Boasting 775 rooms, Buckingham Palace is an impressive beast in the world of regal residences, but did you know that tucked away in the Sussex countryside lies a £40 million mansion with even more rooms? This sprawling mansion, called Hamilton Palace, is owned by millionaire Nicholas van Hoogstraten and is quite the enigma. Construction began in 1985, but abruptly halted in the 90s, and the project remains unfinished to this day. Delve into this fascinating property, which has attracted swathes of press attention…
Set within 100 acres of rolling Sussex countryside, the neo-classical building is obscured by trees, but what can be seen of it is very impressive. Images show a large copper dome in the centre of the construction, reminiscent of a Christopher Wren feature, just like the one on St Paul’s Cathedral. The property also features multiple balconies of a similar design to Buckingham Palace’s.
Inside, it is reported to have a 600ft art gallery and a mausoleum designed to hold Nicholas’ body for 5,000 years. While this all may sound impressive, the exterior is in a state of abandonment, prompting the vast shell to be dubbed the “Ghost House of Sussex”.
Why was Hamilton Palace never completed?
© Alamy Stock PhotoIn 2025, Nicholas van Hoogstraten and his son Max broke their silence on why the project remains incomplete. In an Express interview, Max said there were “major issues” when it came to the builders’ work, and now “it’s not on the agenda”. He added: “We’ve just got so many smaller everyday things [occupying us]. My dad has every intention to finish it, but he still works 16 hours a day every single day.”
The unfinished project has garnered a lot of interest over the years, and many people have sought to see inside. “The thing that annoys us is the amount of people we have trespassing and the excuse is always ‘we’ve read it’s abandoned’. But this is an estate that has staff, 24-hour security and things happening every single day,” he clarifies.
“These people are taking dangerous risks, and someone will eventually get hurt. It doesn’t help that the trespassing laws are nearly non-existent, and the criminal damage [penalties] are weak.”
Who is Nicholas van Hoogstraten?
© Alamy Stock PhotoNicholas is a property mogul who was once named ‘Britain’s youngest millionaire’, but as well as his business successes, he’s had his downfalls, too. The now 81-year-old has had quite the brush with the law. He went to prison aged 22, for four years, after paying a gang to throw a hand grenade into his former business associate Rabbi Bernard Braunstein’s house. Then, in 2002, he was convicted of manslaughter for hiring a hitman, but this was quashed in 2003. As well as his eldest son, Max, who is gearing up to take on the empire one day, Nicholas is believed to have five other children.
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