Mayfair is one of London's most prestigious neighbourhoods, renowned for its elegant Georgian townhouses, luxury retail, world-class dining and exceptional central location. Set within the City of Westminster, it is flanked by Oxford Street, Piccadilly, Hyde Park, and Regent Street, making it perfectly placed for accessing London's most famous locations.
Internationally recognised for its luxury hotels, private members' clubs and flagship boutiques, Mayfair is a desirable place to live, with its pretty garden squares, excellent transport connections and easy access to some of the city's finest cultural attractions. An area characterised by grand period properties, mews houses and luxury apartments, it attracts professionals, international buyers, families and investors looking for exclusive addresses and exceptional convenience.
You wouldn't think it today, but Mayfair is said to have got its name from a raucous annual fair, which became so disreputable it was eventually abolished. The reference, however, remained as the area was marked out for redevelopment, and the chic area we know today began to take form under the direction of the Grosvenor family. Now, their carefully planned streets and elegant architecture have become the hallmark of fashionable Mayfair, which is known for blending heritage and contemporary luxury.
Moral May Fair
Mayfair's name derives from a literal fair, which appears to be referenced as early as 1560 as St. James's Fair. From the outset, the occasion seems to have been considered eccentric to the point of bawdy, and by 1603, one account mentioned on British History Online notes: "it was suppressed, as considered to tend rather to the advantage of looseness and irregularity, than to the substantial promotion of any good, common and beneficial to the people." While the tradition persisted across the centuries, with its annual tradition leading to its name (the May Fair), it was stopped in the 1700s, and in 1721 the notion of a square of fine houses was developed.
Grosvenor's influence
In the 1700s, the Grosvenor family, Dukes of Westminster, who had risen to prominence since the late 1600s as owners of vast swathes of rural London, set out to develop land in Mayfair. In 1720 they started creating a carefully planned grid of elegant streets, with Grosvenor Square at its heart. The family also went on to develop Belgravia, and it's their stewardship that has helped preserve the area's distinctive character and architectural quality.
A haven of luxury and creativity
While the architecture of Mayfair has remained, in many ways, true to its original vision, it has also adapted to the changing wants and needs of London. Under the Victorians it became synonymous with wealth and prestige, from luxury retailers to lavish mansions, gentlemen's clubs and embassies to grand hotels. At the same time, a creative streak ran through the area, with Oscar Wilde living by Grosvenor Square and famously setting his play, The Importance of Being Earnest, on Half Moon Street. That fusion of luxury and creativity continued, with Jimi Hendrix said to have lived on Brook Street, and Audrey Hepburn on South Audley Street, amongst other residents.
With its central location, those who live in Mayfair have access to a whole world of amenities, but many options are within the realms of Mayfair itself. Whether you want to do the shopping, to the park or for a night at the theatre, the best of the best are all close by.
Green spaces
Although in the heart of London, those who live in Mayfair are spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful green spaces. Grosvenor Square has a pretty public garden, while the likes of Berkeley Square, Hanover Square and Cavendish Square are famously elegant. Mount Street Gardens is a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle, while on a more expansive note, Green Park stretches to around 40 acres of formal flower beds and tree lined paths, and Hyde Park is close by.
Sport
Living in Mayfair gives you easy access to a wealth of fitness studios, private gyms, yoga and Pilates studios, and personal training facilities, from Third Space Mayfair to The Lansdowne Club, and the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair Fitness Centre. Hyde Park offers a wealth of amenities as well, from tennis courts to horse riding, boating on the Serpentine, as well as swimming at the Serpentine Lido, running routes and seasonal events.
Entertainment and culture
Mayfair is home to internationally respected commercial art galleries, auction houses and luxury hotels, and is also in one of the best locations for accessing the best of London's cultural attractions. Cork Street and New Bond Street are the place for commercial art at the likes of Sotheby's and Gagosian, while The Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly hosts major exhibitions throughout the year. From there you're also within walking distance of The National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and more. Theatre is one of London's prize features, and from Mayfair you can easily get to destinations like Harold Pinter Theatre, and The London Palladium, while close to home there's the Curzon Mayfair, one of London’s oldest and most prestigious independent cinemas.
Eating out
Mayfair is widely considered one of London's most prestigious dining destinations, with everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to elegant cafés and luxury hotel restaurants. Mount Street and North Audley Street are particularly popular for independent restaurants and cafés, while nearby Piccadilly and Park Lane offer numerous fine dining options. Amongst the most celebrated destinations are Scott's, Claridge's, 74 Duke, The Cocochine and more.
