Marlow Cottages

Grand Tour 

Originally named Marlow Cottages, this smart Victorian terrace was built in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Its neat London stock brick façade is bound with red-brick detailing that loops above the windows and ties the street together, in a fashion typical of the era.

This flat is accessed from a private hallway. Internally, the care and consideration taken during a recent renovation is immediately apparent. Broad, engineered timber flooring runs from the front door through to the kitchen, adding warm tones that complement the light that enters through the living room window. In the living room, the space is articulated by a range of textures; butt-and-bead boarding has been cleverly utilised to create rhythm and conceal storage space, while softly patinaed Zellige tiles line the fireplace.  

Bright and thoughtfully designed, the kitchen takes subtle inspiration from its countryside relations: a large ceramic sink sits beneath the window, while brass tapware and ironmongery contrasts against deep green-painted shaker joinery.

A lesson in tone and colour can be sought in the bathroom, with Little Greene’s ‘Tuscan Red‘ used with aplomb to highlight the window reveal and bathboard. Neutrally toned but varying in scale and texture, the floor and wall tiles break up the space and delineate uses.  

Placed to the front of the building, the bedroom is a calm retreat lined with bespoke storage and painted in ‘Light Blue‘ by Farrow and Ball.  

Out and about 

Once a leafy suburb nestled into a meander of the Thames, Teddington’s superb rail connections ensure it is firmly part of the London landscape. The busy high street has a range of shops, services and eateries, including the stalwart café Parsnips. For date night, kick things off with aperitivo at Primitivo Club followed by a short walk down the high street for elegant Italian food Shambles. The surrounding streets are home to great neighbourhood pubs, the craft beer-focused Abercorn is at the end of the street, while The Railway serves resplendent roasts made for sharing.

This area was once royal hunting grounds and there is no shortage of green space, from the expansive Bushey Park and Richmond Park, to the riverside wilderness of Ham Lands Nature Reserve. Neighbouring village centres still charm at Richmond, Twickenham (see The Modern House’s guide to the area here), Kew, and Hampton, with its delightfully heated outdoor pool. This area is rich with historic homes including the manicured grandeur of Hampton Court and the ornate Gothic style of Strawberry Hill.  

Teddington and Strawberry Hill’s train stations are both on the same direct line to Waterloo, reaching central London in under 40 minutes, while Fulwell Station provides local connections. Heathrow is under half an hour’s drive, and the M3 and M4 are within easy reach for access to the countryside.  

Lease Length: 89 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx £395.76 per annum
Ground Rent: Approx £150 per annum
Council Tax Band: B