Inside London's £80 million penthouse

It's a billionaire’s paradise in the heart of Knightsbridge — but will it sell? By Emma Magnus

- By Emma Magnus

At £80 million, it is the most expensive property in the country to be publicly listed on the mainstream portals. Covering 9,400 square feet of prime Knightsbridge real estate, with a 2,500 sq ft roof terrace featuring a 10-metre glass-sided swimming pool and overlooking London's biggest landmarks, a jaw-dropping price tag hardly comes as a surprise.

This billionaire’s eyrie is featured in the first episode of Channel 4’s new series of Britain's Most Expensive Houses — and is by far the priciest in this year’s line-up.

“This property is like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” says Joshua Marks, founder of estate agency Park Lord. “When you're up there, you really get a glimpse of that billionaire lifestyle: you come out of the hustle and bustle of Knightsbridge into this private oasis. It's surreal. You're in another world.”

Arranged over the 10th floor of the Knightsbridge Apartments, the penthouse has views over the capital on both sides: Big Ben, the London Eye and Harrods on one side, Hyde Park from the primary bedroom and reception room on the other. There are five bedrooms — four with ensuite bathrooms — a huge open-plan kitchen and living space and a cinema room. The décor is minimalist: wooden floors, white walls, floor-to-ceiling windows and dark fittings. Those working parts of the kitchen that the owner might deem unsightly, such as the sink (urgh), hob (urgh) and worktop (urgh) can be concealed with the touch of the button. What appears to be a glass panel is actually a fireplace, through which you can see the swimming pool. The sauna comes with a built-in TV.