Newly married couple Hillary and Franco McManus called their multi-million-pound Omaze London mansion the “best wedding present ever” — but just two months after winning, they listed it for sale.
The Nottingham-based couple won Omaze’s most valuable property to date: a striking four-bedroom home in Hackney’s Victoria Park Village, valued at £5 million. This luxurious townhouse boasts a gym, sauna, games room, and a host of other high-end features, all mortgage-free with stamp duty and legal fees covered.
Hillary, a 30-year-old English teacher, bought a £20 ticket for the Omaze prize draw. While relaxing at home with her new husband, a surprising doorstep visit confirmed their life-changing win. “My husband initially thought they’d got the wrong door,” she said, “but it’s just bonkers — we feel like the luckiest people in the world.”
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Having tied the knot only months prior, the couple said the prize came as an extraordinary follow-up to their wedding day, making it “the best wedding present ever.”
Alongside the mansion, they also received £250,000 in cash as part of the Omaze Million Pound House Draw. Though thrilled, the couple weighed options carefully. Hillary loves her Nottinghamshire job and being near family, making the decision to keep or sell the property a tough one.
Within two months, however, the McManuses listed the home on Zoopla and Rightmove for £5 million. “We’ve already pocketed £100,000 from the prize, which would cover running costs for years,” they said. “But selling would free up funds to buy something closer to home or to build our dream property.”
The grand Victorian warehouse-style house, marketed by Knight Frank, features nearly 4,700 square feet across four floors, including four bedrooms and bathrooms. Architecturally designed by the award-winning Smith and Newton Architects, it offers exceptional privacy behind a secure entrance.
Inside, the home boasts three reception rooms, oak herringbone flooring with underfloor heating, and expansive triple-height reception areas with abundant natural light. The bespoke kitchen includes Miele appliances and forest-green Silestone countertops. Additional highlights include a guest suite, utility room, cloakroom, and views of a living wall and roofless atrium.
The lower ground floor features dual access, a reception area, TV room, games room, bar, gym, hot tub, sauna, and spa facilities. Upstairs includes study space on the landing, additional bedroom suites, and a breathtaking principal suite on the top floor with a dressing room and en-suite.
An Omaze spokesperson confirmed that winners are free to sell their prize property at any time. “Our winners receive £250,000 cash along with the house, giving them the flexibility to live in, rent out, or sell as they wish,” the spokesperson explained.
Since launching in the UK, Omaze has created 29 millionaires and raised over £56 million for charitable causes. The McManuses’ win is among its most remarkable stories — and with the home now on the market, their next chapter promises to be just as exciting.