King George III’s Former Observatory Is Now a $24 Million London Home

There aren’t many places in London where a king once climbed upstairs to gaze at the stars. The King’s Observatory in Richmond is one of them.

The Grade I-listed building was designed by architect Sir William Chambers and built in 1769 so George III and his family could gather to watch the Transit of Venus. More than 250 years later, the old observatory is now a private four-bedroom home, with the original dome still sitting on top.

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For most of its life, the building was an important center for astronomy, timekeeping, and weather research; it was used by the Meteorological Office until 1980. One of the meteorologists who worked there was James Stagg, who went on to advise Allied leaders on the weather ahead of D-Day. His name is still recorded on a plaque inside the building.

Now, for the first time since it was built, the former royal observatory is on the market, listed for 18 million pounds (about $24 million) with Charlie Willis London. The property spans nearly seven acres in Richmond’s Old Deer Park, next to Kew Gardens, and property developer Robbie Brothers spent several years turning the former scientific building into a home, completing the main restoration in 2018.

The roughly 7,300-square-foot residence has been adapted for contemporary living without completely sanding away what came before. The library is one of the clearest examples. Its original Georgian bookshelves hold around 6,000 books, while the dining room has hand-painted wallpaper based on an 18th-century view of Canton. And upstairs, the original observatory dome is still accessible, a chance to stand in the same spot where George III once looked to the sky.

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Outside, the nearly seven-acre grounds feel a world away from central London, with a long private drive, an ornamental lake, a stone boathouse, and several structures left from the Observatory’s scientific past. Parts of the landscape date to work by Capability Brown, while the more recent gardens were overseen by landscape designer Kim Wilkie.

The property also comes with planning permission for another 10,000 square feet, including additional living space, staff quarters, and underground parking for up to 17 cars. If completed, the expansion would bring the residence to nearly 19,000 square feet.

Click here to see more photos of the London home.