London's thinnest house sells for $1.3 million

London's thinnest house sells for $1.3 million

Even though house prices are sky-rocketing around the world, one property's price tag in London is raising eyebrows. A house billed as "the skinniest" in London is on the market for $1.3 million. In other areas of the UK, one could purchase a spacious seven-bedroom mansion with sprawling grounds for that sum. However, the skinny house is just 2 metres wide, although it does have five floors. The two-bedroom house is in west London and is being sold by real estate agent Winkworth. The agent said: "It started life as a hat shop and was converted by a fashion photographer - the ultimate designer house....It's quirky and charming and great for entertaining." 

The eye-catching property is just 1.6 metres at its narrowest point and is 8 metres long. There is a kitchen, dining room and patio garden on the first floor. On the second floor there is a living room, with a spiral staircase that leads up to the third floor, which has a study, bedroom and roof terrace. The main bedroom is on the fifth floor. Despite its cramped space, Winkworth says it is a one-of-a-kind abode. It said: "The interior design has the bespoke approach of a luxury yacht, making the most of small spaces." It added that: "The house is ideal for a young couple or an individual who sees the beauty for what it is and will snap it up. It is a unique part of London history. It's a bit of London magic."

Learn the vocabulary

• sky rocketing

• tag

• raising eyebrows

• purchase

• spacious

• sprawling

• quirky

Learn the vocabulary

• eye catching

• spiral

• study

• cramped

• bespoke

• approach

• unique

Multiple Choice

The article says house prices are sky-rocketing around the world.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The house for sale in London has seven bedrooms.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The house for sale in London is five floors high.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The house in London used to be a tie shop.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The skinny house is 8 metres in length.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The house has a spiral staircase that connects two of the floors.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The agent said the house is good for old people.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

The agent said a magician used to live in the house.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

sky-rocketing

• perfect

• extending

• method

• distinctive

• shooting up

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

spacious

• roomy

• charm

• eccentric

• property

• confined

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

sprawling

• roomy

• charm

• extending

• method

• distinctive

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

real estate

• charm

• eccentric

• shooting up

• confined

• property

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

quirky

• charm

• method

• distinctive

• eccentric

• roomy

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

eye catching

• method

• distinctive

• roomy

• charm

• eccentric

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

cramped

• eccentric

• charm

• roomy

• shooting up

• confined

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

approach

• perfect

• extending

• method

• distinctive

• roomy

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

ideal

• perfect

• distinctive

• roomy

• charm

• eccentric

Multiple Choice

Match the following synonym to the the words below.

magic

• method

• distinctive

• roomy

• charm

• eccentric

Multiple Choice

What does the article say is happening to house prices?

• they are rising ever so slightly

• they are plummeting

• they are levelling off

• they are sky-rocketing

Multiple Choice

What does the article say you could buy for the price of the thin house?

• a luxury yacht

• a seven-bedroom mansion

• an English village

• a castle

Multiple Choice

How many floors does the thin house have?

• 2

• 6

• 3

• 5

Multiple Choice

Who or what is Winkworth?

• a hat shop

• a website designer

• a real-estate agent

• a tie shop

Multiple Choice

What was the house before it was a house?

• a website designer

• a real estate agent

• a tie shop

• a hat shop

Multiple Choice

How long is the house?

• 6 metres

• 5 metres

• 8 metres

• 4 metres

Multiple Choice

What connects the second and third floors of the house?

• a spiral staircase

• a ladder

• an elevator

• a tunnel

Multiple Choice

What is on the fifth floor of the house?

• a patio

• an observatory

• the main bedroom

• a gym

Multiple Choice

Who did the real estate agent say the house was ideal for?

• old people

• a young couple or individual

• small people

• investors

Multiple Choice

What did a real estate agent say the house was a unique part of?

• London history

• real estate

• the street

• the U.K