Bishop's Park, Fulham

Description

Once in a lifetime

Fulham is just full of interesting finds. The secret backstreets, the tasty tucked-away delis, the cherished riverside pubs… and, best of all, Bishop’s Park. If ever a home were a collector’s item, this is it. Adorned with artwork, knickknacks and sunlight, you won’t just be kept occupied but enraptured. There’s a ping-pong table in the garden, a piano in the sitting room and charm in every last corner. Sip your coffee beneath the kitchen’s tremendous skylights. Or see the bathroom’s stained glass windows. Or step outside and sightsee by the river. Or…

Calm and collected

Your hosts are a fun-filled family with a second home in Devon. She is Belgian, while he is an English property developer raised in Hong Kong. They love to cook, sing and cycle – so where better to be than Bishop’s Park?

The music of chance

This Victorian home has a playful side and, soon, so will you. Step over the sitting room’s cowhide rug, lay your freshly brewed mug on the leather ottoman and choose whether to sprawl on the sofa or play away any cares at the piano. You’ve a brilliantly bovine feature wall, as well as a fine mixture of artwork new and old. When you find your way to the kitchen, just be ready to gasp. Sloping skylights dazzle each modern surface, from the large island to the cool dining table, the cluster of cushy sofas to the uber-groovy artwork.

With a ping-pong table and barbecue, we suspect the whole family will approve of the garden. And upstairs, the snug is exactly that, with a widescreen TV to go with its sofa and roof terrace. The elegant master boasts a dapper ensuite, and you’ve another bathroom with stupendous stained glass windows.

Stumble upon

You’re by Bishop’s Park itself, home to a boating lake, play area and even a beach – so be sure to bring your bucket and spade. Fans of the beautiful game won’t find a more beautiful venue than Craven Cottage, or, amble further along the towpath to Hammersmith’s buzzy pubs and restaurants. Fulham lies the other way, Chelsea’s shops are just a little further, while the West End is only twenty minutes by tube from Putney Bridge.