Mayfair: Walking Tour of London’s Posh Neighborhood

(Publisher’s Note: This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Mayfair – London’s Posh Neighborhood.)

Mayfair is an exclusive London neighborhood named after its old-time “May Fair.” In 1686, King James II granted permission for this two-week fair; it was held at Shepherd Market (a small precinct in Mayfair). Crowds flocked to this rural area between the 17th and 18th centuries for this May annual fair. They came for drinking, eating, and entertainment, including bare-knuckle fighting, women’s foot racing, and puppet shows. The authorities banned it in 1764 because it was too raucous.

Today, Mayfair is one of the most expensive London neighborhoods. Its luxury accommodations have been home to Clive of India, Disraeli, Handel, Florence Nightingale, Jimi Hendrix, Dodi Fayed, and Earl Mountbatten.

“This Monopoly board icon is filled with lavish boutiques, upscale eateries and top-notch hotels.”—Visit London

But you don’t have to live in Mayfair to enjoy its charms. For the price of a subway ticket, you can spend a day getting to know London’s aristocratic neighborhood. Be sure to wear good walking shoes. This Mayfair walking tour will wear you out! (Mayfair reminds me of other historic neighborhoods I have toured, such as Dublin, Hay-on-Wye, and Montmartre.) I promise you a delicious bowl of homemade pasta at the end of your adventure.

Shepherd Market 

Naturally, your first stop must be this 18th-century market. Raffish is the only adjective that adequately describes Shepherd Market, Mayfair’s “village within a village.” Luckily, the town fathers chose not to bulldoze this market (established in 1735).

Today, you can wander up and down the lanes to find a barber, wine shop, restaurant, or fine goods purveyor.

“The beating heart of the best city in the world lies hidden amongst the streets of Mayfair. It is a uniquely historic place formed from 300 years of cultural diversity.”—Shepherd Market

True to its heritage, four traditional pubs will serve you a mug of ale at Shepherd Market. You can also indulge in cuisine from France, Poland, Mexico, Lebanon, Iran, Turkey, India, and England.

Berkeley Square

Next up, you should explore Mayfair’s open spaces. Architect William Kent designed this garden square in the mid-18th century. The gardens are now listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Berkeley Square is famous for its ancient London plane trees, which were planted in 1789 (the year of the French Revolution). 

The terraced houses surrounding Berkeley Square now house businesses, such as blue-chip hedge funds. But number 48 remains residential. (It was the home of Winston Churchill as a child.)  Its fictional residents include Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves (P. G. Wodehouse). 

NOTE: If you want to watch Londoners walk their dogs, eat a sandwich, or read a book, find your nearest green. (As a dog owner who always misses my Golden retriever when I travel, I love to watch dogs out for their walks.)

Grosvenor Square

We also walked through another Mayfair green. Grosvenor Square, named after the Duke of Winchester, was developed between 1725 and 1731. 

Landscape designer John Alston created the original gardens in the 1720s. His “wilderness worke” design celebrated the countryside in the city. 

The American presence at Grosvenor Square dates back to John Adams, who established the first American mission to England. John and his wife Abigail lived here from 1785 to 1788. Their house is on the corner of Brook and Duke Streets.

The Macdonald House borders Berkeley Square. While the building has been demolished, its facade front was preserved. This was the home of the U.S. Embassy from 1938 to 1960.

Blue Plaques

The ubiquitous British “blue plaque” can be found everywhere in Mayfair. A historical marker, the blue plaque, commemorates a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site. English Heritage manages this plaque program.

Most tourists head to Brook Street to take a photo of the blue plaque commemorating the place where legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix lived. 

But Mayfair boasts one of the highest concentrations of blue plaques in London. There are more than 50 signs in Mayfair, as many famous (historically significant) people once lived in this neighborhood.

Upscale Shopping  

Leave your credit card at home if you don’t want to be tempted to buy a costly pair of red high heels in Mayfair.

We watched a long line of tourists shivering in the cold wait to get inside Goyard, a purveyor of luxury French luggage. I don’t know anyone who still travels with a monogrammed leather trunk, but it will only cost you €4,200 to €12,200 to purchase.

Mayfair also boasts luxurious retail brands such as Louis Vuitton, Alfred Dunhill, Hermes, Chanel, and Christian Louboutin. You can also “put on the Ritz” at this iconic hotel. (I can hear Ella Fitzgerald crooning this stalwart jazz hit and picture Fred Astaire gliding across the ballroom.)

Royal Academy of Arts

You don’t want to miss the blockbuster exhibits at the Royal Academy of Arts, which is located at Burlington House and has free admission.

The Royal Academy was founded in 1768 by artists and architects. It remains true to its mission to promote the appreciation, understanding, and practice of art in all its forms.

The Academy’s permanent collection spans 250 years of British art. See works from John Constable, J.M.W. Turner, and David Hockney. The Academy is also home to the annual Summer Exhibition. 

We stopped before our walking tour to enjoy a “cuppa” at its downstairs cafe (RA Cafe and Poster Bar). But I’d love to return for a swank lunch at José Pizarro’s restaurant.

The Arts Club

Unfortunately, you cannot tour this private club, but you might want to take a peek outside. London is famous for its private clubs. Mayfair is the home of The Arts Club. Established in 1863, the club describes itself as a “haven” for those with a professional or amateur relationship with the arts, literature, or sciences.

“The Arts Club is home to a community of discerning thinkers and thought leaders, with a shared appreciation for the arts and culture.”

An annual subscription costs  £3,200 (plus a  £1,600 member assessment fee).

Mercato Mayfair

The final stop on your morning walk in Mayfair is a food hall. You must stop for lunch at this church-turned-eatery housed in the 18th-century St. Mark’s on North Audley Street. The old stained-glass sanctuary features a flower shop, eateries, and a vaulted wine cellar. 

Mercato Mayfair offers a variety of cuisines, including bao buns, steamed dumplings, fresh poke bowls, sushi, authentic Italian gelato, and wood-oven-baked pizza. 

I want to warn you that this market gets crowded around lunch. It has two floors and an outdoor patio. We had to fight through the first floor to reach our eatery. 

Stanley Tucci Haunt

We chose Pasta Lovers, a handmade pasta place because actor Stanley Tucci showcased it on his travel show. (You can watch them roll and cut the tagliarini and linguine while you wait in line to order your meal.)

Tucci featured Mayfair Mercato on his hit CNN TV show Searching for Italy. (The actor lives in London; he featured the city in episode four of season two.) Tucci explored how Italian immigration has transformed the food scene in London, where he’s lived for the past 10 years.

The actor visited Mercato Mayfair with Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo. (Contaldo taught chef Jamie Oliver everything he knows about Italian cooking.)

On the show, Contaldo described Mercato Mayfair—a food hall housed within a deconsecrated church—as a “cathedral of food.”