House · SW7 1QQ
Sold STCListed 156 days
Opportunity summary
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About
- A rare freehold building fronting Hyde Park, combining an exceptional location with significant repositioning potential .
- A former Victorian residence with unrestricted views across Hyde Park, most recently occupied as the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates.
- An elegant Grade II listed landmark, forming part of a distinguished mid-19th century terrace of stucco fronted period buildings, within an established and highly sought after Prime Central London location.
- The property underwent comprehensive preservative structural works, which completed in April 2026.
- The property offers approximately 11,111 sq ft (1,032 sq m) GIA arranged across seven expansive storeys. - Situated on 0.029 ha (0.072 acres).
- Flexible potential following a pre-app for continued use or re-configuration into alternative layouts, subject to consents.
- Vacant possession available, with offers invited for the freehold interest.
Historical Note 30 Princes Gate forms part of an elegant mid 19th century Italianate terrace developed by Sir Charles James Freake between 1855 and 1857, overlooking Hyde Park in what is now the Knightsbridge Conservation Area.
Designed as grand family mansions, the houses feature generous reception rooms, fine plasterwork and a central top lit staircase.
Early residents reflected the address’s prestige, including the Earl of Ducie and the noted bibliophile Henry Huth. Unaltered by wartime damage, No.
30 retains much of its original character and was Grade II listed in 1970 for its architectural and historic significance.
From the early 1990s it served as the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, a use that helped preserve its scale and features.
Recent conservation-led refurbishment has stabilised the building and prepared it for future use.
The Property 30 Princes Gate is a grand Grade II listed former townhouse of over 11,000 sq ft, positioned within an elegant mid 19th century stucco terrace overlooking Hyde Park.
Behind its impressive classical façade, the building offers expansive formal rooms on the principal floors, complemented by more cellular offices on the upper and lower levels, reflecting its former embassy use.
Most recently the property operated as an embassy occupied by the United Arab Emirates. The property was acquired by the UAE for an embassy in 1991.
The UAE Embassy opened at 30 Princes Gate between 1991 and early 1992, with formal embassy activity confirmed by 1992. The property spans seven floors; basement, raised ground and five upper floors.
All floors benefit from exceptional ceiling heights and lift access.
The raised ground benefits from access to a spacious terrace, and further outside space is provided in the form of small balconies on some upper floors.
The UAE Embassy vacated the property in 2017, when it officially opened its new embassy at 1-2 Grosvenor Crescent.
Extensive building works and repairs have been undertaken pre-marketing, the majority of which concern the roof, external elevations and windows.
Part of the basement has been taken back to brick to allow for a repair.
The property currently requires refurbishment but offers a rare opportunity to reposition a landmark Knightsbridge building for residential, office, hotel, educational or continued embassy use, subject to consents.
Prominently situated within Knightsbridge and bordering the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea, one of London’s most prestigious commercial and cultural districts.
30 Princes Gate is set within an elegant terrace verlooking Hyde Park’s expansive green spaces to the north, with South Kensington’s cultural institutions located just to the south.
The surrounding area is characterised by grand white-stucco architecture, embassies, private residences, and landmark museums, creating an exclusive and highly sought after neighbourhood setting.
Princes Gate offers immediate access to an exceptional range of lifestyle amenities, with the boutiques, restaurants and luxury retailers of Knightsbridge including Harrods and Harvey Nichols, located just a short walk to the east.
Further high quality dining, leisure and retail options can be found nearby in South Kensington, Kensington High Street and Belgravia.
The property benefits from its proximity to some of London’s most notable cultural destinations.
The Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum are all situated moments away on Exhibition Road, while the Royal Albert Hall and Kensington Gardens lie just to the west.
Hyde Park itself sits directly opposite the property, providing extensive green open space and recreational facilities.
The area is also home to several acclaimed educational institutions including Imperial College London, the Royal College of Arts and the French Lycée.
Value & comps
No previous sales on record.
Returns
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Archie refurb estimate: a Pro feature
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Deal
Properties like this can earn 2–3x BTL yields when converted to HMO, with retrofit costs around £10k/room. Sign in to see the full tier, yield projection, and cost breakdown.
Commercial properties like this can earn 30-50% higher yields when converted to residential under Class MA / Q / P / PA, with prior approval costing ~GBP 96/unit. Sign in to see the recommended route, yield uplift, and cost breakdown.
BRRR-suited properties can recycle 80-100% of investor capital on refi, leaving a high-yielding rental with most of the money out. Sign in to see the refurb cost stack, ARV projection, and refinance maths.
Detached + large garden = sub-division play. Pro tier unlocks the tier badge, plot size, uplift estimate, and regional land benchmark.
Short-lease flats trade at deep discount, but extending under the 1993 Act often costs far less than the discount. Pro tier unlocks the tier badge, premium breakdown, long-lease ARV and arbitrage maths.
See projected short-stay revenue vs a vanilla BTL for this property.
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