Our history

The first step is taken in a 60-year brand journey.

Sir Charles BT & Lady Astrid Rowley resolve to grow their portfolio for the first time, acquiring a commercial property, Hyde Park Place, in the centre of London.

This property pioneers a new specialty product, serviced apartments, that will grow in popularity over the decades to come.

44 Curzon Street, Mayfair, enters the company portfolio.

It’s the swinging sixties and Sir Charles & Lady Rowley expand again, operating a property on Mayfair’s most exciting street. During this period, we would come to host many notable guests, such as Dusty Springfield. Allegedly, a signed record is still in the family’s possession!

Building on the success of 44, 10 Curzon Street is added to the company portfolio.

Our second Mayfair property opens for business, creating better options for family stays and shares a building with the famous Heywood Hill bookshop, another heritage brand recently celebrating its 90th birthday.

The Rowleys move into Kensington, with No1 The Mansions.

This proves a crucial acquisition, as No1 becomes our flagship property and, later, the Mansley namesake. Guests delight in our new balcony views as the building is renovated vertically. Our chairman Sir Richard Rowley can still recall playing on the scaffolding as a child!

44-years later, Sir Richard & Lady Rowley add our first Scotland property, The Knight Residence.

Based in Old Town, Edinburgh, this historical merger will see Mansley positioned in the centre of the Scottish capital with over 35 new units, and will introduce key personnel, such as our Chief Operating Officer, Colin Stone. For the first time, we begin trading under the Mansley name!

Our Scottish imprint expands to Inverness.

What began as the purchase of a single apartment becomes the adoption of a new business entirely from its retiring owners. This sparks a decade of rapid growth for Mansley and introduces our unique product to guests in north Scotland.

The Mansley name grows, this time into Gloucestershire, with the acquisition of Strozzi Palace.

A property in Cheltenham gives Mansley guests access to the neighbouring Cotswolds, Michelin guide food, culture, festivals and equestrian events! In a convergence of fate, the iconic property is also located just minutes from where Sir Richard’s mother went to school.

Following the success of our first Edinburgh property, Mansley acquire Braid Apartments.

Located in UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Town, this expansion gives the portfolio more cultural weight and offers guests the chance to journey back in time to the Georgian era, with a stay in an authentic neoclassical building.

Mansley begin operating their second Cheltenham property, Crescent Place.

Mansley improve their position in Gloucestershire, operating a fabulous second property located in the centre of the city, within driving distance of the neighbouring Cotswolds and walking distance of Michelin-star restaurants, museums and music venues.