Mayfair

Mayfair is a district that needs little introduction. Located in the heart of London's West End, it is a byword for sophistication, wealth and prime land. Not for nothing is it the place every Monopoly player wants to hold. Bordered by Piccadilly, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Hyde Park, it is one of London's most upmarket addresses.

Of course, for this very reason house prices there are very high, although of course renting is not cheap. But quality and desirability are never in short supply here. The neighbours may be interesting too, though they no longer include the US embassy.

The appeal of the location is not a self-contained one, notwithstanding the style of many of the buildings in the area. Rather, it is the proximity to so much of Central London that can offer a truly great appeal. It has easy access to one of the largest inner city parks in Europe to the immediate west. The West End's most famous shopping streets and theatres are a stroll away and Covent Garden is close enough. And the most glamorous address in Britain - Buckingham Palace - is also nearby.

Yet this image and proximity to so much of the best of London in terms of lifestyle, recreation and fashion is not all Mayfair has to offer. For example, the central location means it is easy to reach and, in turn, easy to get to other parts of the capital from.

Tube stops are all around the district. On the northern edge, the Central Line offers access to east and west at Marble Arch, Oxford Street and Bond Street. The last of these is also an interchange station with the Jubilee line, which stops at the southern edge of Mayfair at Green Park. This station links with Oxford Circus on the Victoria Line and Hyde Park Corner on the Piccadilly Line. And Oxford Circus is also on the Bakerloo line.

The net result of all this is that the Tube can provide direct access from Mayfair to the City, Heathrow Airport, the South Bank, major railway stations such as Paddington, Euston, King's Cross/St Pancras, Victoria, Waterloo and Liverpool Street.

As might be expected, living in Mayfair offers plenty of great eating. The list of high-end restaurants is long and varied, with every kind of taste catered for. Try Cielo on Burlington Street for Italian food, or some smoked eel at Scotts, Square Meal's restaurant of the year in 2008. Alternatively, famous hotels like the Dorchester offer a range of culinary treats, such as China Tang at the Dorchester for an oriental feast.

Those keen to get in some exercise to work off all that food will be among the most fortunate in London. The vast open spaces of Hyde Park are immediately to the west, while just to the south lie Green Park and St James's Park. The latter has its own lake, while other bodies of water include Hyde Park's Round Pond and Serpentine.

And if you like fashion, it should be noted Savile row is in Mayfair, offering the best in menswear, while the area also has several museums.

With all these elements, there can be little doubt about the glamour of Mayfair. With beautiful properties, plenty of green space, great places to eat and all the shopping, entertainment and transport advantages Central London can offer on the doorstep, renting there may be an exceptional experience.
 

Published 11th January, 2011

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