With Donald Trump's UK arrival — and the associated inflatable — looming, rumours are flying as to where he'll be visiting. He's expecting to stay in London on Thursday evening, before running off to Windsor to meet the Queen on Friday.
Winfield House, the US Ambassador's home in Regent's Park, is the humble abode where Donald and Melania are expected to spend the night, and protesters are planning to gather outside. Here are a few things you may not know about it:
It has the second-largest private garden in London
Brenda has the largest private garden in the capital, out the back of Buckingham Palace, but the gardens of Winfield House are believed to be the second largest. That said, when we visited Lambeth Palace's gardens, our guide there claimed that spot holds second place, so it's contested.
We haven't got our tape measure out, so let's make do by saying that the gardens are big. Trump likes big things. Maybe he'll tweet about the gardens.
A bus route runs right through it
Trump won't be needing an Oyster card though. Regent's Canal runs along the edge of Winfield House's gardens, forming part of the route of the waterbus between Little Venice and Camden. It's all very private and high security though, so no chance of getting a glimpse of that famous barnet.
It was purchased for one dollar
...which is a lot less than the 1.2 billion dollars that Trump claimed Obama spent on a new embassy in an "off location".
From 1936 until the second world war, the house was owned by Woolworths heiress Barbara Hutton. During the war, she returned to America, and allowed the house to be used by the RAF and as an American Officers' Club. When she returned to the house after the war, it was in a state of disrepair so she donated it to the American government for the token price of one dollar.
St Dunstan-in-the-Park
Prior to Barbara Hutton having the current Winfield House built, other buildings stood on the site. Hertford Villa was designed by Decimus Burton and commissioned by the Third Marquess of Hertford in the 19th century. A clock, rescued from the demolished St-Dunstan's Church in Fleet Street was installed on the wall, and the house became known as St Dunstan's. The clock has since been returned to the rebuilt St Dunstan's church.
Royal visits
The Queen has visited Winfield House on several occasions, and Princess Diana once took young princes William and Harry to see the presidential helicopter Marine One in the gardens.
The sounds the Trumps might hear
Regent's Park may be one of the most peaceful spots in central London, but that doesn't mean the sounds of those planned protests are the only things the Trumps might hear.
Winfield House is just a few hundred metres from London Zoo, where lions, gibbons and flamingoes are vocal first thing in the morning. The male lion in particular has been heard roaring from Primrose Hill in the past, so he should have no trouble powering up his vocal chords to give Donald a hearty wake-up call.
Right next to Winfield House on the other side is London Central Mosque, which regularly holds early morning calls to prayer.
