The Clooper Guide To Mayfair
Mayfair is an affluent, gorgeous slice of London just waiting to be discovered by tourists and hopeful homeowners alike.
Mayfair takes its name from a springtime fete that was held in the area way back in the 17th century! How’s that for historical value? Today, it’s full to the brim with exciting shopping opportunities, luxury dining and upmarket homes and serviced apartments.
PROPERTIES AND PRICES
BUYING: Prices to buy in Mayfair range from £700,000 upwards for one-bedroom properties and can climb to whopping prices of £54,500,000 for high-quality multi-bedroom townhouses.
RENTING: Renting in Mayfair will cost you anywhere from just under two grand per month for a single-bedroom apartment ( and similar properties ) to £173,333 per month for a multi-bedroom detached house.
STAYING: Typically, luxury serviced apartments in Mayfair and the surrounding area start at around £100 per night. You can browse through some of our available properties here.
GREEN SPACES
Due to Mayfair’s central location, it’s difficult to find roaming hills and vast landscapes. Despite this, you won’t have too far to travel for a bit of leafy tranquillity! There are a number of parks and gardens in the vicinity. Here are just a few local recommendations.
Mount Street Gardens is a very well-kept garden in a peaceful part of London. It’s a small park, far from Hyde Park levels of large. However, this makes it all the better for relaxing and soaking in some sights. Interesting architecture, fascinating flora and lovely green grass that’s re-laid every year to keep it fresh and inviting. You won’t want to miss a picnic in the sunshine here, that’s for sure.
Speaking of Hyde Park, Hyde Park is just around ten minutes away from Mayfair. You could easily walk there and back, or cycle, which will take around five minutes or less depending on how speedy you are. As we know from our Knightsbridge area guide, Hyde Park hosts a smorgasbord of entertainment – even hosting festivals regularly, with food stalls, local cafes and public bathrooms dotted around to keep you going through the day.
THINGS TO DO
If you’ve dabbled in Monopoly, you’ll know that Mayfair is one of the most expensive slots on the board. This reflects the real Mayfair. Mayfair is extremely affluent and high-class! Therefore, you can expect to find venues and attractions of similar quality peppered throughout this district. Here are just a few of our recommendations.
- The Royal Academy of Arts has been ‘championing art and architecture since 1768’ – and they don’t intend to stop now! Catch an array of exhibits here featuring artists well-known and obscure.
- Pop down to Regent Street and spend the day shopping in lavish luxury. It’s only a four-minute bike ride away!
- Annabels is a members-only, incredibly exclusive club. It’s well known for being a star-studded venue, too! You’re likely to snag sightings of a few celebs here if you can get yourself a membership.
- Head on down to Hansel & Hendrix to get a look at the home where Jimi Hendrix and George Frederic Handel both lived at certain points. Handel composed some of the world’s most enduring’ baroque music here, and the Handel House is Hendrix’s only recognized home in the world.
- As stated, Mayfair is incredibly affluent. This is reflected in the quality of the food and restaurants. The 34 Mayfair is a modern grill with a focus on meat, fish and seasonal ingredients; it even includes a private dining room for hire. If you’re in the mood for an Irish experience, head on down to Corrigans Bar & Restaurant. Either that or find yourself at ROKA Mayfair for some high-market Japanese dining!
AMENITIES
Mayfair is nestled close to West One London, which is a multi-floor underground shopping centre featuring eateries and popular stores alike. You’ll find a JD Sports, Disney Store, a soft play area, Pret a Manger and various independently-owned stores. This shopping centre is right outside Bond Street Station. This makes it very accessible, the perfect place to grab a coffee before a train journey. It does however get quite busy!
Moreover, The Royal Arcade is another shopping centre, with a twist. This is more of a shopping street; elegant and sequestered away, the Royal Arcade offers a selection of exciting and often traditional shops. You can even get your shoes shined! This arcade is over 100 years old and is almost entirely Victorian-styled. Even if you’re only here for window shopping, you’re sure to have a memorable experience.
Though Mayfair isn’t all shoe-shining and luxury dining. As with most London locales, you can find a healthy mix of independently-owned grocery shops, well-known chains like Tesco Expresses, gyms, pilates studios and even diverse sports clubs scattered throughout this district.
TRAVEL
The majority of Mayfair is accessible by foot or bike, making it fairly sustainable. It’s only a short walk from Bond Street, Marble Arch and Green Park. You can access Mayfair via the Elizabeth Line. As well as this, the locale is also serviced by Marble Arch and Bond Street Station.
If you prefer a bus, you can grab the 113, 139, 159, 7, 98, 23, 94, 10, and 390 and they’ll take you anywhere from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Street.
Finally, there are numerous parking locations within the city, though many choose to cycle or walk. You can find Santander Cycle stations throughout Mayfair, notably on Woodstock and North Audley Street.
EDUCATION
Mayfair’s high standard of quality extends into its local schools. Due to its fantastic travel links, it also makes a good home or hub for anyone looking to travel for their education. Here are some of the best-rated schools and colleges in the area.
- The Royal Alexandra and Albert School
- St Georges Hanover Square Primary School
- The British School of Excellence
- Albemarle Independent College
- McQueens Flower School
- Soho Parish Primary School
Looking for somewhere outside of London itself? See our Lekki area guide here
