Inside historic Westminster home from Mary Poppins Returns and Sherlock Holmes as it sells for £12M

An historic 18th century house in the heart of Westminster which has been used in multiple films has been sold for £12million.

The Grade II* Georgian house, which has views of the south transept of Westminster Abbey, and is within striking distance of Big Ben, was the former home of Hong Kong Government Commissioner Chris Patten when he oversaw the transfer of the island to China.

Scenes from Mary Poppins Returns, the Disney movie The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley’s Sherlock Holmes film Without a Clue were all filmed in the street.

While actor Hugh Grant used it as his green room when filming A Very English Scandal.

Property developer Simon Briggs bought the five-storey house, in Cowley Street, one of the most coveted roads in Westminster, from the Church Commissioners for England for £5million in 2017 and spent £2.575million on the freehold three years later.

The Grade II* Georgian House, which has views of the south transept of Westminster Abbey, and is within striking distance of Big Ben, was the former home of Hong Kong Government Commissioner Chris Patten when he oversaw the transfer of the island to China

Property developer Simon Briggs has spent the past three years restoring the property, which has eight bedrooms, five bathrooms and five reception rooms, to its Georgian grandeur with a sweeping staircase, wooden panelling, period fireplaces, a muted colour palette, antiques, and chandeliers

He has spent the past three years restoring the property, which has eight bedrooms, five bathrooms and five reception rooms, to its Georgian grandeur with a sweeping staircase, wooden panelling, period fireplaces, a muted colour palette, antiques, and chandeliers.

On the ground floor an intimate dining rooms leads onto a walled garden while the two-interconnecting rooms on the first floor are ideal for entertaining.

The street, where actor Sir John Gielgud lived from 1945-1976 and Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg has his London home, is a magnet for film scouts.

Architects PCPT refurbished the 700-square-metre property. ‘A regular Hollywood background star for the quintessentially British street scene, it is now going to become a private house after years of institutional uses,’ they wrote on their website.

Actor Hugh Grant used it as his green room when filming A Very English Scandal (pictured: a signed photo left by Grant as a thank you)

One of the the Cowley Street properties reception rooms which is perfect for entertaining

On the ground floor an intimate dining rooms leads onto a walled garden while the two-interconnecting rooms on the first floor are ideal for entertaining (kitchen pictured)

Built in 1722, the house was once the home of the 19th century artist and founder of the Old Vic Theatre John Thomas Serres and his wife

Built in 1722, the house was once the home of the 19th century artist and founder of the Old Vic Theatre John Thomas Serres and his wife.

Architect Detmar Blow extended it in the 1920s, it was requisitioned during the war and afterwards was leased by the Government of Hong Kong from the Church Commissioners.

It was sold by UK Sotheby’s International Realty

• Britain’s Most Expensive Houses is streaming on Channel 4.