Shops
Shopping is one of Mayfair's defining features. Bond Street is internationally recognised for luxury fashion, jewellery and watches, while Mount Street combines designer boutiques with independent retailers. Burlington Arcade is one of London's oldest covered shopping arcades, and nearby Oxford Street gives you access to major department stores and high street brands. For those living in the area, there's no shortage of options for practical, everyday items, while amongst the most famous options are Savile Row for tailoring, Dover Street for fashion (including Dover Street Market), Jermyn Street for shirts, and stores that are destinations in their own right like Fortnum & Mason.
Healthcare
Mayfair is known for offering the best of just about everything and in keeping with that, residents benefit from excellent healthcare provision, with a wide choice of NHS and private services across central London.
Local GP practices
Several NHS GP surgeries serve residents living in and around Mayfair, including practices within the Westminster area. Amongst them, you will find The Mayfair Medical Centre, Mayfair Doctors, and The Mayfair GP.
Local hospitals
Mayfair is within easy reach of a wealth of NHS and private hospitals, supporting emergency care as well as specialist services. For example, there's St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, University College Hospital in Bloomsbury and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, all of which provide accident and emergency departments alongside specialist services. For private hospitals, Mayfair is particularly well served, with The London Clinic, King Edward VII's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic London and the Princess Grace Hospital all located within easy reach.
Local dentists
Mayfair has a wide selection of private dental practices close by, offering routine dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic treatments and specialist care. For example, there's Bond Dental London, The Health Society Mayfair, and Serene By Dr.Safa.
Education
Mayfair's central location makes it a wonderful place for accessing a variety of educational institutions, with an excellent choice of state, independent and higher education choices across Westminster and surrounding boroughs.
Primary schools
Primary schools in Mayfair and the surrounding area are available in the form of both state and independent options, including the likes of St George's Hanover Square Primary School, Soho Parish Primary School, Eaton Square Prep School, and St. Vincent's Catholic Primary School.
Secondary schools
Secondary schools in the area offer a variety of options for local residents, from Westminster Academy, to Pimlico Academy, Harris Westminster Sixth Form, Westminster School, Wetherby Senior School, Francis Holland School and Queen's College London, all of which have excellent reputations.
Specialist or higher education
Mayfair is conveniently located for several of London's leading universities, including King's College London, University College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Imperial College London and the Royal Academy of Arts.
For students seeking specialist education there's also a range of options, including Fairley House School, a day school for children with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) like dyslexia and dyscalculia, as well as Burlington House School for Specific Learning Differences.
Transport
Mayfair is in an incredible location for enjoying the best of everything that London has to offer, whilst also having exceptional transport links that make travel across London and beyond easy and straightforward.
Driving in
Driving in London always means navigating streets that become easily congested in peak hours, but for residents Park Lane provides direct access to Hyde Park Corner, the A4 and towards Heathrow Airport and west London. Meanwhile, Piccadilly, Regent Street and Oxford Street connect you to the West End and central London. As with much of central London, you should be aware of the Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Parking is limited, especially on the streets, but there are a number of car parks including Q-Park Burlington and Q-Park Oxford Street.
Walking and cycling
Many of London's attractions and amenities can be reached on foot from Mayfair, making for an easy stroll to areas including Soho, St James's, Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Covent Garden and Hyde Park. Whether you're walking for leisure or commuting, Mayfair is a lovely place to travel on foot, along elegant streets and through pretty garden squares.
Santander Cycles docking stations are located throughout the area, and while dedicated cycling infrastructure continues to improve across central London, there are some charming cycling routes around Hyde Park or along the nearby Regent's Canal towpath.
Travelling by train
Mayfair is served by Bond Street, Green Park, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus Underground stations, providing easy access to the Central, Jubilee, Victoria, Piccadilly, Bakerloo and Elizabeth lines for convenient travel across London. Elizabeth line services from Bond Street make for fast connections to Paddington, Canary Wharf and Heathrow Airport. For mainline services, it's a short walk or Tube journey to London Marylebone, London Charing Cross, and London Victoria.
Travelling by bus
There's a wide number of bus routes serving Mayfair, connecting those who live here with destinations across London, including direct services to Victoria, Paddington, Euston and the City. Buses are frequent and convenient, with key routes including the 9, 14, 38, 22, and 453.
Travelling by boat
While there are no river piers within Mayfair itself, Westminster Pier and Embankment Pier are both easily reached by public transport, providing Thames Clippers river services to Canary Wharf, Greenwich and other destinations along the River Thames.
Air travel
Heathrow Airport can be reached directly via the Elizabeth line from Bond Street or by road via the A4. Gatwick Airport is accessible from Victoria Station, while London City Airport can be reached using the Elizabeth and DLR lines. There are also straightforward rail connections to Stansted and Luton airports.