78 Carlton Hill: Eric Idle’s old St John’s Wood home where Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher partied with the Rolling Stones

Eric Idle used to let movie stars stay in his home in St John’s Wood while filming. Now, anyone can stay, for the right price.

 

Tucked away in a quiet corner of north west London, a magnificent townhouse once hosted an unusual evening of frivolity between some of the biggest icons of 1980s pop culture. At 78 Carlton Hill, the actress Carrie Fisher stayed up all night with Harrison Ford and the Rolling Stones while she was staying in London to play Princess Leia in the first Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. 

 

 

This star-studded gathering was brought together by the owner of the house, comedian Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame. He owned the six-bedroom Victorian house in St John’s Wood from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. While away filming on location, Idle would let friends live in the house for extended periods of time to accommodate their own filming schedules, often at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire. Fisher’s stay was in 1979 while Idle was in Tunisia filming The Life of Brian, and Ford returned for a stay of his own in 1983 while filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. 

 

The double-fronted Grade II listed period house has been fully refurbished in recent years so all five floors are in sparkling condition, even after the celebrity parties. Two reception rooms, two studies, a dining room, breakfast room, utility room and six bedrooms (three of which are ensuite) are spread across five floors, with two balconies, a patio and front and back gardens all providing plenty of outside space.

 

 

“This is an exceptional gothic revival residence on a premier road in St John’s Wood. Architecturally striking, it offers fantastic volume and ceiling heights,” says Giles Eliot from sales agent Savills St John’s Wood. “Surrounded by walls that are six feet high, it’s incredibly private yet only 800 metres from all the amenities on St John’s Wood High Street. Fully refurbished, a buyer could just move in and unpack their bags, plus it’s very convenient for the nearby American School.” 

 

Despite its Hollywood past, Carlton Hill has mellowed with age and its proximity to both local schools, transport and Regent’s Park would make it an ideal family home.