Even before tendering his resignation to Trinity College, Stanford had already been thinking about moving from Harvey Road. Commitments to the Bach Choir, the RCM, the Opera Class and proximity to the expanding musical life of Britain's capital made the acquisition of a house in London all the more imperative. A house at 55 Holland Street in Kensington (close to High Street, Kensington) was found which suited his needs perfectly. It had more room than his Cambridge dwelling, it was located in a desirable if expensive area and it was within easy reach of the College and the city centre. It was not possible, however, to move into Holland Street until February, so he and his family spent most of January at St Leonard’s, while he found temporary lodgings with Morton Lathom, a Bach Choir colleague, in Norfolk Street, Park Lane. Rehearsals for Becket were also gathering momentum and Stanford was keen to coach the singers and chorus, as he explained to Bram Stoker:

Stanford was, however, forced to forego the premiere of Becket at the Lyceum Theatre on 6 February 1893 owing to an obligation he had made to review the first performance of Verdi's Falstaff for The Daily Graphic and the Fortnightly Review. The opera was to be premiered on 9 February 1893 at La Scala, Milan, and the Stanfords were to be guests of the librettist, Arrigo Boïto, whom they had befriended during a stay with Piatti at Cadenabbia in 1889.