Celebrity homes: Why the stars stick together

Celebrity homes: Why the stars stick together

From Madonna’s mansion in Marylebone to Jamie Oliver’s two-homes-into-one conversion in Primrose Hill, London boasts more celebrity houses than most cities.

“When it comes to star spotting I would rate London in the top three with Los Angeles and New York,” says James Bonney of Celebrity Planet, who run bus tours that take in a number of star properties in the capital. “Celebrities love London because of its culture and diversity.”

Once a star has fallen for London there are a wide range of suitable areas for them to settle into - from the edgy (Camden) to the opulent (Chelsea) – so long as the property meets some common celeb demands.

Priorities are generally prime locations and large properties with fantastic entertaining spaces and good security,” explains Stuart Bennett, sales manager at Foxtons in Notting Hill. “Ideally it has to be as discrete/tucked away as possible while schools are also important. The mix of bustling city and green open spaces means there is an area to suit everyone in London.”