The London home made famous by Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts and Rhys Ifans in Notting Hill is on the market for £7.95 million, nearly three decades after the romantic comedy turned its famous blue doorway into a global tourist attraction.The Daily Mail reports that the property, which was once owned by Notting Hill screenwriter Richard Curtis, is being offered for sale after becoming one of the most recognisable film locations in west London.In the 1999 film, the property is presented as the home of William Thacker, the London bookseller played by Hugh Grant, who falls in love with Hollywood actress Anna Scott, portrayed by Julia Roberts.Thacker shares the fictional home with his eccentric flatmate Spike, played by Rhys Ifans.Although the film’s interior scenes were shot in a studio, the real property’s exterior and entrance featured prominently in several memorable sequences.One of the most famous moments comes after news spreads that Anna Scott has fallen for William. As paparazzi gather outside the house, Spike opens the door wearing nothing but his underwear.In another scene, Anna hides inside the property while Spike hangs out of the window, again nearly naked, smoking a cigarette.The publication notes that the film became a global phenomenon, grossing £224.4 million at the worldwide box office and helping transform the Notting Hill location into a destination for film fans.
The real house is much bigger than William Thacker’s fictional flat
Hugh Grant’s fictional ‘Notting Hill’ home features a famous blue doorway that has attracted movie fans for decades.
While William’s home appears relatively modest in the movie, the real property is considerably more luxurious.The converted church spans around 3,000 sq ft and features three bedrooms and two bathrooms.According to the property’s listing on Invisible Homes, the main living area includes a kitchen, dining and reception room stretching almost 48 feet.Originally conceived as an artist’s studio, the property has a vaulted ceiling with exposed roof trusses and skylights. The living room features dark timber floors and a stone fireplace, while the kitchen has a marble island.A first-floor gallery wraps around much of the living space and includes a book-lined study.The property also has a private courtyard garden and a “secret roof terrace”, accessed via a spiral staircase. The terrace is enclosed by mature planting and old brick walls, creating a secluded space overlooking the rooftops of Notting Hill.
Richard Curtis sold the property after ‘Notting Hill’
The London property made famous by ‘Notting Hill’ spans around 3,000 sq ft and has three bedrooms.
Richard Curtis owned the property around the time Notting Hill was released and sold it shortly afterwards in 1999.According to Land Registry records cited in the report, Neil Hutchinson bought the home in 2014 for £4.575 million. It is now being offered for £7.95 million, almost £3.4 million more than the price he paid.Hutchinson, 48, is the director of Neon One Limited, formerly known as Forward Internet Group and TrafficBroker, which was once among the UK’s largest affiliate marketing companies.The property listing describes it as one of London’s most recognisable front doors, with a “remarkable” home behind it.For a potential buyer, the property offers both a substantial London residence and a direct connection to one of the most famous romantic comedies of the 1990s.
The ‘Notting Hill’ blue door has attracted tourists for decades
The London home made famous by Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts and Rhys Ifans in ‘Notting Hill’ is on the market for £7.95 million.
The famous blue door has itself had a complicated history since the film’s release.The original door was auctioned by Christie’s shortly after Notting Hill came out in 1999 and was replaced with a black one. The change was reportedly intended to discourage fans and photographers from visiting the property.The door was eventually painted blue again, restoring its familiar appearance.However, in 2023, the entrance became the target of repeated vandalism, with graffiti appearing across the door and leaving some visitors disappointed.Tourists posted complaints on Google Reviews about the condition of the entrance. One visitor joked that William Thacker needed to take more pride in his house, while another described the door as having “seen some better days”.Other visitors called the experience disappointing, with some describing the deterioration of the famous location as heartbreaking.Despite the criticism, the property continues to attract Notting Hill fans nearly 30 years after Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts brought the location to global attention.
Neil Hutchinson built his fortune from a bedroom startup
The report also details Hutchinson’s unusual rise in business.In 2004, he launched TrafficBroker from his bedroom while carrying a £2,000 overdraft and what was described as a poor credit rating from university.By 2008, the company was working with more than 250 firms and had generated sales of £18.3 million.Five years later, Hutchinson was ranked 21st on The Sunday Times Rich List, which estimated his net worth at £178 million. That estimate rose to £586 million the following year.In 2023, Hutchinson married The Hills Have Eyes II actress Jessica Stroup in a lavish Marrakech ceremony. The couple had reportedly met almost a decade earlier at a Charity Water Gala in New York.Now, the property that once served as the fictional home of Hugh Grant’s William Thacker is looking for a new owner, with its famous blue door and Notting Hill legacy included in the £7.95 million asking price.
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