Mayfair for London's Luxury Lovers

It’s no surprise that Mayfair and Park Lane are the two most coveted spots on the original Monopoly board. It is a place synonymous with wealth, a byword for luxury. The area’s four borders are Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane, and within them hides a whole world of opulence. The name ‘Mayfair’ came about because of the 17th-century May Fair, an annual and apparently quite raucous event held in a Square now known as Shepherd Market. Some sprucing up and redevelopment of the area then followed, in a bid to improve its reputation. This proved more than successful as, around a century later, it had become one of London’s most affluent neighbourhoods.

A subsequent move away from residential buildings to more commercial properties, along with the opening of embassies, clubs and hotels, means Mayfair can still claim to have the most expensive square footage of any London district. The primary activities in Mayfair are now shopping, art and eating – and the eating is more than merely refuelling for more shopping. This is a place where you will find utmost quality at every turn, with indulgence preferred over checking your bank balance. This is why we’ve put together our ultimate guide on how to throw caution to the wind and embrace the luxury side of life in Mayfair.

A Leisurely Stroll

The first activity we’d recommend is also the cheapest – free, in fact. The beauty of being in a swish neighbourhood like Mayfair is that even wandering around has an air of luxury about it. That’s in part because, believe it or not, there are plenty of residents who call Mayfair home. Granted, they probably call somewhere else home too, but this does mean that not all of Mayfair’s streets are given over to shopping or dining, in turn adding to the character and personality of the area. There are a number of fine churches to take in too, like St George’s in Hanover Square, Grosvenor Chapel in South Audley Street that hosts many a recital, and the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, known locally as Farm Street Church. If you want nourishment of a less spiritual, more physical kind, then head to Mercato Mayfair in North Audley Street, a converted church that now offers a range of food and drink choices.

Despite being located right in the beating heart of the city, Mayfair also offers plenty of green spaces in which to unwind. Two of its borders are shared with magnificent parks: Hyde Park to the west and The Green Park to the south. The former is the larger of the two and includes The Serpentine Lake that’s perfect for a pedalo, while The Green Park has the illustrious bonus of being located next to Buckingham Palace. After all, there are few more luxurious buildings in London than the King’s own home. Inside the official Mayfair boundaries, meanwhile, there are the two handsome spots of Grosvenor Square and Berkeley Square.

A Feast for the Eyes

When it comes to art and culture, the greatest jewel in Mayfair’s crown is The Royal Academy of Arts. Led by artists and architects, the Academy has promoted the appreciation of art for over 250 years and has called Burlington House its home since 1867. Some of its exhibitions are free, so it’s always worth checking out if you’re passing by. There are also innumerable smaller galleries catering to wherever your taste in art is leading you, from Gagosian to Hauser & Wirth. If you’re in the market for some fine art of your own to impress your friends, then Bonhams and Sotheby’s auction houses are both located on New Bond Street.

Hey Big Spender

If you think of any international luxury brand, you’re sure to find they have a shop or boutique in Mayfair. Whether its jewellery in New Bond Street, bespoke suits in Savile Row, art galleries in Cork Street or high-end restaurants on Maddox Street, you don’t have to look far to find what you want. So fuel yourself up with a coffee, grab your credit card and hit the shops.

In Albemarle St. you’ll find the jewellery company Garrard which was founded here in 1735. On the same street, you’ll find The Royal Arcade, a grand Victorian shopping centre. Burlington Arcade, built in 1818, is a similar institution that should be on any visitor’s list. It’ll leave you wondering how shopping malls went from this to their anodyne modern-day equivalents. Those who prefer acquisitions with a little age on them, should make their way to Grays Antique Market in Davies St. It’s home to around 100 dealers and is spread over two floors.

High-End Dining of Every Kind

After all that shopping, you’re bound to be hungry – and this is where Mayfair really comes into its own. There are restaurants of many flavours, all bound together by their commitment to quality. If you like restaurants with a clubby feel, you have Scott’s, a seafood spot once renowned for its starry clientele; Mount St, with an art collection befitting of the neighbourhood; and The Twenty Two, which is also home to a private members’ club.

Those who love a sense of history have the modern reincarnation of the legendary Langan’s Brasserie or Veeraswamy, the UK’s oldest Indian restaurant. If you’re on a night out with friends, there’s Amazonico, with its lush, jungle-inspired décor; sushi spot Sexy Fish; and Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay, the famous chef’s take on East Asian cuisine. For a date, you can’t go wrong with Park Chinois, a dimly lit Chinese restaurant with lashings of luxury, or the elegant MiMi Mei Fair, set inside a Georgian townhouse.

If it’s MICHELIN Stars you’re after – and in Mayfair, it probably is – then you have a huge collection to choose from, spanning a range of global cuisines. There’s Angela Hartnett’s Italian cooking at Murano; the Spanish specialities of Sabor; the sushi counter at Taku; and the multitude of Indian dishes at Jamavar. If you want the very finest gastronomy, then Mayfair has a trio of Three Star restaurants to choose from: Hélène Darroze at The Connaught; Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library; and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.

Raise Your Glass

If, in addition to dinner, you’re considering a night out in Mayfair, then you’re equally spoilt for choice. Although if you’re not prepared for some of the prices you encounter, your credit card may start divorce proceedings the next morning. When it comes to bars in Mayfair, expect the grown-up kind. Many are found within hotels, like The Connaught Bar, Le Magritte at The Beaumont Hotel and Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel. But it’s also worth checking out the Bar Below at MICHELIN Starred restaurant HIDE and Dickie’s Bar at Corrigan’s, for chic surroundings and a properly made drink.

Oenophiles will have just one place on their mind when visiting Mayfair: Hedonism Wines. This shop’s collection of wines is hugely impressive and the knowledgeable staff are always on hand to offer advice. If your lottery ticket has come up trumps, or you’re looking to blow that unexpected windfall, then this is the also the place to come for that really special bottle. Hedonism has also curated the wine list at HIDE, and any bottle from the shop can be brought to your table within 15 minutes.

Stay in Style

If you’re looking for luxury when it comes to the question of where to stay, then you’ll find it difficult to narrow down the choice, as Mayfair offers a roll call of the snazzy and the stylish, the grand and the great. From hotels with long, proud histories like Claridge’s (awarded Three MICHELIN Keys), Brown’s (Two Keys) and The Connaught (Three Keys), to more modern spaces like 1 Hotel Mayfair (One Key), there is no shortage of decadence on offer. Park Lane has you covered too if you want to be close to the parks; its grand dames include The Dorchester (Two Keys) and The Four Seasons (Three Keys).

Mayfair really offers so very much – but at the luxury end of that muchness. It’s a London that’s sparkly and glamourous, opulent and extravagant. It offers the traditional and the established, but also the innovative and the new. It is a place where, as the late great Nick Drake sang, “even trees are wealthy”.

Address Book

Hero Image: © William Barton/iStock