**Welsh Historic Home Crowned Rightmove’s Most Viewed House for 2025, Thanks to Its Quirky Centrepiece**
A centuries-old residence in the heart of Conwy, north Wales, has surged to become the most viewed home on Rightmove so far in 2025, according to new figures released by the UK’s leading property website. With its remarkable fusion of medieval history, painstaking restoration, and an unexpected modern statement piece, the property has captured the imagination of property seekers across the country.
The Conwy home, nestled within the famous walled town and a stone’s throw from the imposing castle and bustling quayside, is no ordinary listing. Behind its storied façade lies an oddity that seems to be the main focal point for online browsers: a bath fashioned in the shape of a stiletto shoe. While many prospective buyers dream of quirky features to personalise their homes, few listings boast something quite as flamboyant as this – and it’s helping to put the property firmly in the national spotlight.
However, the eccentric bathtub is just one layer of this property’s appeal. This residence is a Grade II* listed building, its origins dating back to the winter of 1441–42. Despite having originally been built over five centuries ago, the house still displays the distinctive characteristics of a late medieval Welsh home, enhanced through 16th and 18th-century additions. Cadw, Wales’ own historical listings body, has recognised the property as a rare pre-Georgian survivor in the Conwy town centre, adding further prestige to its heritage credentials.
According to estate agents Dafydd Hardy of Llandudno, the structure was largely built in 1589 by John Birchdall, who was then vicar of Conwy. Adding a personal touch to the building’s long history, a stone tablet within the home still bears the initials of Birchdall and his wife, Elizabeth. These unique historical details, preserved through careful stewardship, offer a vivid bridge between past and present for any new owner.
The journey to its current glory, however, was not an easy one. The home suffered from years of neglect before undergoing a meticulous and transformative restoration between 2008 and 2015. Undertaken by the present owner with full planning and listed building consent, the renovation balanced the challenging task of making the building liveable for today’s audience whilst respecting its period features and historical significance.
An equally enchanting aspect of the home is its walled rear garden, a rarity for such a centrally located property. Part of the garden’s boundary is formed from a stretch of Conwy’s original town wall, and wide stone steps give residents access to a vantage point with sweeping views across the quay and estuary. This blend of private green space and ancient stonework is a reminder of the property’s deep roots within the urban fabric of Conwy.
Upon entering the home, visitors are greeted by a wealth of restored period charm. The four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and several reception rooms are all infused with architectural character – from aged beams and fireplaces to stone floors and antique detailing. The aforementioned stiletto-shaped bathtub sits as a playful centrepiece in the modernised bathroom, demonstrating that restoration doesn’t always mean staid tradition.
This unique Welsh property leads a list of other high-profile homes that have drawn attention on Rightmove this year. Runners-up include a converted historic church in Bradford, which offers open-plan living beneath vaulted ceilings, and a sprawling 14th-century estate on the outskirts of the Yorkshire Dales with a castle at its heart. Dream homes on the platform also span a luxurious modern mega-mansion in Caldy, complete with leisure complex, and a vast, art deco-inspired mansion in St. John’s Wood, London, which has been designed by renowned interior artist David Linley.
Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, commented on this eclectic range: “From a stiletto-shaped bathtub in Conwy to converted churches and modern mega-mansions, this year’s most viewed homes aptly demonstrate the incredible diversity of the UK’s housing market.” Figures released by the platform indicate that Britons spent over 16.4 billion minutes browsing property listings in the last year – a testament to the national fascination with unique homes, whether as future abodes or simply objects of curiosity.
As this Welsh gem fuses the best of historical preservation with imaginative modern flair, it serves as a reminder that, among the UK’s broad property offering, there truly is something for everyone – even those with a penchant for the unusual.