An Insider's Guide To Mayfair

By Author: Emily Taylor
Total Articles: 16
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There are many facets to Mayfair. For some, it's one of the world's finest shopping destinations; while for others, it's home to some of London's most luxurious real estate, exclusive restaurants and clubs. But for those who live and work in Mayfair - its residents and its office workers - it is a fascinating ‘village' in the heart of London's West End.

Property

Finding a home or corporate offices in Mayfair may conjure up images of sky high prices, but the reality is that with the right team around you, properties can be found that represent good value while retaining all of the characteristics of Mayfair life.

Turning first to offices, one way of establishing a foothold in London's West End - without enormous overheads - is via the serviced office route. A number of serviced office providers offer ready to go office accommodation throughout Mayfair's most prestigious locations, all in stunning, converted period buildings that characterise the area. Conventional offices, too, are available throughout Mayfair - from value through to luxury - with local agents that are happy to guide you through the ...
... process.

Similarly, on the residential front, most of London's top house agents are represented in the area, including Savills (tel: 020 74998644) and Knight Frank (tel: 020 7499 1012).

Day-to-day services and amenities

Most newcomers to the area will already be familiar with many of Mayfair's Top 10 attractions - from its world famous Bond Street shopping area, to its gracious parks and squares. But, if it's day-to-day services that you're after, independent, local shopping, or just a quick get out of the office walk at lunchtime, read on.

Shopping

For local shopping, Mount Street, South Audley Street, Curzon Street and Shepherd Market are just a few of the places where you can buy essentials, with specialist, independent stores of special note including:

James Knight of Mayfair is a top quality fish retailer located at Selfridges Food Hall, 400 Oxford Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7318 3725), while for fresh meat, Allens Butchers, at 117 Mount Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7499 5831) is an attractive, traditional butcher's shop that has supplied Mayfair's top restaurants for over 175 years.

The Mayfair Food Fayre, at 25 North Audley Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7493 9372) sells a wide range of groceries and convenience foods, together with household cleaning products, toiletries and confectionery, with H R Higgins, just around the corner at 79 Duke Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7491 8819), specialising in a wide range of freshly-roasted coffees and fine teas.

For luxury home goods, Thomas Goode & Co, 19 South Audley Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7499 2823) is regarded as one of the world's top stores for fine bone china, crystal and linen, while for day-to-day needs, the Pharmacy at Mayfair, 6 Shepherd Market, London W1 (tel: 020 7493 2309) is a mainstay.

Services

Five star service is what Mayfair is all about, with a range of services that's almost limitless.

For him, Geo F Trumper, at 9 Curzon Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7499 1850) retains its mahogany-paneled private cubicles, and provides a wide range of grooming services from haircutting, and tinting to moustache and beard trimming, shaving, manicures, facial cleansing and massage.
For her, hair and beauty salons are almost too numerous to mention, but suffice to say that most of the capital's great hair and beauty salons are located in Mayfair. In addition to the celebrity salons including Nicky Clarke, John Freida and Michaeljohn, there are exciting new names cropping up the whole time, such as Eleven, at 11 Blenheim Street, London W1 (020 7491 2390).

The May Fair Spa in Stratton Street (tel: 020 7915 2826) is a stylish day spa with excellent facilities and a range of treatments, with 7 treatment rooms, a luxurious mud bath and steam chamber, as well as a herbal steam room and a tranquil relaxation room.

Gym and fitness centres, too, can be found all around Mayfair, but one that's located at its heart, in Berkeley Square is Fitness First at Berkeley Square House, London W1 (tel: 020 7493 2311).

For health matters, visit the Berkeley Clinic at 30 Dover Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7629 5710), a walk-in medical centre in the heart of Mayfair, with a Berkeley Dental Clinic due to open soon. Or if it's alternative remedies you're after, Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy & Clinic at 73 Duke Street, London W1 (tel: 020 7629 3118) provides homeopathic remedies and advice through its team of registered therapists.

Eating and drinking

You could eat and drink forever in Mayfair. But forget for a moment the Michelin-starred restaurants (of which there are more than a dozen in Mayfair), and take a stroll through Shepherd Market instead. Shepherd Market is a small square and a maze of lanes built in the mid 1700s, tucked in between Piccadilly and Curzon Street. Bustling, lively and sometimes scandalous throughout its 250-year history, Shepherd Market today is renowned for its intimate restaurants and pubs.

Going out

Of course, the whole of London's West End theatreland is on your doorstep in Mayfair. But in addition to London's live shows and West End cinemas a more local venue is the Curzon Mayfair Cinema at 38 Curzon St London W1. Box Office: 0871 7033 989. Clubs, meanwhile, come in all shapes and sizes - from the old-fashioned gentleman's club, to exclusive casinos and exotic nightclubs - from Annabel's private dining and nightclub in Berkeley Square to Aspinall's casino club in Curzon Street and the fashionable Funky Buddha nightclub around the corner in Berkeley Street.

Escape

Mayfair's stunning squares and parks - including Green Park and Berkeley Square - are well-known. But to experience the real Mayfair, and get away from it all, a walk through Mount Street Gardens, is a must. Accessible from South Audley Street, running behind the Mount Street itself, the gardens were laid out in 1889 on the site of the former burial ground of the parish of St George's, Hanover Square - and are a small haven of peace and tranquility from another era.

In conclusion, the allure of Mayfair has probably never been stronger - in all its 250 years as one of the world's most fashionable locations. There are hosts of websites all offering advice and information about Mayfair - with some of the more helpful ones including:

www.mayfairtimes.co.uk
www.mayfair-london.co.uk
www.aboutmayfair.co.uk
www.londontown.com
www.touruk.co.uk
www.viewlondon.co.uk