Charles Dickens wrote about this ferry house in Oliver Twist – now it's for sale as a luxury home
This renovated ferry house on the River Thames is perfect for literature lovers


When Charles Dickens published Oliver Twist in 1838, he never could've predicted what the Sunbury Village Ferry House he wrote about would become.
The light-filled space on the River Thames is now a four-bedroom home, currently on the market and listed by DEXTERS for £2,250,000 (approximately $2,840,000). A brilliant renovation idea turned the historic property in Sunbury Village on the outskirts of London from an antique ferry house into a stylish modern paradise. We can't get enough of the home's innovative, contemporary design
The 3700 square foot home is a Sunbury Village landmark with a rich history. In fact, Charles Dickens immortalized the property in Chapter 21 of his 19th-century novel Oliver Twist writing: 'As they passed Sunbury Church, the clock struck seven. There was a light in the ferry-house window opposite which streamed across the road and threw into more somber shadow a dark yew tree with graves beneath it.' Despite the heritage, the inside of the home looks brand new.
The first floor reveals an open-plan reception, kitchen, and dining room. The beauty of the surroundings is emphasized by high, vaulted ceilings with stylish black beams against the bright white walls. An expansive porch extends the living space out of doors, making it just as easy to entertain in the expansive living room as it is to host people on the wide porch.
Aside from the show-stopping entryway, the modernized home includes four stylish bedrooms. The principal bedroom includes a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom. Even better, it includes access to a wraparound balcony with river views.
'With its rich heritage, commanding riverside vistas, and a private mooring, the Ferry House stands as a true masterpiece. For numerous years, this exceptionally distinctive property has held its place as a prominent landmark in the village. Today, it has undergone meticulous renovations, transforming into a waterside retreat that presents a truly rare living opportunity,' Nick Wozniak, director of Dexters' Sunbury office tells H&G.
For literature lovers looking for their next home, this Charles-Dickens-approved Ferry House may be the perfect choice. Our guide to renovating a house offers advice on how to create your own modern masterpiece in a historic setting so you can get started on your own Sunbury House.
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Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.
In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.
Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.
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