1927
Playboy Mansion
Gothic Tudor behind the talking rock
10236 Charing Cross Road · Los Angeles, CA 90024
Drive from stop 10
1.7 mi · 7 min
Back to Sunset, east to Charing Cross. The estate is gated and heavily screened — you will see walls, not the grotto.
Hugh Hefner bought this 1927 Gothic Tudor in 1971 and turned Holmby Hills into a punchline and a pilgrimage. The grotto, the game house, and the parties are gone from public view; the property sold in 2016 and remains a private estate. What you can still do is drive the lane and clock the security rock that used to greet arriving guests. Do not expect a photo of the facade — the point of this stop is how completely a famous house can disappear behind landscaping.
Look for
A winding Holmby Hills lane, tall hedges, and the famous “talking rock” intercom at the old gate. The Tudor itself is barely visible from the street.
- Gothic Tudor built in 1927
- Hefner residence from 1971 until his death in 2017
- Sold in 2016; still a private home
Gates, cameras, and neighbors who have seen every tour bus. Do not buzz the rock. Keep rolling.