A "stunning" Grade II listed Regency house with a rich and fascinating history has been put up for sale.

With a guide price of £3,500,000, Bedford House in Marine Parade, Brighton, offers potential buyers a rare opportunity to own a piece of the city's past.

It was built around 1810 and is believed to have initially served as a detached residence for the Duke of Bedford, according to estate agents Hamptons International.

In the mid to late 1800s, Bedford House became a guest house for visitors who were flocking to Brighton to enjoy the sea air.

A hundred years later it became home to renowned impressionist artist Cecil D'Oyly John, followed by respected playwright Sir Terence Rattigan.

The Argus: Wall length windows show off the stunning sea viewsWall length windows show off the stunning sea views (Image: Hamptons International)

The house's guest list included luminaries such as Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh.

The current owners have blended the property's historical significance with contemporary luxuries.

It has breathtaking views of the sea, gated off-street parking and an enclosed courtyard garden.

The building spans 4,366 square feet across five floors, meaning an abundance of living and entertaining space.

The lower ground floor has an independent three-bedroom apartment with a private entrance off Bedford Street.

This self-contained unit includes a fully equipped kitchen, a luxurious bathroom and a magnificent cinema room complete with a bar area.

The main house has three bedrooms, each with an en suite bathroom.

The master bedroom, which has a spacious walk-in dressing room, looks out over the sea.

The Argus: The cinema room is a great space for entertainingThe cinema room is a great space for entertaining (Image: Hamptons International)

Special features include the drawing room which has full-length windows that provide sweeping seafront views and the study, once the workspace of Sir Terence Rattigan, complete with parquet flooring and vast bookcases.

Other highlights include a charming ground floor living room with a wood burner, oak stained panelling and a cast iron radiator and a basement level that houses a "beautifully designed" 1950s-style kitchen and an impressive cinema room.