A remarkable house in the heart of Mayfair, known as one of the most protected private homes in Britain, has come onto the market
Arguably the ‘most protected private home in Britain’ is now for sale; the Little White House at 4 Blackburne’s Mews in Mayfair is located in a private gated mews complex that is adjacent to the American Embassy and within its protective perimeter.
Currently, the Little White House sits inside the American Embassy’s security cordon that includes identity card access, patrolling US marines, 24 hour British police presence, checkpoints, anti-tank blocks and CCTV security, all of which will come to an end when the US Embassy moves to its new location in 2017. 
The White House at 4 Blackburne’s Mews dates back to 1732; with major reconstruction undertaken in 1926-1928. Running north-south, Blackburne’s Mews is accessed from Upper Grosvenor Street and Upper Brook Street, with Culcross Street forming a subsidiary arm of the thoroughfare. The mews is located directly adjacent to the rear of the American Embassy whose front façade overlooks Grosvenor Square, in the Heart of Mayfair.
During the Kennedy and LBJ administrations of the 1960s local residents from Blackburne’s Mews and Culross Street were allowed to use the Embassy library and were invited regularly to Embassy jazz concerts and art shows. President Lyndon Johnson even discussed renting or acquiring properties in Blackburne’s Mews for Embassy staff use, and its from this era that the white stucco fronted house at No.4 acquired its local nickname the Little White House. 
From 1968 the Embassy’s neighbour-outreach programme was halted with security levels dramatically increased in 1985 and September 2011. Following 9/11, Blackburne’s Mews was incorporated into the Embassy’s protective perimeter.
Police checkpoints and anti-tank blocks were placed at both ends of Blackburne’s Mews, whilst inside the checkpoints 24 hour police patrols, US marine security checks and CCTV cameras were established. In addition, every resident, uniquely for Britain, was asked to carry an identity card and every visitor to the mews was required to explain themselves. These measures made the Little White House and its neighbours arguably the ‘most protected private homes in Britain’.
The Embassy Building is to be transformed into a 5* hotel and luxury resort once the relocation has taken place. The new luxury complex will provide 137 bedrooms and suites, ballroom, health spa, five restaurants/bars and six retail boutiques, with new public entrances fronting onto Grosvenor Square and Blackburne’s Mews in Mayfair.
The property itself offers 2,773 sqft of living space over lower ground, ground, first and second floors and benefits from an integral garage and access to communal gardens. A grand entrance hall has a sweeping staircase leading up to a large double reception room on the first floor, which provides great entertaining space and fantastic natural light.
There is a ground floor formal dining room, with doors opening onto the communal garden, and a large family kitchen/breakfast room. The remainder of the accommodation provides four bedroom suites, each with fitted wardrobes and ensuite bath/shower rooms, guest cloakroom and utility/storage room.
The Little White House is available for sale for £2,500,000 (leasehold). For further information contact sole agent Wetherell on Tel 020 7529 5566 or visit www.wetherell.co.uk
