Our Guide to Living in Mayfair

Much of Mayfair pre-World War II was already seen as one of the most incredible locations to live in London. Its popularity grew with the wealthy around the 17th century, much of Mayfair’s physical growth took place in the 18th century, resulting in the multitude of Georgian properties that we see today.

Despite this, Mayfair offers a melting pot of architectural styles, with the area surrounding Mount Street presenting a 19th century building programme of the famous terracotta buildings that are so sought-after today.

What this also means is that many of the properties that are seen in the area are different, the most available properties are actually apartments (previously grand houses that became offices). Mayfair now presents a quaint mix of mews houses, exclusive apartments and townhouses that remain in all their former glory. Many of the residents of Mayfair own their homes – but there are some private rentals.

With the recent influx of a new generation of homeowners into the area, Mayfair is getting a little more modern and showing greater appeal to a younger generation. Gen Z-ers can be seen around the area whilst the largest home ownership share today is actually Millennials. Thanks to his demographic shift, you can see more trendy bars and restaurants opening in the area and it’s not that uncommon to see some very familiar faces as well. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Siva Kaneswaran, Mark Ronson, Emma Watson and Mick Jagger are regulars in the area thanks to incredible restaurants such as the Connaught Hotel, Dukes, CircusXO and Nobu.

Sometimes, with areas like Mayfair, it’s hard not to see beyond headlines or even our assumptions of what living in such a location would involve. Yet, if you were to take a few minutes to appreciate the Mayfair lifestyle, you’d start to see that this community – and it is a strong community – goes beyond these headlines and assumptions.

For example, a report in 2017 reflected how the Mayfair economy is supported primarily by local residents and not by visitors. In the report it showed that “the local population spends twice as much as tourists across the Luxury Quarter and famous West End district and Mayfair London restaurants, contributing around £2.5 million into the local economy each year.”

Yes, there is a lot of wealth in the area however there is more to the Mayfair lifestyle than just money. Here are some of the things that make living in Mayfair unique.

Like its partner, Belgravia, Mayfair boasts a wide variety of restaurants with Michelin stars – 16 in total. BiBi is “a unique blend of contemporary skills and Indian authenticity, with traditional comfort food dishes plucked straight from visceral childhood memories.” While Scott’s offers a range of fish, seafood and shellfish dishes along with a delectable glass of champagne to wash it all down for a truly luxurious dining experience.

As for cafés you have so many to choose from. Like the Everbean Cafe & Wine Bar where you can stay from sun up to sun down either at the keyboard working away or just watching the world go by whilst Hideaway is a luxury cafe and wine bar on London’s iconic Mount Street. Hideaway is a joint project between Ollie Dabbous & Hedonism Wines with interiors by London-based designers, Studio Caché. See our guide of why you need to have coffee in Mayfair.

Of course, one of the biggest attractions to Mayfair is the retail therapy that you can go under during a visit. Bond Street for example has all the latest lines, including Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Michael Kors, and Gucci.

Burlington Arcade – which has no games – has a range of stunning jewellers, dealers in antique silver, handbags and shoe designers, as well as a host of accessory shops and art deals making your need for anything sparkly or high end thoroughly satisfied.

Mayfair is also host to a range of big and small boutiques that cater to every style. From luxury shoes by Gianvito Rossi to sustainable brands like Bamford, you’re sure to find something you love for the whole family.

Thanks to its central location and much sought after real estate, getting to and from Mayfair is not that difficult. The far-reaches of the district present no less than 5 underground tube stations. Along the northern border, we find Marble Arch, Bond Street and Oxford Circus. To the South are Hyde Park Corner and Green Park.

The latest addition to the underground service, Crossrail’s Elizabeth Line will reach far beyond the city to the east and west with a major connection adjacent to the Bond Street tube.

Travelling by bus – which is always a great solution in the city and often overlooked – is also a simple prospect thanks to the combination of 390, 10, 94, 23, 7, 98, 159, 139 and 113 and 22 lines. Some of these services even continue around the clock.

Driving around the city can be costly and you also need to consider things such as congestion charges, parking issues and permits. There are 24 hour car parks such as the NCP car park in Grosvenor Hill.

When it comes to bike usage, London is very pro-bike and Mayfair actively encourages its residents to be the same as much as they can be. Many streets have dedicated cycle lanes and cycle only zones so that commuters and bike enthusiasts can freely travel around the city without any fears or concerns about using this method of transportation.

Here are some comparisons between journey destinations and times by different modes of transport to give you an idea of how well connected things are but also, the time you could be expected to take to get there.

• The City: 4 miles / 20-35 minutes by car / 15-20 minutes by transit / 25 minutes by bike
• Canary Wharf: 7.1 miles / 25-65 minutes by car / 30 minutes by transit
• Southwark: 4.4 miles / 25-60 minutes by car / 20 minutes by transit / 25 minutes by bike
• Westminster: 1.9 miles / 10-15 minutes by car / 20 minutes by transit / 10-15 minutes by bike
• Shoreditch: 4.2 miles / 20-40 minutes by car / 30-35 minutes by transit / 30 minutes by bike

If you were looking to make your own mark in the area of Mayfair, then investing in the right property is going to be key. Moving to such a location is going to be a huge decision but this much sought after central London area which has a sense of a community village rather than a metropolitan area is loved by many.

In 2021, the average house price in Mayfair was £3,426,130. And the majority of opportunities come in the form of modern apartment conversions. 1-bed apartments start at around the £500K mark. But a 3-bed can range anywhere from £1 million to £6 million.

Georgian townhouses in Mayfair are common, many of which have undergone complete restoration over the last 200 years. Whilst their prices can vary greatly, don’t expect to see any under £3million pounds with many even topping the £20 million pound price tag.

South Street
One such example is a recent listing in South Street Mayfair. South Street lies close to the exclusive boutiques of Mount Street,

Hyde Park and the West End, and forms a terrace of original design with no parallel in Mayfair with its mix of Gothic, Francois Premier, Jacobean and Queen Anne’ sources.

Hill Street, Mayfair
Hill Street runs from South Audley Street through to Berkeley Square and is only moments from the Michelin star restaurants and boutique shops of Mount Street. It is another impressive area to live in.

Maddox Street
Located just off New Bond Street and Regent Street, Maddox Street is surrounded by some of Mayfair’s finest shopping spots, with an array of designer boutiques and luxury jewellers.

If you were looking for a rental property, they are still common in Mayfair, but just not as popular as owning a place. Studio flats will start at around £500 p/w. But if we start looking towards 2 or 3-bed properties, then we can expect to see prices between £1500 and £3500 p/w as a ballpark figure.

Aside from the celebrities, fine-dining and the art scene, we are constantly reminded of Mayfair’s down-to-earth qualities. Regular aspects of our lives including education and healthcare, for example, are high on the list of priorities. And it’s all right here moving perfectly in tandem with the more luxury details that define the area.

As we know, there are several top schools in the locale catering for all ages. And these are made up of both private and public education. Albemarle Independent College, St. George’s Hanover Square Primary School and Eaton Square Senior School are just a few of the names worthy of a mention.