spread over the three top floors. The principal suite rests on the second floor and features integrated wardrobes and an en suite bathroom with pale marble tiles, twin sinks and a walk-in shower and bathtub.
For families who have a live-in-nanny or regular guests, there’s also the benefit of a private annexe with a stovetop, sink and access to a roof garden with space for an outdoor dining table and chairs.
‘This house is one of a kind,’ says Dominic Reeves, Director of Dexters Kennington. ‘Many of the original Georgian homes in the area were split up into apartments in the second half of the twentieth century, so it's rare to find one that has not only remained intact but has also been extended and renovated to such a high standard. A short walk to Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall tube Stations, this house would make a magnificent family home for those seeking an abundance of space within commutable distance of the city.’
