The Bishop's Avenue
Encyclopedia
The Bishops Avenue, London N2
, connects the north side of Hampstead Heath
at Kenwood
(Hampstead Lane), Hampstead
to East Finchley
and is on the boundary of the London Boroughs of Barnet
and Haringey
. Average property prices on the avenue surpassed £1 million (US$2 million) in the late 1980s and each property occupies a 2-3 acre plot. In 2006, the smallest houses in the street were selling for £5 million (US$10 million) while a larger house, Turkish
tycoon Halis Toprak's 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) mansion, sold amidst great secrecy to the President of Kazakhstan
, Nursultan Nazarbayev
, for £50 million (US$100 million) in January 2008, making it one of the most expensive houses in the world, as listed by Forbes magazine.
It is named after the Bishops Wood through which it runs, formerly owned by the Bishop of London
(as was much of the surrounding area) following a land grant in 704. In 1894 the Church of England let building plots for construction of homes on the road. In the 20th century much of the land was sold by the Church, which now only owns one house on the road (46, The Bishop's Avenue) and a nearby residential home
.
The road is a favourite with the international 'über-rich' and is often referred to by its nickname of "Millionaires' Row" (although recently, it has been referred to as "Billionaires' Row
"). This small street of 66 houses and the parallel Winnington Road display a variety of architectural styles.
Ten of the houses are owned by the House of Saud
, whilst other notable owners of houses on the street include the Sultan of Brunei, publisher and newspaper magnate Richard Desmond
(owner of two houses), industrialist Lakshmi Mittal
, and Heather Mills (the former wife of Paul McCartney
), who owns an apartment there.
Former residents included Sir Billy Butlin
, Dame Gracie Fields, Katie Boyle
and Sir Peter Saunders
(producer of the play The Mousetrap
) and the businessmen Asil Nadir
and Emil Savundra
.
The road was repeatedly mentioned in Elton John
's 1988 reworking of Give Peace a Chance
("Why not talk about Bishop's Avenue/I've got a lovely house on Bishop's Avenue") and the area's leading estate agent Trevor Abrahamson was quoted in 2006 as saying: "Among the wealthiest circles in the world, The Bishop's Avenue is better known than Buckingham Palace
. It's a significant demonstration of status. If you live there, you don't need to explain to people that you're rich."
N postcode area
The N postcode area, also known as the London N postcode area, is the part of the London post town covering part of North London, England....
, connects the north side of Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
at Kenwood
Kenwood
- Places :England* Kenwood , a part of Hampstead Heath, London, the location of** Kenwood House* Kenwood, in the parish of Kenton, Devon* Kenwood, St. George's Hill, John Lennon's home in Weybridge, SurreyUnited States* Kenwood, California...
(Hampstead Lane), Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
to East Finchley
East Finchley
East Finchley is a suburb in the London Borough of Barnet, in north London, and situated north-west of Charing Cross. Geographically it is somewhat separate from the rest of Finchley, with North Finchley and West Finchley to the north, and Finchley Central to the west.- History :The land on which...
and is on the boundary of the London Boroughs of Barnet
London Borough of Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet is a London borough in North London and forms part of Outer London. It has a population of 331,500 and covers . It borders Hertfordshire to the north and five other London boroughs: Harrow and Brent to the west, Camden and Haringey to the south-east and Enfield to the...
and Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
. Average property prices on the avenue surpassed £1 million (US$2 million) in the late 1980s and each property occupies a 2-3 acre plot. In 2006, the smallest houses in the street were selling for £5 million (US$10 million) while a larger house, Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
tycoon Halis Toprak's 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) mansion, sold amidst great secrecy to the President of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
, for £50 million (US$100 million) in January 2008, making it one of the most expensive houses in the world, as listed by Forbes magazine.
It is named after the Bishops Wood through which it runs, formerly owned by the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
(as was much of the surrounding area) following a land grant in 704. In 1894 the Church of England let building plots for construction of homes on the road. In the 20th century much of the land was sold by the Church, which now only owns one house on the road (46, The Bishop's Avenue) and a nearby residential home
Assisted living
Assisted living residences or assisted living facilities provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living ; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being.Assistance may...
