A 40-bedroom mansion in Regent's Park, formerly owned by the Saudi royal family, has been sold for approximately £139m, marking one of London's largest property sales. Known as The Holme, the residence spans 2,694 square metres (29,000 sq ft) and sits within 1.6 hectares (4 acres) of gardens, adjacent to the park's boating lake, London Zoo, and the US ambassador's residence, Winfield House.
The property was listed nearly two years ago with agents seeking offers up to £250m, according to reports. Land records reveal it has been sold to a UK subsidiary of Zedra, a corporate services firm that manages investments for wealthy individuals, though the ultimate buyer's identity remains undisclosed. The sale price of £138.9m is significantly below the initial asking price.
Previously owned by Prince Khaled bin Sultan al-Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family, The Holme was purchased on his behalf in 1991. It was put up for sale after a loan secured against the property expired. Built in 1818, the mansion derives its name from a Saxon word for a small island or elevated land in water.
The sale price matches the reported £138m agreed for Aberconway House in Mayfair in late 2023 by Indian billionaire Adar Poonawalla. The new owner is controlled by a Zedra entity based in Luxembourg, according to corporate records cited by the Financial Times, obscuring the true identity despite UK requirements for offshore companies to declare beneficial owners under the register of overseas entities.
The Holme is ultimately owned by the Crown Estate, an ancient portfolio of land belonging to the monarch, and is available on a long lease. When it was marketed for £30m in 1988, the BBC called it 'possibly the world's most expensive home' and 'the ultimate desirable residence'.
