- Location & Price: 6-bedroom, ~11,000–12,000 sq ft “Skyfall” house on London Road in Retford, Nottinghamshire – asking ~£2.95 million [1] [2].
- Theme: Lavishly restored with a James Bond motif throughout. The owners named it after Bond’s famed estate in the film Skyfall. (Remarkably, the movie’s Skyfall Lodge was set in the Scottish Highlands [3], but this one is in England.)
- Memorabilia: The interior features hundreds of thousands of pounds’ worth of authentic Bond collectibles – from Aston Martin “DB5” blueprints on display [4] and original Bond-car parts (steering wheels, badges, a DB7 seat) to stunt jackets from Quantum of Solace and Skyfall [5]. Even the home’s garden nods to Bond: topiary hedges sculpted to echo the film’s opening titles, and a bespoke sculpture referencing 007’s gun-barrel motif [6].
- Luxury Amenities: Beyond its Bond theme, the mansion is ultra-luxurious – formal dining and sitting rooms with custom Bond-inspired décor; a huge games room with snooker table and full bar; a gym and spa-bath; and a Wimbledon-calibre tennis court (even showing actual Centre Court grass and balls on display) [7]. A triple garage (with potential annex above) is finished as opulently as the house inside [8].
- Listing & Media: Offered through Fine & Country (Bawtry branch) by agent James Stock [9]. UK tabloids have dubbed it the “ultimate 007-themed house” [10], noting it “pays homage to the iconic films and features hundreds of thousands… of Bond memorabilia.”
A Bond-Packed Palace: “Skyfall” Estate Goes On Sale
Agents tout Skyfall as “truly breathtaking and completely unique” [11]. Every corner is themed – even a silver Aston Martin-style sculpture adorns the entrance. The six-bed villa was carefully renovated by its owners with attention to Bond lore (led by late designer Jamie Hempsall) [12]. The Telegraph noted Skyfall’s turreted, fairy-tale appearance [13], and local folklore (incorrectly) linked it to actor Rowan Atkinson. Now it’s officially on the market for offers above £2,950,000 [14] (reports round up to “£3 million” [15]).
Inside, Bond fans will be in heaven. The library displays rare Aston Martin DB5 blueprints [16]. A curved chimney in the games room is built from original etched bricks from Aston Martin’s factory [17]. Roger Moore’s Moonraker watch and signed Connery-era posters also feature. In the grounds, a Jetsons-style silver sculpture and neatly clipped hedges reference Bond’s gun-barrel intro [18]. Striking touches like a 24-foot Carrara-marble bar (with gadgets hidden under liquor cabinet) and velvet SkyFall-themed murals keep the secret-agent fantasy alive.
World-Class Features for Home & Hobby
Beyond the cinema-worthy theming, Skyfall offers genuinely rare amenities. A full-size tennis court built to ‘Centre Court’ specs anchors the gardens – complete with real Wimbledon grass and tennis balls on display [19]. Lush lawns, a sweeping carriage-drive, and clipped hedges give a grand arrival. Indoors there’s a bar/snooker room, a paneled “sniper’s lodge” office, and a commercial-grade kitchen with orangery. Five themed bedroom suites line the upper floors – all uniquely styled (the master suite even has a “dressing room worthy of M’s vault” feel). A gym and spa-bath are on the lower level, plus a guest apartment over the triple garage [20]. In short, it’s a fantasy for car collectors and parents alike – the garage is “as well decorated as the house” [21], and could house an Aston Martin – fittingly the actual DB5 from the Skyfall film reportedly saw the site during renovations!
Media & Public Reaction
News outlets and fans have seized on the spectacle. Daily Star columnist Ed Chatterton wrote: “James Bond fans have the chance to own the ultimate 007-themed house after a pad named Skyfall went on the market – for £3 million” [22]. Social media is buzzing about the retro gadgets on display. While it’s a niche listing, its PR has been huge – similar themed homes often hit the global news cycle.
Skyfall’s worldwide coverage follows the recent trend of “pop culture” homes making headlines. For example, a Newsweek feature on a Disney-themed house in Wales noted agent Sam Catterson’s view that it “will appeal to a wide variety of people, whether it be ‘Disney fans’ or those just looking for a new family home” [23]. Skyfall’s UK agent hopes similarly broad interest: families might overlook the gimmick for high-end comfort, while enthusiasts see it as a collection come to life. In Texas, a 7,000+ sq ft “Darth Vader House” (whose facade mimics Star Wars’ villain) made headlines when listed at $3.75M [24], showing that movie-inspired properties can attract serious attention beyond their core fanbase.
What Experts Say
Property experts note that unique features can be double-edged: they draw eyes but limit buyers. Rightmove’s trends suggest quirky homes get more clicks online, but may need a specialized buyer. Here the marketing leans hard into the spectacle. As Newsweek relayed the Disney-home agent, themed houses “are priced to sell” and can charm both fans and regular buyers [25]. Skyfall’s agents are banking on that: its craftsmanship and scale justify its price even aside from Bond. James Stock of Fine & Country (Bawtry) has emphasized the “attention to detail” and “unmatched vision” behind the project [26].
A Bond aficionado or movie-memorabilia collector might snap this up as a novelty investment; more likely it will remain on market awhile, hoping some buyer sees past the James Bond schtick to the truly high-end estate on offer. Either way, “Skyfall” has cast a 007-sized spotlight on Nottinghamshire property – proof that in real estate, like cinema, sometimes truth is stranger (and more fabulous) than fiction [27] [28].
Sources: Contemporary news and real estate listings [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34], including Bond-themed property reports and industry commentary.
References
1. www.rightmove.co.uk, 2. www.magzter.com, 3. www.magzter.com, 4. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 5. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 6. www.fineandcountry.co.uk, 7. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 8. www.fineandcountry.co.uk, 9. www.fineandcountry.co.uk, 10. www.magzter.com, 11. www.rightmove.co.uk, 12. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 13. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 14. www.rightmove.co.uk, 15. www.magzter.com, 16. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 17. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 18. www.fineandcountry.co.uk, 19. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 20. www.fineandcountry.co.uk, 21. www.fineandcountry.co.uk, 22. www.magzter.com, 23. www.newsweek.com, 24. www.khou.com, 25. www.newsweek.com, 26. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 27. www.magzter.com, 28. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 29. www.rightmove.co.uk, 30. www.magzter.com, 31. www.newsweek.com, 32. www.khou.com, 33. www.jamesbondlifestyle.com, 34. www.fineandcountry.co.uk
