Sir David Attenborough, now 99 and living in Richmond, London, had an unusual and fascinating childhood. When he was just five, his father became principal at University College Leicester, prompting the family to move into College House on the university grounds.

David lived there with his two brothers—Richard, 8, and John, 4. Their home had an unusual past; it once functioned as a mental health facility, and remnants of that history remained, including padded cells. In one memorable story, David’s older brother once locked him inside one.

The boys attended nearby Wyggeston Grammar School, conveniently located just minutes from their home. In 1939, the Attenborough family took in two Jewish refugee sisters, Helga (9) and Irene Bejach (11), who stayed with them for seven years before relocating to New York.

David later won a scholarship to Cambridge University, where he studied natural sciences and graduated in 1945. Today, the College House is still part of the University of Leicester, now serving as the Mathematical Sciences department.

Now a beloved national figure, Attenborough lives in a serene home in Richmond, which he calls his “favourite place on earth.” The area is known for its high-end homes and celebrity residents, with average house prices nearing £937,000.

Even at 99, David continues to work. He recently released a new film, *Ocean with David Attenborough*, attended by King Charles III. Emphasizing the urgency of ocean conservation, he stated, “If we save the sea, we save our world.”