Mayfair Area Guide
Location
An affluent area in the West End of London towards the east edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster. The district is mainly commercial, with many former homes converted into offices for major corporate headquarters, embassies, as well as hedge funds and real estate businesses. There remains a substantial quantity of residential property as well as some upmarket shops and restaurants, as well as London's largest concentration of five star hotels.
History
Built during the mid 17th century to mid 18th century as a fashionable residential district, by a number of landlords, the most important of them being the Grosvenor family, which in 1874 became the Dukes of Westminster. In 1724 Mayfair became part of the new parish of St George Hanover Square, which stretched to Bond Street in the south part of Mayfair and almost to Regent Street north of Conduit Street. In the 19th century the Rothschild family bought up large areas of Mayfair. The freehold of a large section of Mayfair also belongs to the Crown Estate.
Architecture & Buildings
There remains a substantial quantity of residential property as well as some exclusive shopping, luxury hotels and many restaurants. Notable Buildings in Mayfair include the former United States Embassy (now relocated to Nine Elms) and thb former Canadian High Commission in Grosvenor Square, the Italian Embassy, the Royal Academy of Arts, the Handel House Museum, the Grosvenor House Hotel, Claridge's and The Dorchester.
Shopping
Mayfair offers a range of exclusive shops, hotels, restaurants and clubs. Just alongside Burlington House is one of London's most luxurious shopping areas, the Burlington Arcade, which has housed shops under its glass-roofed promenade since 1819. Bond Street, Regent Street & Oxford Street are also located here.
Dining
Mayfair plays host to some of the finest restaurants in London, Scotts, Le Gavroche, Sketch, Browns, Claridges, are just a few to mention in amongst many many more.
Arts & Culture
Bond Street is home to numerous commercial art galleries, Handel House Museum, Faraday Museum, the Fine Art Society gallery and Halcyon Gallery. as well as international auction houses such as Bonhams, Christies and Sothebys.
Transport
There are several underground stations serving the area of Mayfair. Marble Arch, Bond Street and Oxford Circus along Oxford Street are on the northern boundary, whilst Piccadilly Circus and Green Park are along Piccadilly on the southern boundary, with Hyde Park Corner close by in Knightsbridge.
FACTS
Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long "May Fair" that, from 1686 to 1764, took place on the site that is now Shepherd Market. Mayfair is the most expensive property on the London Monopoly board. The price is a reference to the high rents of the area.
We say
Mayfair is an enviable place to live, premier streets and buildings close to the wide open green expanse of Hyde Park and with Oxford Street, Regent Street & Bond Street on the doorstep this is the real London that most people know and love. Whether it’s shopping, dining, arts & culture this is a great place to be.