.
The road is a favourite with the international 'über-rich' and is often referred to by its nickname of "Millionaires' Row" (although recently, it has been referred to as "Billionaires' Row
Billionaire
A billionaire, in countries that use the short scale number naming system, is a person who has a net worth of at least one billion units of a given currency, usually the United States dollar, Euro, or Pound sterling. Forbes magazine updates a complete list of U.S. dollar billionaires around the...
"). This small street of 66 houses and the parallel Winnington Road display a variety of architectural styles.
Ten of the houses are owned by the House of Saud
House of Saud
The House of Saud , also called the Al Saud, is the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia and one of the wealthiest and most powerful dynasties in the world. The family holds thousands of members...
, whilst other notable owners of houses on the street include the Sultan of Brunei, publisher and newspaper magnate Richard Desmond
Richard Desmond
Richard Clive Desmond is an English publisher and businessman. He is the owner of Express Newspapers and founder in 1974 of Northern & Shell, which publishes various celebrity magazines, such as OK! and New!, and British national newspapers Daily Star and Daily Express...
(owner of two houses), industrialist Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Narayan Mittal is an Indian steel magnate. He is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company....
, and Heather Mills (the former wife of Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
), who owns an apartment there.
Former residents included Sir Billy Butlin
Billy Butlin
Sir William Heygate Edmund Colborne Butlin, , was a British, South Africa-born entrepreneur whose name is synonymous with the British holiday camp.American Heritage Dictionary 2004, p. 135.Scott 2001, p. 5...
, Dame Gracie Fields, Katie Boyle
Katie Boyle
Katie Boyle is an Italian-born British actress, television personality, and game show panelist, well known for appearing on TV panel games such as What's My Line? and for presenting the Eurovision Song Contest in the 1960s and 1970s....
and Sir Peter Saunders
Peter Saunders (theatre)
Sir Peter Saunders was an English theatre impresario, notable for his production of the long-running Agatha Christie murder mystery, The Mousetrap....
(producer of the play The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. The Mousetrap opened in the West End of London in 1952, and has been running continuously since then. It has the longest initial run of any play in history, with over 24,500 performances so far. It is the longest running show of the modern...
) and the businessmen Asil Nadir
Asil Nadir
Asil Nadir is a Turkish Cypriot businessman, who was Chief executive of Polly Peck, which he took over as a small textile company, growing it during the 1980s to become one of the United Kingdom's top 100 FTSE-listed companies, with interests in consumer electronics, fruit distribution and packaging...
and Emil Savundra
Emil Savundra
Emil Savundra, born Michael Marion Emil Anacletus Pierre Savundranayagam was an indigenous Tamil businessman from Ceylon who later took British citizenship. He is known for having perpetrated financial frauds in several countries, culminating in the scandal of the Fire, Auto and Marine Insurance...
.
The road was repeatedly mentioned in Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's 1988 reworking of Give Peace a Chance
Give Peace a Chance
"Give Peace a Chance" is a song written by John Lennon, originally under the moniker Lennon–McCartney, released as a single in 1969 by the Plastic Ono Band on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 13 in the United Kingdom, Apple 1809 in the United States. It is the first solo single issued by Lennon, and...
("Why not talk about Bishop's Avenue/I've got a lovely house on Bishop's Avenue") and the area's leading estate agent Trevor Abrahamson was quoted in 2006 as saying: "Among the wealthiest circles in the world, The Bishop's Avenue is better known than Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
. It's a significant demonstration of status. If you live there, you don't need to explain to people that you're rich."
External links
The relative plot size between The Bishops Avenue and Winnington Road, the parallel road to the west is striking.- Barnet Council Planning applications. Full documentation, usually including detailed plans, is available for decisions since 2006. (Public userid/password: barnet/barnet).
- Alison Beard, Billionaire's Boulevard, Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, 22 June 2007.