Gok Wan to sell historic Hampstead house because area is ‘too quiet’

It’s rare someone looks to trade one part of London for another because it’s “too quiet” – but Hampstead may have produced its first.

Heathman has learned that fashion guru Gok Wan has had enough of his neighbours’ early nights and not-so-rowdy behaviour, so much so he has put his £2.5million house on the market.

He fled the peace and tranquillity of his street on the Heath three months ago, moving to the seemingly rowdier Bloomsbury. Heathman had discovered the departure a few weeks back after spotting Mr Wan’s three bedroom house – at number 2, Wildwood Terrace – listed by an estate agent.

The property is former home to architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, who lived there from 1936 until his death in 1983 and who is famed for writing Buildings of England.

A blue plaque bearing his name adorns the front wall of the house.

But very little had been heard of the sale until this weekend after The Sunday Times bagged a “Gok Wan bares his soul” interview.

Mr Wan, who became famous with his How to Look Good Naked series on Channel 4, has been candid in the past on his struggles with bullying, homophobia and eating disorders, so one could expect an interesting read.

But far from becoming enriched with the life lessons learned from his struggles, readers were instead fed paragraphs upon paragraphs on the joys of his Hampstead home.

While Heathman doesn’t dispute that, for some, the home is where the soul is, the article appears to have been a canny attempt to drum up some interest in so-far unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer for the abode he bought two years ago.

Describing in detail the “lavishly renovated” house, the interview was at pains to reveal how he had designed the interior to match views of the Heath, how he had filled it with “showy pieces” that guests will love, and how he’s only leaving Hampstead because it’s “too quiet” and he wants to be nearer to his friends.

Hampstead’s housing market has been struggling since the beginning of the year, but if he’s having that much trouble, maybe he should try his local newspaper next.