Often described as the Beverly Hills of Britain, Surrey has become a magnet for the elite. Celebrities who live in Surrey are drawn to its generous plots and the easy line back into London. Villages such as Oxshott, Cobham and Cranleigh all provide a blend of the peace of the county together with convenient access to the capital. Homes in the county reveal their interior design styles through their exteriors and their surroundings, as well as in the way the houses are openly described. Here, we look at those well-known faces who reside in the county and the rhythm that keeps them anchored there.
Tom Hardy moved to the Surrey countryside with his wife, actress Charlotte Riley. The pair had both starred in the hit show Peaky Blinders, and their decision to swap the bustle of London for life in Surrey was a conscious move towards a more secluded family life. They formerly resided in a £3.5 million pad in Richmond, but had vacated it due to issues with privacy following incidents including an alleged stalker.
For more than four decades, Dame Judi Dench has inhabited the same sprawling farmhouse in rural Surrey. She purchased the property with her late husband, Michael Williams, and well before her theatrical career had turned her into a national treasure. The estate is known to include a barn, a pond and a swimming pool, all set within grounds that feel deeply personal rather than showy. It’s a home shaped by decades of family life, work, loss and the steady rhythm of the Surrey countryside.
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Sir Andy Murray resides in a custom-built Leatherhead family home, a property that has been structured around the needs of family space, privacy and tennis. It is set within large woodland grounds and comes with its own pool and gym facilities and, of course, a private tennis court. Prior to his current abode, Murray owned a house in Oxshott – a stunning five-bedroom mansion bought in the ascendancy of his early career and later sold when the demands on his life began to change for the growing family.
The reality of living in a high-profile household is that every detail is often on public display. When a celebrity family chooses a large estate in the countryside, they are not just buying square footage; they are purchasing a buffer zone against the intrusion of the modern world. The layout of these homes, from extra-tall doors for a tall footballer to private studios for a musician, reflects a calculated effort to create a sanctuary where family time cannot be overheard or photographed. This physical separation from urban centers is often what allows public figures to maintain a sense of normalcy for their children.
High-profile residents and their homes
Prince Edward and Sophie reside at Bagshot Park, a sprawling Grade II-listed mansion with 51 acres of ornamental grounds. Only 25 minutes’ drive south of Windsor, the house is steeped in a sense of understated heritage that appeals to their desire for privacy. It was built for Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, in 1879 and is built in the Tudor Gothic style and features red brick with stone dressings as well as an exotic Indian-style billiard room added later in the 1880s. The couple moved in after their wedding in 1999, taking on a long lease from the Crown Estate that was later extended to 150 years for a £5 million premium.
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Amanda Holden lives in a sprawling £7 million mansion in Cobham, a move she and her husband Chris Hughes made in late 2023 after selling their previous Surrey home. The house has naturally become a thread in her public persona, which she posts from occasionally across social media, infused with her signature TV sparkle and confidence. The decor is inspired by the Beverly Hills Hotel, featuring hues of pink and green, along with pretty floral-themed accents throughout the house.
Peter Andre moved into a luxurious mansion bordering Reigate and Kingswood, with his wife and two children, after selling his home in West Sussex back in 2018. The £1.7-million-or-so home certainly chimes with the more relaxed family atmosphere that he has increasingly been leaning into of late. Surrey provides him with the breathing room he frequently mentions, from his daily school runs, the busy filming days and the homely, not overly polished feel of his abode.
Long-time residents of Chiswick, Clare Balding and wife Alice finally bid farewell to city life in 2025. Her work had long tugged her towards London, but the couple had always mused over needing more space to spread out as well as a slower way of life in the British countryside – a desire finally fulfilled with a move to Esher in Surrey. She told The Times that the shift was partly about creating a better environment for their dog – more protection from the road, more room to breathe.
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Legendary Queen guitarist Brian May resides in a beautiful Windlesham estate, a sprawling 1920s property, believed to be worth approximately 25m, which he shares with his wife, actress Anita Dobson. Having left his long-term base in London, he set up home here in the quiet woodlands of Surrey to accommodate his music along with his astrophysics hobby. The house comes with several reception rooms and a private studio, an observatory, as well as impressive grounds and gardens. Those grounds have become a wildlife haven. May runs the Save Me Trust from the estate and works closely with Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue, using the land as a rehabilitation space for hedgehogs, badgers and foxes.
Former footballer Gary Lineker lives in a multi-million-pound family home in Esher, which is spread across three floors. He purchased it for approximately £2.6 million back in 2009 shortly after he got married. Its price tag has rocketed since, now estimated to be nearer £4 million. The property is found in one of Esher’s greenest areas, a particularly residential corner of Surrey characterised by tranquil roads, established planting, and the level of privacy that suited his lifestyle. The interiors lean towards a modern, polished style, with plush velvet seating and open‑plan living spaces that have occasionally doubled as a backdrop for broadcasting.
Former Chelsea footballer John Terry resides in a restored 18th-century country mansion in Cobham. An eight-acre privately held property, the seven-bedroom brick-and-flint house was constructed in 1752. It’s a property with real history, shaped around long views, mature planting and the quiet edges of the Surrey countryside. The location perfectly suits him as it’s near Chelsea’s training ground, the place he used to play most of his career and where he currently trains youths, yet private, so his family are out of the public eye.