Inside the Hollywood A-lister's mansion which has come up for sale in Surrey
The word 'legend' is bandied around all too frequently these days, but the man selling this home in the Surrey Hills really is a bona fide national treasure. Penny Churchill takes a look.

For sale through Strutt & Parker and Grosvenor Billinghurst at a guide price of £3.75m, Keston Lodge near Leatherhead has been the no-frills rural retreat of one of Britain’s best-loved actors for the past 20 years.
We won’t say who. But it’s telling that this Oscar-winning icon chose a corner of his native England rather than, say, an Italian Job as his hideaway when he’s not working in Hollywood. We’re also perhaps a touch surprised that he didn’t Get Carter Jonas in as one of the co-agents, but it seems that they don’t have branch nearby – and not a lot of people know that.
Reputedly chosen by its down-to-earth owners for the privacy and tranquillity of its position on high ground a mile and a half outside the town, which offers wonderful views of the glorious Surrey Hills and 12,842sq ft lodge offers the choice of an easy-going country lifestyle in its present incarnation, or the chance to create something altogether new and exciting.
With 8.1 acres of gardens and grounds to play with and further land available if required, the possibilities are endless. However, what’s not to like about Keston Lodge as it now stands, with its pleasantly haphazard layout of living spaces designed to make the most of the superb views?
Generous accommodation includes three reception/family rooms, a snug, a sophisticated cinema room, a conservatory, a bar, a kitchen/breakfast room, an indoor swimming pool and, most importantly, a master bedroom with two en-suite bedrooms and dressing areas, plus four further bedrooms.
Additional living space includes a two-bedroom staff annexe and a separate guest cottage, also with two bedrooms.
Keston Lodge is for sale through Strutt & Parker and Grosvenor Billinghurst at a guide price of £3.75m – see more pictures and details.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Top 10 fictional spies, from Bond and Bourne to Hannay and Smiley
Cold War agent George Smiley is back after 25 years. To celebrate John le Carré’s new novel, Katy Birchall presents
Credit: Alamy
Gloriously evil: The Top 10 British villains in Hollywood history
Everyone knows Brits make the best on-screen super-villains. Jonathan Self picks out his favourites.
Credit: John Millar / Country Life
'I was 8–1 to be the next Bond just before Daniel Craig got it': Nathaniel Parker on life, acting, and his big near-miss
Nathaniel Parker catches up with Jack Watkins about David Cameron's epic gaffe, and the time he nearly became James Bond.
The surprising secret of marital harmony: not two bathrooms, but two basins
Michael Caine swears by separate bathrooms. You don't need to go quite so far, says Giles Kime.
Review: The Dark Knight
Is Heath Ledger's performance good enough for an Oscar? Can a comic-book film be good, adult entertainment? Jane Watkins is
-
Dawn Chorus: How to listen to The King's new playlist, Spike Milligan's wonky house and Burgh Island
Monday morning's Dawn Chorus round-up finds presidential inspiration, a comedic home and more.
By Toby Keel Published
-
If the Volvo ES90 is the answer, what is the question?
Volvo's latest luxury saloon car impresses in unexciting ways, with an unwavering commitment to safety and comfort.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five classic country houses for sale, from an equestrian home to a manor with a wisteria-draped pool, as seen in Country Life
Our pick of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a house with a beautiful outdoor pool,
By Toby Keel Published
-
A £15m Kensington penthouse with a Mediterranean-style ‘garden in the sky’
Arranged over the fifth and sixth floors of a Victorian mansion block, the immaculate apartment has views that stretch as far as Battersea Power Station.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A magnificent, sprawling farmhouse that blends the 16th, 20th and 21st centuries, with double-height music room, a superb pool and a 'Spitfire barn'.
Willards Farm is an incredible home on the Surrey/West Sussex border that offers a 21st take on the ideals of Sir Edwin Lutyens. Penny Churchill reports.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'We’re still using the garden gates from Far from the Madding Crowd': How homes of all shapes and sizes can become stars of the screen
Renting your house out for filming can be fun, occasionally alarming, a good revenue stream and might even increase its value.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
The quirky, cosy and characterful cottage that was once home to Spike Milligan and where Paul McCartney is a neighbour
This very wonky living room is somehow only the third most interesting thing about The Cottage in Hog Hill
By James Fisher Published
-
A glorious 17th century home in one of the most exclusive waterside villages in Britain
Orchard House was lucky not to have been sunk beneath the surface of Rutland Water when it was created in the 1970s — but it did, and today this wonderful spot is looking better than ever.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
A honey-coloured, 300-year-old rectory where every period-house headache has already been solved for you
The Old Rectory is a charming family home that's just undergone an extensive renovation.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The sleepy village hall that's been transformed into a breathtaking home
The Village Hall in Shotley Bridge is a masterful conversion of a much-loved village amenity.
By James Fisher Published