Tom Cruise’s Sudden Departure From His $47M London Leaves Staff ‘Stunned’

Tom Cruise has reportedly left the staff at his $47 million London apartment “stunned” by his abrupt departure from the UK.

A source revealed that the actor, who once declared himself an “Anglophile,” made the decision to leave for the US “very quickly,” describing the move as “strange.”

This comes a few weeks after it was revealed that Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology had “angered” locals of East Grinstead with their disruptions while attending fundraisers in England.

Cruise has made an abrupt decision to move back to the US after spending years in the UK, where he was sometimes seen enjoying pub outings and even hanging out with the future king, Prince William.

According to a source who spoke with the Mail on Sunday, staff were left “stunned” by his sudden departure, with some spotted removing boxes of possessions at the “Mission Impossible” star’s £35 million [$47 million] London penthouse property, which overlooks Hyde Park.

While the reason for his move is currently unclear, a source noted that it happened “very quickly” and seemingly out of the blue.

Speaking with the news outlet, the source said, “Tom loved London. He loved where he lived; he would get up and go for [a] run around Hyde Park in the mornings. He loved walking in the local area, but he also really, really enjoyed jumping in a helicopter at Battersea Heliport and flying off into the quintessentially British countryside.”

The source continued, “It all happened very quickly; it was a surprise to the staff at the building where his penthouse is. It’s most strange. The UK became both his professional headquarters and private playground, with discrete dates, tightly-guarded movements, and late-night arrivals.”

“England became far more than just a filming base,” they added about Cruise’s sudden exit.

Before Cruise’s decision to seemingly return to the US, he had become very well known for his love of the UK, where he had been making films for over 40 years.

Last year, the actor was recognized for his contribution to the UK film industry and was awarded a BFI fellowship by the British Film Institute.

At the event held in May, Cruise noted, “I’m truly honoured, I’ve been making films in the UK for over 40 years and have no plans to stop.”

Back in 2022, the actor also labeled himself an “Anglophile” because he spent a lot of “time in Britain, and that’s not just for work reasons.”

“I just love being here,” he stated at the time, per the Daily Mail. “It’s a fantastic blend of old and new… Britain is trendy, too, and has a lot that other countries then copy. I also love the British countryside.”

Cruise was also said to have been interested in buying some properties in the Cotswolds, as he hoped to strengthen his ties to the UK, making his sudden departure, which reportedly included him removing his blackout curtains from his penthouse, even more puzzling.

Cruise, who has somewhat become the face of the Church of Scientology because of his vocal support over the years, recently came under fire after locals made complaints about him and his organization.

The actor makes it a point of duty to attend the Church’s annual fundraiser in England. However, last year’s edition in December allegedly “angered” residents of East Grinstead because of the disruption it brought to their everyday lives.

The small town located in West Sussex is home to the British headquarters of the Church and often receives guests in large numbers when such events are happening.

According to the Daily Mail, former Scientologist Alexander Barnes-Ross said that the locals are “extremely frustrated and angered” by the instant increase in population during the fundraiser, and were particularly uncomfortable with the disturbance caused by Cruise “flying in on his helicopter.”

“It causes a lot of noise and nuisance, and he [Tom Cruise], you know, doesn’t stop for photos or anything,” Barnes-Ross shared.

According to the news outlet, a resident described the Church’s order of proceedings right from the preparation stages as “very disruptive.”

“For six to eight weeks, they were laying down pallets in the field to make a car park, so we had the disruption and noise of that, with lorry after lorry coming,” the unidentified local said of Cruise’s Church.

During the event proper, more of such chaos would follow as the Church uses generators to power heavy equipment and also plays loud musical instruments.

Reports suggest the community feels “helpless” as to what they’ll do, as some town leaders also attend the Church and have a good relationship with the organization.

According to the Daily Mail, locals have since filed a complaint with the Mid Sussex District Council, noting that the event attended by Cruise and other high-profile church members causes “considerable disruptions” to the area.

It allegedly brings about traffic congestion and noise pollution. The complaint would see the Church’s premises license undergo a review.

If the local community wins, the Church could be asked to tone down the large scale of events it organizes or implement measures to protect vulnerable people.