Part of the building that was once home to WH Smith is for sale for £4.25million

Luxury three-bedroom penthouse in the white stucco building that was once the home of WH Smith of store fame can be yours for £4.25million

  • A white plastered building with a blue plaque stands on London’s affluent Hyde Park Street
  • A blue plaque confirms that the building is the former home of William Henry Smith
  • William Henry Smith was part of the family behind WH Smith retail chain

Part of the building that was once home to bookseller and statesman WH Smith, who was part of the family behind the chain of the same name, is up for sale for £4.25 million.

The historic building in London’s affluent Hyde Park Street has a stylish white stucco exterior.

On that exterior is a blue plaque confirming it is the former home of William Henry Smith.

William joined his father’s newsagent and bookshop in 1846, after which the company became WH Smith & Son.

The three-bedroom apartment for sale is located in this white stucco building on Hyde Park Street in London

A blue plaque on the building confirms that it was once the former home of William Henry Smith

The part of the building that is for sale is a luxury penthouse, spread over the fourth and fifth floors.

There is a direct elevator to the leasehold penthouse, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The penthouse has nearly 2,000 square feet of space and has 2.95-foot ceilings, with sash windows.

On that exterior is a blue plaque confirming it is the former home of William Henry Smith

William joined his father’s newsagent and bookshop in 1846, after which the company became WH Smith & Son

The penthouse has a large living room with a fireplace and a separate dining area

The sleek kitchen has modern lower and upper cabinets and a cooking island with a few seats

Daniel Copley, of Zoopla, said: ‘This stunning penthouse would make the perfect home for a buyer looking for a light and airy space that doesn’t compromise on luxury details.

‘Despite the modern interior – with direct lift access and a sleek kitchen – the property also has an interesting history and was once the home of WH Smith – of the well-known high street store.’

The kitchen has a separate dining area and leads to the living room

The condo has nearly 2,000 square feet of space and features 2.95-foot ceilings, with sash windows

William Henry Smith (1825 to 1891)

William Henry Smith was born on June 25, 1825. He was an English bookseller and newsagent who worked for the WH Smith family business.

He was responsible for the expansion of the company with introduction of the sale of books and newspapers at stations.

In 1868 he was elected Member of Parliament and rose to the position of First Lord of the Admiralty less than ten years later.

Due to his lack of naval experience, he was seen as a model for the character Sir Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore.

In the mid-1880s, he served as Secretary of State for War twice, and later First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons.

He was the son of William Henry Smith who was born in 1792 who was in turn the son of Henry Walton Smith who established a newsmonger in Little Grosvenor Street in London – the predecessor of WHSmith in 1792.

The flat has a large kitchen with a center island and a separate area for a table and chairs.

And there is a large living room with a fireplace and a dining area.

The sale of the property is being handled by Chestertons estate agents, who said: ‘This fourth floor duplex penthouse is a real gem. With double views and 2.95 m ceilings, it offers an abundance of natural light and a spacious ambiance.’

The sale of the attractive property in London is handled by Chestertons estate agents

Ready to move into, the penthouse is beautifully staged and ready to sell

The penthouse extends over two of the fourth and fifth floors of the impressive building

The pristine bathroom features a separate shower and floor-to-ceiling taupe wall tiles

There is a direct elevator to the leasehold penthouse, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms

The property has good access to public transport, with Lancaster Gate and Paddington Underground Stations less than half a mile away.

There are also schools within a similar distance including Connaught House School and Halcyon London International School.

The flat is located on Hyde Park Street, in London’s Westminster.

The average price of a property sold in Westminster, London in the last 12 months is £1,647,450.

It compares to the £356,318 average for the country as a whole, according to property website Zoopla.

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