Turning Your Home into a Tourist Attraction: What to Know

When Your Home Becomes a Tourist Attraction

Have you ever admired a charming mews house in London and thought how delightful it would be to live there?

If you have, you’re not alone. For residents of such picturesque homes, social media has transformed what it means to live in a scenic location.

Alice Johnston, a journalist residing in Notting Hill, London, finds her neighborhood’s fame both intriguing and challenging. Known for its pastel-colored houses and as the backdrop for the movie "Notting Hill," Portobello Road, where Johnston lives, often attracts tourists eager for the perfect photo op.

Johnston has encountered various behaviors driven by social media’s demand for beautiful snapshots. For example, a tourist once asked to take a photo with Johnston’s friend's French bulldog in front of a colorful door, offering a small payment as thanks.

Private Lives, Public Places

While some interactions are pleasant, living in a tourist hotspot can have its downsides. Johnston recalls being disturbed early in the morning by teenagers taking pictures outside her home and another time being surprised by an elderly man photographing her windows with an iPad, despite closed shutters.

When homes become tourist attractions, especially in bustling cities, managing privacy can be tricky. In Hong Kong, the “Monster Building” in Quarry Bay has become a selfie hotspot after featuring in films like "Transformers: Age of Extinction." Residents, unable to block access due to public businesses on the ground floors, have put up signs asking visitors to respect their privacy. Despite this, many ignore the signs, continuing to take photos.

Nearby, Johnston notes that a pale-pink house has become so popular for photos that its residents now use a donation box for charity as a way to manage the influx of visitors.

When Your Home is a Piece of History

Chuck Henderson inherited the Mrs. Clinton Walker House, a California home designed by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Known as “the Cabin on the Rocks,” this 1951 masterpiece attracts architecture enthusiasts worldwide. While some Wright-designed homes are open to the public, others, like Henderson’s, remain private residences with added security measures.

Henderson’s family installed security cameras after experiencing vandalism, including someone cutting a notch from a significant garden sculpture and stealing nautical cork discs. Despite this, they tolerate some public interaction, such as people taking photos or visiting the property during specific events. The house is occasionally rented for photo shoots and opens to the public once a year for charity, with 657 visitors attending in 2021.

Coming to a Compromise

Living in a high-profile location requires balancing the benefits and drawbacks of public interest. Johnston, who enjoys traveling and photographing historic neighborhoods, tries to empathize with tourists visiting her area.

Henderson’s family also strives to accommodate design enthusiasts while maintaining privacy. They have embraced some public interaction, finding joy in sharing their architectural treasure with others, even though they eventually sold the house in 2023.

In summary, when your home becomes a tourist attraction, finding a compromise between privacy and public interest can be both challenging and rewarding.