Mary Berry, beloved for her warm personality and culinary expertise, now leads a peaceful and private life away from the spotlight. The iconic chef calls a stunning £2.6 million four-bedroom home her own in the affluent market town of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Her property boasts luxurious features including a gym, a pool room, and a separate cottage, providing a perfect retreat after decades in the public eye.
With a remarkable career spanning over sixty years, Mary has authored more than 75 cookbooks, most recently “Mary 90: My Very Best Recipes.” She gained widespread fame as a judge on The Great British Bake Off and has presented numerous TV programs. Her success has earned her an estimated fortune of £18.9 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.
Mary’s wealth has afforded her the chance to live in some of England’s most desirable locations. For over 30 years, she owned a picturesque Grade II-listed home in the Buckinghamshire village of Penn, where she filmed several cooking shows. However, she sold that residence in 2018 and now resides in Henley-on-Thames.
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Henley-on-Thames is a charming riverside town known for its scenic beauty, independent shops, cozy pubs, and cafés. Located on the banks of the River Thames, it is frequently praised as one of the best places to live in the English countryside by prominent publications like The Times and The Telegraph. The property market here is competitive, with average house prices recently around £784,588.
Data from Rightmove shows the typical sales in Henley include terraced homes averaging £657,432, flats at £540,288, and detached houses fetching about £1,242,992. Over the past year, prices rose slightly by 4%, maintaining a peak average of £778,289. Currently, 202 properties are on the market, ranging from flats to high-end homes, with the most expensive listing priced at £5.6 million.
Henley-on-Thames and its neighbouring villages have attracted celebrities beyond Mary Berry, with George Clooney linked to nearby Sonning. Since leaving The Great British Bake Off in 2016, Mary has continued to engage fans with projects like “Mary at 90: A Lifetime of Cooking,” available on BBC iPlayer.
Beyond her television career, Mary cherishes a quiet family life with her husband Paul Hunnings, whom she married in 1966. They have three children: Thomas, Annabel, and the late William, who tragically passed away in a car accident at age 19 in 1989. Thomas works as a tree surgeon in Oxfordshire, while Annabel has followed her mother’s path into the culinary world.
Despite her age, Mary remains energetic and committed to her work, showing no sign of slowing down. A self-described early riser, she enjoys outdoor activities and credits her longevity to staying active, inspired by her mother who lived to 105.
In addition to her cooking books, Mary recently released “My Gardening Life,” a heartfelt tribute to her gardener of 32 years, Kevin Pryce. This book reflects her passion for gardening and offers insights into her private world beyond the camera.