Clustered with international embassies, art galleries and high-end fashion boutiques, Mayfair is an affluent neighbourhood in London’s West End. It takes its name from the annual May Fair that took place here from the late 17th century and is renowned for having the most expensive real estate on the Monopoly board.
Things to do in Mayfair
One of Mayfair’s most famous streets is Savile Row, which is lined with traditional bespoke tailors offering high-quality suits. Learn about the tuxedo designer Henry Poole, who established a shop here in 1846, then gaze up at the rooftop of 3 Savile Row where The Beatles played their final gig in 1969. Also synonymous with shopping is Bond Street, which features a collection of high-end designer fashions.
For a cultural fix, head to the Royal Academy of Arts, a London institution that has been at the cutting edge of the art world since opening its doors in 1768. In addition to its outstanding permanent collection featuring works by Tracey Emin and Angelica Kauffman, it hosts changing exhibitions that showcase innovative contemporary artists.
Two of Mayfair’s most notable residents were George Frideric Handel and Jimi Hendrix, who lived side-by-side (albeit 250 years apart) on Brook Street. Together, their residences form the Handel & Hendrix in London museum, where you can see where both musicians lived and composed. Browse the exhibitions detailing Handel’s life and see the furnishings that Hendrix purchased from the nearby John Lewis department store.
Getting around Mayfair
Mayfair is around 10 minutes’ drive from the Charing Cross railway station and 30 minutes from London Heathrow Airport. The neighbourhood is served by the Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Bond Street and Oxford Circus Underground stations. Buses travel throughout Mayfair and its streets are easy to explore on foot.