William Shakespeare's long-lost London home identified after 400 years

The exact location of William Shakespeare’s long-mysterious London property has finally been identified more than 400 years after it was first purchased.

Researchers have pinpointed the playwright’s former home in the Blackfriars area of London, solving a centuries-old historical mystery. The discovery was made by Professor Lucy Munro, who uncovered key archival documents that revealed the precise site and layout of the property.

The home, located on St Andrew’s Hill, had long been approximated by historians, but the newly discovered materials, including a 17th-century floor plan, confirmed its exact position.

Shakespeare purchased the property in 1613, near the Blackfriars Theatre, where he worked. The house was described as a relatively large, L-shaped structure, substantial enough to later be divided into two residences.

The findings suggest that Shakespeare may have spent more time in London during his later years than previously believed, potentially even using the property as both a residence and an investment.

The house remained in Shakespeare’s family until 1665, when it was sold by his granddaughter. It was destroyed just a year later during the Great Fire of London, which wiped out large parts of the city.

Although the building itself no longer exists, a plaque marking the site, once thought to indicate only an approximate location, is now confirmed to be accurate.

The discovery offers new insight into Shakespeare’s life and work in London, helping historians better understand where the legendary playwright may have lived and possibly written some of his later plays.