Owing legendary status to its monopoly board incarnation – the most expensive property on the board, no less – Mayfair maintains its reputation as one of Central London’s most affluent districts – it was even the birthplace of Her Majesty the Queen. Stretching between Oxford Street, Piccadilly and Regent Street, and bounded by Hyde Park to the West, the area was named after the May Fair held there during the 17th and 18th centuries. At its heart, the popular Grosvenor Square - affectionately termed ‘Little America’ with its statue of Franklin D Roosevelt and stately American Embassy building - was named after the Grosvenor family, who still own a good portion of Mayfair.
The district’s principal shopping streets include the world famous Bond Street, home to Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin, Jenny Packham and Marc Jacobs, among others and Saville Row, legendary for its exquisite men’s tailoring. The elegant Royal and Burlington shopping arcades are also worth a wander, with luxury boutiques set to a stunning backdrop. New Bond Street is famed for its auction houses, including the ever-popular Phillips and Sotheby's.
It’s not just shopping that draws visitors to the streets of Mayfair – there are around 20 art galleries in the area, as well as the Handel House Museum, set inside the former home of the renowned composer, and the Royal Academy of Arts lies on the cusp of Picadilly. If you can afford to stay in Mayfair, you’ll be spoiled – the area is home to the highest concentration of luxurious hotels in London, including the illustrious Ritz and the local nightlife is among the glitziest in town, with celebrity-studded nightclubs like Mahiki just a short stroll from a selection of plush wine bars. A number of exquisite restaurants have put Mayfair firmly on the map for roving gastronomes too - celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay owns a number of restaurants in the area and the world-famous Nobu has an outlet on Berkeley Street.
