Before Daniel Craig donned the tuxedo as James Bond, he played a smooth-talking cocaine dealer in Layer Cake, Matthew Vaughn’s stylish 2004 crime thriller. Much of the film’s cool, understated aesthetic came courtesy of a mews house in London‘s South Kensington—one that belonged to Vaughn’s close friend Guy Ritchie and his then-wife, Madonna. More than two decades later, the home is now looking for a new tenant.
The roughly 1,540-square-foot residence was owned by Madonna and Ritchie during the early years of their marriage and sits within one of London’s historic mews, where rows of former coach houses and horse stables have been transformed into some of the city’s most coveted residences. Built in the early 1860s by William Jackson, Queen’s Gate Mews survived a direct bomb strike during World War II and today forms part of the Queen’s Gate Conservation Area. Over the years, the cobbled street has appeared in several film productions, including Performance (1970) and The Bank Job (2008).
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Behind its unassuming whitewashed brick exterior, the two-story home balances period character with eclectic contemporary design. The open-plan main level pairs dark timber floors with exposed industrial piping, while a stainless-steel kitchen—reportedly designed by Ritchie himself—is complete with a Falcon range and stone backsplash. A library nook, dining area, and guest bath round out the floor.
Upstairs, a dedicated office leads to two bedrooms, including a light-filled primary suite with a Juliet balcony overlooking the mews. The main bathroom preserves one of the home’s original brick archways, pairing the historic detail with Carrara marble finishes and a freestanding soaking tub. Air conditioning throughout the upper level adds a modern touch to the 19th-century residence.
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The house places residents within walking distance of Hyde Park, the Royal Albert Hall, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and several Underground stations in South Kensington. It is now available to rent through Dexters for 2,075 pounds (about $2,800) per week, or 8,992 pounds (about $12,100) per month.
Madonna sold the mews house years ago but still maintains a substantial real estate portfolio widely believed to own a Georgian townhouse in London’s Marylebone that she purchased in 2007, and a triple-wide townhouse on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Her holdings have also included an equestrian estate in the Hamptons, several homes across Los Angeles, and an 18th-century mansion in Sintra, Portugal.
Click here to see more photos of the Queen’s Gate Mews house.
Amazing to live in a home so full of history. Mews houses have a lot of charm.
Facts Only
* Daniel Craig played a cocaine dealer in *Layer Cake*.
* The property is a roughly 1,540-square-foot residence.
* The house is located in London's South Kensington within historic mews.
* The residence was owned by Madonna and Guy Ritchie during the early years of their marriage.
* The building was constructed in the early 1860s by William Jackson.
* The structure survived a World War II bomb strike.
* The street has appeared in film productions, including *Performance* (1970) and *The Bank Job* (2008).
* The interior features dark timber floors and exposed industrial piping.
* The house is available for rent at £2,075 per week or £8,992 per month.
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This text reads like feature journalism, weaving together historical context, architectural detail, and current market information around a central, engaging subject.
