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Mayfair is an extremely well-heeled district of west central London, as symbolised by its appearance as the most expensive property on the London Monopoly board, closely followed by one of its main thoroughfares, Park Lane. Part of the City of Westminster, Mayfair is roughly bordered by Park Lane and Hyde Park to the west, Oxford Street to the north, Green Park and Piccadilly to the south and Regent Street to the east. The district includes several major shopping streets, including Bond Street.

[edit] Understand

Mayfair is named after the fortnight-long May Fair that took place there from 1686 until it was banned from that location in 1764. (Before 1686, the May Fair was held in the Haymarket; after 1764, it moved to Fair Field in Bow). The area was owned by the Grosvenor family and much of the land is still part of the Grosvenor estate, having been originally developed for residences from the late seventeenth century.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By Tube

Tube stations are to be found at all four corners of Mayfair, making the district extremely easy to access, with all sites of interest a maximum of 10-15 minutes walk from any station (anti-clockwise from the south-west corner):

• Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line).
• Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines).
• Oxford Circus (Central and Bakerloo lines).
• Marble Arch (Central line).

A couple of other Tube stations allow access into Mayfair from the north and south of the district, respectively:

• Bond Street (Central line).
• Green Park (Piccadilly line).

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Landmarks

Lawn chair in Kensington Gardens.

• Hyde Park [1] - The West End's back garden, Hyde Park is the largest central London park at 140 ha (350 acres) in size. Noted for the large number of recreational possibilities, for the Serpentine (the central large lake) its collection of public sculpture, and for being a venue of choice for world-class music and other events, such as the annual 'Party in the Park', a concert in aid of the Prince's Trust, and the record-breaking Live8 concert of 2005.
• Kensington Gardens [2] - Blends into Hyde Park at its western end, features Kensington Palace and the Albert Memorial, 111 ha (275 acres) in size
• Holland Park [3]. Located near Notting Hill, this is one of the best kept secrets in all of London. It features a traditional Japanese (Koi) water garden, sports facilities, children’s play areas, nature reserve, and even a nice cafeteria and restaurant right in the center of the park.
• The Wellington Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Tube: Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line) - A grand neoclassical arch, designed by Decimus Burton and first erected in 1826 as a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace. From 1846 onwards, the arch was topped with a massive equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington - a major road widening of Piccadilly in 1882 was the opportunity to finally remove the oversized statue to Aldershot. The present magnificent statue Peace Descending on the Quadriga of War was placed on top of the Arch in 1912, and remains today the largest bronze sculpture in the United Kingdom, spectacularly lit at night. During the 1950s, the arch served as the smallest police station in the city, when it was occupied by ten constables, two sergeants and a cat! The arch was opened to the public for the first time in April 2001 after a £1.5 million restoration by English Heritage. (Wellington Arch is also available for corporate and private events - with dramatic views down Constitution Hill and across central London from the Arch's spacious balconies, Wellington Arch is a novel and unique place to impress your guests).

• Grosvenor Square, nicknamed 'Little America', it is home to the American Embassy and a statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

[edit] Museums and Galleries

• The Royal Academy of Art [4], Piccadilly. Each member has to donate a work of art, so over the years, the academy has built a sizable collection.
• The Wellington Museum in Apsley House, Hyde Park Corner.

[edit][add listing] Do

• London Friday Night Skate, (Hyde Park Corner), [5]. F 8pm. Group street skate every Friday night.  edit

• Sunday Stroll, (Serpentine Road), [6]. Su 2pm. Group street skate.  edit

[edit] Cinema

• Curzon Mayfair [7], 38 Curzon Street, tel box Office 020 7495 0500 - Retro 70s decor, a relaxing bar area and comfortable seating combine with a great art-house billing, easily one of the best cinemas in London.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Hamley's, Regent Street. Unleash your inner child, and your children at Hamleys, the largest toy store in England. With over seven floors, you could spend hours here.  edit
• Bond Street. is recognized as the premier location for shopping in London, and perhaps the world, featuring such retailers as Cartier, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, and Versace.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit] Moderate

• Mirabelle, 56 Curzon Street, tel 020 7499 4636, Tube: Green Park. Closed for refurbishment.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Splurge

• Park Lane Mews Hotel [8]. A luxury 4 star hotel in Park Lane. Minutes walk to Knightsbridge, Oxford Street, Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Regents Street and Hyde Park. Combines the charm of a traditional boutique hotel with modern facilities.

• The Dorchester Hotel [9], Park Lane - One of the most prestigious 5-star luxury hotels anywhere in the world - if you have to ask the rates, you probably can't afford to stay here.

• London Marriott Hotel Marble Arch, [10] is less expensive than some of the other hotels in the area. It is on a side street, so it is a little quieter. The rooms are reasonably sized, the beds have been upgraded. The hotel is in a district that has a lot of Middle Eastern shops and restaurants. People can be seen smoking hookahs in the cafes in the neighborhood. The hotel is walking distance of the major attractions such as Trafalgar Square, if you are an ambitious walker. If not, there is excellent bus service in the area. It is very close to Oxford Street for access to the major shopping district. The rooms have high speed internet, at £15 per day.

• London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square [11]. In the heart of Mayfair, adjacent to the tranquil gardens of Hyde Park, and a relaxed stroll from Oxford and Bond Street's shops and London's theatreland. Originally built as a large, majestic townhouse, the hotel has been newly refurbished, blending contemporary chic with classic luxury and 5-star service. The hotel features tastefully designed accommodations, showcasing garden views, plush, enhanced bedding, and marble bathrooms, as well as award-winning maze restaurant - created by world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay - which serves French cuisine infused with Asian flair.

• Claridge's Mayfair Hotel, 49 Brook St, Mayfair, London. W1K 4HR, ☎ +44 (0)20 7629 8860, [12]. 5 star luxury hotel on the corner of Brook street and Davies street. Famous for serving traditional afternoon tea in London and hosts renowned Gordon Ramsay's restaurant.  edit

• The Connaught Mayfair Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London. W1K 2AL, ☎ +44 (0)20 7499 7070, [13]. Luxury property in the heart of Mayfair. Individually designed suites and rooms by Guy Oliver. Recently opened Hélène Darroze's restaurant, michelin-starred french chef.  edit