A Russian tycoon once feared to be on a Kremlin hit list has been ordered to rip out a luxury hotel-style revamp of his London apartment. The unauthorised changes to the Victorian apartment, right by Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, stripped out original features and left the period home looking more like a boutique hotel, officials ruled. Mr Zhelyabovskiy has now been ordered to restore the two-bed apartment to its original layout after losing an appeal. Planning inspector Simon Hand concluded the revamped rooms 'now look like modern hotel rooms rather than parts of an early Victorian villa'. Pictured: The Victorian apartment building, right by Kensington Gardens and Hyde ParkPictured: The entrance to the main apartment building.

Source: Daily Mail December 28, 2025 15:20 UTC