Russell Crowe is splashing out #20 000 per month on a London home.

The 'Gladiator' star will live in the UK for six months while he shoots his new movie 'Nottingham' and is renting a luxury property in London?s exclusive Mayfair area.

The spacious three-floor home even boasts its own swimming pool.

A source revealed to The Sun: "Russell is coming over to the UK and wanted somewhere comfortable for his family.

"The house became available after a celebrity couple pulled out of renting it."

The 44-year-old actor ? who has two sons, Charles and Tennyson, with his wife Danielle Spencer ? will be filming 'Nottingham' later this summer with Sienna Miller in a new twist on the classic 'Robin Hood' story.

Crowe will portray the Sheriff of Nottingham, but in a spin on the original tale, he will be portrayed positively, opposite a villainous Robin Hood.

Director Ridley Scott is said to want 'The Dark Knight' actor Christian Bale to play Robin.

The film is scheduled for release in November 2009.