70s icon’s London childhood home hits the market for £449,500

Ever fancied living like the stars do? One 70s music legend’s childhood home has hit the market down in Bromley, South London for £449,500.

David Bowie is most closely associated with the vibrant Brixton, having lived at 40 Stansfield Road until he was six years old. To this day, a mural of everyone’s favourite Starman – specifically styled as his alter ego Aladdin Sane – shines over the streets of Brixton Road.

But after he moved out of SW9 in 1953, he and his family moved to Bromley, which was part of Kent until 1965, when it joined Greater London.

Now, the home on Canon Road, BR1, is up for sale for almost half a million – and since English Heritage specifies that blue plaques can only be placed over the homes of people who died at least 20 years ago, there’s nothing to be found here hanging on the exterior wall.

And while the Victorian period property might be small, it’s certainly steeped in plenty of history.

With two bedrooms, two reception rooms and one bathroom, the listing, marketed by Leaders, describes it as a ‘charming two-bedroom period terraced house’ which is ‘located in a quiet residential position close to the heart of Bickley on the borders of Bromley.’

Bowie stardom aside, it adds that it’s the ‘perfect place to call home,’ exuding ‘a sense of peace and tranquillity,’ and is available chain-free.

The family’s time at the home was brief, as the next year, they moved to Plaistow Grove, closer to Sundridge Park.

At the time Bowie – born David Robert Jones – moved to Bromley, the average UK house price rested at £1,884. Today, that translates to £44,795. Just imagine?

He eventually moved away from Bromley completely in 1965 – becoming David Bowie in January 1966 as he was constantly confused with Davy Jones of The Monkees – but it continued to hold a close spot in his heart.

In a 2003 interview with Vanity Fair, he recalled visiting the local department store Medhursts – which these days, is now a Primark.

‘There wasn’t an American release they didn’t have or couldn’t get. Quite as hip as any London supplier,’ he said at the time.

‘I would have had a very dry musical run were it not for this place.’

Bowie’s former home isn’t the only notable property to come onto the market in the last year. In September 2024, Boy George’s home in Hampstead was placed on the rental market for £65,000 per month.

Having bought the five-bedroom property in the 1980s after Culture Club first enjoyed commercial success, the singer looked to rent it out after 40 years of owning it.

He previously placed the home on the market in November 2022 for £17,000,000, and received some ‘very good offers’ on it, as estate agent Robert Irving Burns previously noted, but ultimately decided to turn it down.

Similarly, in November 2024, a recording studio formerly owned by The Pet Shop Boys on Garrett Street went up for sale with a price tag of £6,000,000.

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