All yours for just £26.5 million

From a bespoke ‘building fragrance’ to a £9,000 designer table – via a suede-lined lift – Victoria Gray finds out how the one per cent live

n the heart of Westminster, on the former site of London’s Metropolitan Police HQ, is the prestigious Broadway at Orchard Place development. Built in 2022, the luxury towers have 258 apartments, including 16 penthouses, with prices from £1.6 million to £26.5 million. Inspired by 1920s jewellery, the six towers are named after rare diamonds: Sancy, Cullinan and Paragon.

The first thing you notice when you enter the foyer of Sancy East is the fragrance. ‘It’s designed for the building by perfumer Timothy Han and inspired by Westminster Abbey,’ says brand executive Matthew Festa. ‘Notes of frankincense and myrrh combine with hardwood to resemble the fragrance of the abbey’s pews.’

We make our way up to the 12th-floor show apartment. Award-winning luxury interior design studio Oliver Burns is responsible for decorating the three-bedroom, 1,625 sq ft residence. Half a second into the elevator trip, I make a faux pas by stroking the vegan suede panelling, creating a five-fingered stripe in the nap that, despite me trying to smooth it back, remains. ‘Don’t worry,’ Festa reassures me, ‘we have special brushes for that.’

Inside the apartment I am struck by the light that floods in from the floor-to-ceiling geometric windows. ‘They were designed to be reminiscent of the facets of jewels,’ Festa tells me. The views feel very familiar. Not because my Victorian terrace boasts anything similar, but because I have seen them time and again in films – the iconic London skyline. Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade are clearly visible.

This apartment, on sale for £5.125 million, is described as the ultimate urban sanctuary. It is furnished by the world’s best designers and the walls are hung with art curated by London gallery Dellasposa. Buyers can take their pick of masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Tracey Emin and Pablo Picasso.

If you can tear yourself away from the exceptional views, priceless art and luxurious furnishings, there is – for residents only – a 3,500 sq ft, travertine-encased pool and spa with Aesop and Barbara Sturm skincare products, a sauna, steam room and state-of-the-art gym. Sold!

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Cosmo Moon side table by Kifu Paris £3,820 Melt Cone Fat Floor LED lamp by Tom Dixon £2,320 Oliver Burns Studio chair, upholstered in mohair fabric £6,800

Aiveen Daly bespoke wall panel in Novasuede. Commissions from £10,000 Julian Chichester mirror £1,903 Console table by Oliver Burns Studio £8,900

Bespoke Oliver Burns Studio pendant light by Kolektiv Ateliers £8,450 Dining table and chairs by Oliver Burns Studio £12,500

Miele appliances from £2,025 Italian marble work surface from £485 a square metre

Bed by Oliver Burns Studio £6,500 Oliver Burns Studio bench £2,900 Pierre Frey wallpaper £246 a metre