
<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated (i) January 23, 1998, except for 
Note 16 for which the date is February 2, 1998, on our audits of the financial
statements of Boston Properties, Inc. as of December 31, 1997, and for the
period from June 23, 1997 to December 31, 1997, and of The Boston Properties
Predecessor Group as of December 31, 1996 and for the years ended December 31,
1996 and 1995, and for the period from January 1, 1997 to June 22, 1997, 
(ii) January 23, 1998 on the financial statement schedules of Boston Properties,
Inc. as of December 31, 1997, (iii) November 25, 1997 on our audit of the
statement of revenue over certain operating expenses of Riverfront Plaza for the
year ended December 31, 1996, (iv) November 20, 1997 on our audit of the
statement of revenue over certain operating expenses of Mulligan/Griffin
Portfolio for the year ended December 31, 1996, (v) November 3, 1997 on our
audit of the statement of revenue over certain operating expenses of 100 East
Pratt Street for the year ended December 31, 1996, (vi) October 17, 1997 on our
audit of the statement of revenue over certain operating expenses of 875 Third
Avenue for the year ended December 31, 1996, and (vii) October 17, 1997 on our
audit of the statement of revenue over certain operating expenses of 280 Park
Avenue for the year ended December 31, 1996. We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Registration Statement and related
prospectus.


                                   /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
                                      ----------------------------------
                                       PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
August 18, 1998


