Before his days as British prime minister, Winston Churchill and his wife lived in London’s Morpeth Mansions. The four-bedroom duplex, where the “British Bulldog” met with other politicians as England prepared to enter World War II, is now available to rent.
History buffs can live in Churchill’s former abode, a 2,758-square-foot duplex on the fifth and sixth floors, for £2,250 a week. In addition to its storied history, the apartment has views of Westminster Cathedral and is walking distance to Victoria train station.
“The property is in an excellent location, just south of Victoria,” said Emma Vincent, lettings manager in Knight Frank’s Victoria office. There’s “easy access to all the amenities of Victoria as well as the exclusive shops, cafes, and restaurants of Belgravia. Victoria station is a less than five-minute walk and is one of the best-connected transport hubs in London.”
Churchill and his family moved into the apartment in the early 1930s, although the exact date is unclear. A plaque on the building says they lived there from 1930 to 1939, but others say they did not start using it until 1932. The Churchills enlarged the space, adding three extra rooms on the second level, according to the listing.
The apartment was a key meeting place for Churchill’s anti-appeasement campaign. On Sept. 2, 1939, he and other Members of Parliament met in his tiny study to pen a letter urging Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to issue an ultimatum to Adolf Hitler, according to the Telegraph. War was declared the following day.
Churchill had purchased the apartment from another politician, Lloyd George, who had reportedly housed his mistress there. And later, after her defection, Stalin’s daughter Svetlana Alliluyeva lived there, according to the article. Former MTV executive Bill Roedy, who was not immediately available for comment, has owned the apartment for over a decade.
Mr. Roedy renovated the famous study, adding wood paneling and a fireplace. “When you imagine Churchill, you think of him sitting at his fireplace smoking a cigar,” he told the Telegraph.
The apartment has a large entrance hall, as well as two reception rooms and a kitchen with a breakfast nook. There’s also a dining room and a roof terrace, according to the listing.
Upstairs, there are three en-suite bedrooms, including the master. There’s also an additional bedroom, as well as a guest cloakroom. The apartment has elevator access and porter service.
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