| When traveling to London, among all the great world | | | | Shepherd's Market, the site of the original May Fair is |
| famous historical and cultural landmarks, make sure | | | | the 'village centre' of Mayfair. There are some good |
| not to miss the historic and quite cosmopolitan | | | | restaurants and interesting pubs and the area has not |
| Mayfair. This famous area of London is a heaven of | | | | yet been spoiled by tourism - it caters to the needs |
| luxury and opulence. But you don't have to be too | | | | of locals as well as visitors. Outdoor cafes abound in |
| wealthy to sit in a pub and watch the rich go by. | | | | the summer months, and even on a cool winter's day |
| A part of London where history has been alive for | | | | - as long as the sun is out - you will see plenty of |
| centuries | | | | hardy souls lunching 'al fresco'. Many 18th-century |
| Mayfair is an area of central London in the City of | | | | buildings survive and the market has a special charm - |
| Westminster, named after the annual fortnight-long | | | | definitely worth a wander around and a stop at Ye |
| May Fair that took place there from 1686 until it was | | | | Grapes pub with its traditional Victorian interior. |
| banned in that location in 1764. Prior to 1686, the May | | | | Mayfair- a treat for special food lovers |
| Fair was held in The Haymarket, and after 1764, it | | | | Mayfair also has to cater for all the tastes in food of |
| moved to Fair Field in Bow. It is roughly bordered by | | | | the residents and tourists alike and there are many |
| Hyde Park to the west, Oxford Street to the north, | | | | small traditional food shops which do this. One of the |
| Piccadilly and Green Park to the south and Regent | | | | most interesting is R. Allen & Co, on Mount Street, an |
| Street to the east. Most of the area was first | | | | old-fashioned poulterer, with pheasants hung in the |
| developed between the mid 17th century and the | | | | windows in the same fashion as they were a |
| mid 18th century as a fashionable residential district, | | | | hundred years ago. |
| by a number of landlords, the most important of | | | | And while on the subject of food, if you really want |
| them the Grosvenor family. The freehold of a large | | | | a treat try Le Gavroche, one of the best French |
| section of Mayfair also belongs to Queen Elizabeth II. | | | | restaurants in London; this is haute cuisine at its |
| Queen Elizabeth II was born in Bruton Street and | | | | finest and most serious. |
| lived in Mayfair during her infant years. | | | | For something less famous but with good food and |
| Although Mayfair is a wealth of 20th-century luxury | | | | popular with Londoners, try Wheelers on South |
| and opulence, it is also an area full of history. | | | | Molton Street There are branches all over the city, |
| However, this wasn't always the stylish London | | | | easily recognized by their green frontage. Their |
| neighborhood that we see today. In the 18th century | | | | specialty is fish and seafood - Dover sole, a British |
| the region was a paradise for prostitutes, drunks and | | | | favourite, is cooked a staggering 13 different ways. |
| crooks, a daily scene for donkey races and duck | | | | Last but not least- haute couture and plenty of style |
| hunts- all in an almost impossible combination of noise | | | | Haute couture has its home in Mayfair and small, chic |
| and disorder, especially during the fair. As a result of | | | | boutiques with famous names above the door are |
| all that clatter, the fair was closed in 1764, at the | | | | scattered around the area. Both Old Bond Street and |
| insistence of the Earl of Coventry. | | | | New Bond Streets are stuffed with elegance. There |
| From popular fair to exclusive location for big pockets | | | | are world-famous jewelers such as Cartier, Tiffany |
| Now, two and a half hundred years later, the name | | | | and Asprey; men who like to buy the best come to |
| 'Mayfair' is synonymous with class and style. To put it | | | | Saville Row to be suited. Then there are the art |
| quite simply, Mayfair means money, loads, and has | | | | galleries and antique shops. And if you want one of |
| turned into London's most exclusive residential | | | | the world's best haircuts, the Vidal Sassoon Academy |
| address. Today, many of the grand houses which in | | | | on Brook Street will give you the style of your life. |
| the 18th century were occupied by dukes, earls and | | | | There are a number of delightful shopping arcades in |
| baronets, are home to a modern type of higher | | | | Mayfair that are fun to wander around and which |
| class, mainly people who can afford the best of | | | | contain shops selling every kind of luxury you could |
| luxury that London has to offer | | | | possibly want. One of the most popular is the |
| Although some of the lovely old houses have been | | | | Burlington Arcade on Piccadilly. Built in 1819, |
| taken over by foreign embassies and international | | | | supposedly to prevent passers-by from throwing |
| businesses, they have not been drastically changed | | | | garbage into the garden of nearby Burlington House |
| and there is still a distinct Georgian air about Mayfair | | | | (now the Royal Academy of Arts), the arcade is still |
| which can best be appreciated by strolling around the | | | | patrolled by a beadle, a man in traditional dress |
| area, turning into small streets and mews, or sitting in | | | | whose historic function is to ensure shoppers obey |
| one of the quiet little squares. | | | | the rule against singing, carrying open umbrellas, or |
| The district is now mainly commercial, with many | | | | running. In the 1870's Charles Dickens reported that |
| offices in converted houses and new buildings, | | | | the arcade was mainly occupied by "bonnet-makers, |
| including major corporate headquarters and a | | | | ladies' boot-makers, and sellers of knick-knacks." He |
| concentration of hedge funds. Rents are among the | | | | would see some changes if he were to visit the |
| highest in London and the world. The area | | | | Burlington Arcade today. There are shops full of |
| encompasses London's largest concentration of | | | | exotic jewelry, antique toy soldiers, cashmere and |
| luxury hotels and many fine restaurants. | | | | Irish linen. |