The viral skinny house proved it’s not only popular with Instagrammers after one of the flats were sold – even though you don’t get much outside space, there’s plenty to like about it
A quirky two-bedroom flat in one of Britain’s thinnest homes has fetched £775,000 after months on the market.
The apartment at its narrowest point is just six feet wide and at its widest measures 13 feet from front to back. Despite its size, the unusual home hasn’t put off would-be buyers, mainly thanks to its address at Thurloe Square in posh South Kensington, London. Instagrammers are often seen outside after the property and many wanted to see inside, too.
Despite the huge sum, prices seem to be going down. Back in 2016, a one bedroom flat at just 600 sq ft went on sale for £895,000. The ‘well-known local tourist attraction’ looks like it could be from a film set – and onlookers say it is almost as if there is only the front of a house, with no rooms inside.
But inside of one of the immaculate flats it appears to be much bigger, with clean white walls and large bay windows giving it an uncluttered feel. It has two double bedrooms, a large living room, a shower room, and out back there is a little garden. Located near Chelsea, the building is in a very desirable setting, directly opposite a park and close to the South Kensington tube station and V&A museum. The prices of properties there certainly reflect that.
The history of the odd looking property is as fascinating as its appearance. Lots of the houses on the square were designed in the 19th century by London architect George Basevi and were traditional in style with column porches at the entrances. Around 20 years later 23 of them were sold to the Metropolitan District Railway, which was working on what we know today as the London Underground or Tube.
The government eventually banned them from building an entrance to South Kensington station so not all the houses were demolished, although many had their back gardens greatly reduced in size. Local builder William Douglas saw an opportunity to develop the little triangle of building that was left at 1-5 Thurloe Square into artist’s studios as Kensington was becoming a hub for artists at the time. The flats that are now selling for extortionate prices are the original studios he managed to squeeze into the space.