A piece of Beatles history is up for grabs in London’s prestigious Mayfair, where a newly renovated three-bedroom apartment has been listed for £4.5 million (approximately A$8.5 million) in the building once shared by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.
The property, on Green Street, occupies the floor below the flat where the Fab Four lived during the early days of Beatlemania in 1963, making it an unusual offering in one of London’s most exclusive residential neighbourhoods.
While the apartment itself was never home to the band, the building holds a special place in Beatles history as the only London address where all four members lived under one roof.
The musicians moved into a top-floor flat in the autumn of 1963, after their manager Brian Epstein secured the property as a more private alternative to the Hotel President in Bloomsbury, where they had initially stayed.
By then, the success of their second UK number-one single, She Loves You, had helped turn the young musicians into household names, with increasingly enthusiastic fans following their every move.
The Green Street flat offered some respite from the attention. John Lennon shared one bedroom with his wife Cynthia and their baby son Julian, while the other band members occupied the remaining rooms.
Their time together at the address was relatively brief, with John and Cynthia moving out, followed by Paul, leaving George and Ringo as the last to depart.
The building also provided the backdrop for an early Beatles publicity photograph, showing all four musicians peering over a communal stairwell banister. The image appeared on the cover of the December 1963 edition of The Beatles Book.
Now, more than six decades later, buyers have an opportunity to own a home in the same building, albeit with considerably more luxurious surroundings.
The 1,297 sq ft (approximately 120.5 sqm) apartment, marketed by Mayfair agency Wetherell, has undergone an extensive renovation combining period architectural features with contemporary interiors.
Positioned on the second floor with lift access, the residence includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining and living area.
Four large sash windows fill the main living space with natural light, while high ceilings, ornate plasterwork and herringbone parquet flooring retain the character of the Victorian building.
The bespoke kitchen features walnut cabinetry, Carrara marble benchtops and integrated V-Zug appliances, with a separate dining area and curved seating arrangement designed for entertaining.
The principal bedroom suite, positioned at the rear of the apartment, includes a separate dressing room and marble bathroom with a freestanding bath, walk-in shower and matte black fittings.
Two further double bedrooms, both with built-in wardrobes, share a family shower room.
The building itself dates from between 1891 and 1894 and was designed by prominent Victorian architect Sir Robert William Edis, whose work included the former Grand Central Hotel at Marylebone Station, now The Landmark London, and projects at the royal estate of Sandringham.
Its distinctive red-brick exterior, decorative terracotta detailing and shaped gables reflect the architectural character of the period.
Green Street has its own celebrity connections beyond The Beatles. James Bond creator Ian Fleming was born at No. 27 in 1908, adding another chapter to the street’s cultural history.
The address also places residents within walking distance of Bond Street, Oxford Street, Hyde Park and Grosvenor Square, with access to some of London’s best-known shopping and dining destinations.
For Wetherell’s Robert Britten, the property’s combination of musical history, architecture and location sets it apart from more conventional luxury listings.
“There are very few buildings in London with a genuine claim to Beatles history, and fewer still that combine that pedigree with an interior designed apartment finished to this standard,”
Mr Britten said.
“This is a rare opportunity to own a substantial, beautifully renovated home in one of Mayfair’s most storied buildings.”