Harry Potter fan? You can now live in your ideal home, at the real-life refurbished Hogwarts!
Harry Potter is undoubtedly one of the most loved and popular franchises in British cinema history and now fans of the books and movies can actually move into the real Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The school that doubled up as Hogwarts in the hit films, has been converted into luxury, modern apartments. Royal Connaught Park in Bushey, Hertfordshire was formerly the Royal Masonic School for Boys. In the first three films, its huge 1,400sq ft dining hall was used as the legendary Great Hall.
Since then, the building has been transformed into a range of modern apartments with gated access and leisure facilities. Several are available, ranging from one bedroom flats for £370,000 to two and three bed apartments at £750,000.
The turreted building is Grade II listed. It is built from Gothic Victorian stone and was originally constructed in 1903. The property is majestically set in 100 acres of green parkland and lies just 20 minutes away from central London, via train. Each apartment comes complete with two allocated parking spaces, double glazing, underfloor heating, an on-call 24-hour concierge and a shuttle service in both directions to Bushey train station. What luxury!
Within the complex, there is a private health and fitness centre which comprises a swimming pool, steam room and sauna, as well as tennis courts for outdoor exercise. There is gated access with 24 hour security, as well. The facilities are reflected in the somewhat eye watering service charge and ground rent. Of course, an added perk to the purchase is that residents could (with permissions) rent out the Great Hall for weddings and other private events. It would also be a spectacular setting for dinner parties.
Rightmove’s Miles Shipside said: “It is fantastic that Harry Potter fans with enough Knuts, Sickles and Galleons can buy their own corner of a truly magical place. This converted school has been built with incredible craftsmanship and it’s plain to see why this charming building was chosen to depict Hogwarts. I’m not sure if you can play Quidditch at the on-site leisure centre, but residents at Royal Connaught Park definitely have a gem on their hands.”
You don’t just have to be a Harry Potter fan for this grand building to be your ideal home. It has also been the setting of other films and TV programmes, including Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, Hot Fuzz, Eastenders, Spooks and Midsomer Murders. Eagle eyed fans will spot that the tower at Royal Connaught Park was Dumbledore’s famous round office in The Order of The Phoenix, which was the fifth Harry Potter instalment.
The apartments themselves are tastefully decorated with high spec appliances and top of the range mod-cons. The rooms appear light and airy, with lots of natural daylight flooding through the many windows. Of course, the outdoor space and grounds are immense as well. If you are a Harry Potter fan, looking for modern living a stone’s throw from London, then this must surely be the dream!
If you’re buying older property, even if your ideal home isn’t a School of Wizardry, a Chartered Surveyor will overlook the condition and structural elements of your new property to help you safeguard your investment.
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