Mayfair for Luxury Lovers (2024)

A Leisurely Stroll

The first activity we’d recommend is also the cheapest – free, in fact. The beauty of being in a swish neighbourhood like Mayfair is that even wandering around has an air of luxury about it. That’s in part because, believe it or not, there are plenty of residents who call Mayfair home. Granted, they probably call somewhere else home too, but this does mean that not all of Mayfair’s streets are given over to shopping or dining, in turn adding to the character and personality of the area. There are a number of fine churches to take in too, like St George’s in Hanover Square, Grosvenor Chapel in South Audley Street that hosts many a recital, and theCatholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, known locally as Farm Street Church. If you want nourishment of a less spiritual, more physical kind, then head to Mercato Mayfair in North Audley Street, a converted church that now offers a range of food and drink choices.

Despite being located right in the beating heart of the city, Mayfair also offers plenty of green spaces in which to unwind. Two of its borders are shared with magnificent parks: Hyde Park to the west and The Green Park to the south. The former is the larger of the two and includes The Serpentine Lake that’s perfect for a pedalo, while The Green Park has the illustrious bonus of being located next to Buckingham Palace. After all, there are few more luxurious buildings in London than the King’s own home. Inside the official Mayfair boundaries, meanwhile, there are the two handsome spots of Grosvenor Square and Berkeley Square.

A Feast for the Eyes

When it comes to art and culture, the greatest jewel in Mayfair’s crown is The Royal Academy of Arts. Led by artists and architects, the Academy has promoted the appreciation of art for over 250 years and has called Burlington House its home since 1867. Some of its exhibitions are free, so it’s always worth checking out if you’re passing by. There are also innumerable smaller galleries catering to wherever your taste in art is leading you, from Gagosian to Hauser & Wirth. If you’re in the market for some fine art of your own to impress your friends, then Bonhams and Sotheby’s auction houses are both located on New Bond Street.

Hey Big Spender

High-End Dining of Every Kind

If it’s Michelin Stars you’re after – and in Mayfair, it probably is – then you have a huge collection to choose from, spanning a range of global cuisines. There’s Angela Hartnett’s Italian cooking at Murano; the Spanish specialities of Sabor; the sushi counter at Taku; and the multitude of Indian dishes at Jamavar. If you want the very finest gastronomy, then Mayfair has a trio of Three Michelin Star restaurants to choose from: Hélène Darroze at The Connaught;Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library; and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester.

Raise Your Glass

If, in addition to dinner, you’re considering a night out in Mayfair, then you’re equally spoilt for choice. Although if you’re not prepared for some of the prices you encounter, your credit card may start divorce proceedings the next morning. When it comes to bars in Mayfair, expect the grown-up kind. Many are found within hotels, like The Connaught Bar, Le Magritte at The Beaumont Hotel and Donovan Barat Brown’s Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel. But it’s also worth checking out the Bar Below at Michelin-Starred restaurantHIDE and Dickie’s Bar at Corrigan’s, for chic surroundings and a properly made drink.

Oenophiles will have just one place on their mind when visiting Mayfair: Hedonism Wines. This shop’s collection of wines is hugely impressive and the knowledgeable staff are always on hand to offer advice. If your lottery ticket has come up trumps, or you’re looking to blow that unexpected windfall, then this is the also the place to come for that really special bottle. Hedonism has also curated the wine list at HIDE, and any bottle from the shop can be brought to your table within 15 minutes.

Stay in Style

If you’re looking for luxury when it comes to the question of where to stay, then you’ll find it difficult to narrow down the choice, as Mayfair offers a roll call of the snazzy and the stylish, the grand and the great. From hotels with long, proud histories like Claridge’s, Brown’s and The Connaught, to more modern spaces like 1 Hotel Mayfair, there is no shortage of decadence on offer. Park Lane has you covered too if you want to be close to the parks; its grand dames include The Dorchester and The Four Seasons.

Mayfair really offers so very much – but at the luxury end of that muchness. It’s a London that’s sparkly and glamourous, opulent and extravagant. It offers the traditional and the established, but also the innovative and the new. It is a place where, as the late great Nick Drake sang, “even trees are wealthy”.

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