5 Things You Might Not Know About Mayfair in London

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Fun Facts About Mayfair

Travelling to London, England, and want to explore the world of the upper crust?

Then get yourself to the elegant West End neighbourhood of Mayfair.

But before you go, be in the know and read these 5 quirky things you might not realize about this desirable section of London.

About Mayfair

Mayfair is one of the most sophisticated areas of London and one of the ritziest areas in the entire UK.

It’s a fun area to explore, with uber sleek art galleries on Cork Street, the posh Burlington Arcade shopping passageway, historic Georgian townhouses, impeccably luxe hotels and leafy refined squares.

No wonder it’s one of the most expensive properties in the UK version of Monopoly.

Where is Mayfair?

This chic West End neighbourhood of Mayfair runs up against the east border of Hyde Park and runs east to Regent Street.

It reaches up to Oxford Street in the north and down to Green Park and Piccadilly in the south. Grosvenor Square is its swanky historic heart.

So now that we know that, let’s begin.

Fun Fact about Mayfair

1) Celebrities Lived on Brook Street

One of the most fun things to do in Mayfair is just walk around – it’s one of the best free things to do in London.

Head to Brook Street. Jimmy Hendrix, the Bee Gees and Handel all stayed on Brook Street in Mayfair – not at the same time obviously, but can you imagine the neighbourhood jam if they had?

2) Celebrities Hide in Mayfair

Big celebrities such as Jude Law may not be clearly evident at Punchbowl, the Mayfair pub on Farm Street that Guy Ritchie bought in 2008 (and sold in 2013), but this 300-hundred-year-old watering hole may still harbour them.

What is my secret source ? My friend’s husband got lost in the pub looking for the toilet and ended up upstairs in a private room which, he said, was full of cool people. Is that scientific research or what?

But here’s the thing. It’s said there are many secret tunnels and passages in Mayfair. It’s even reported one leads from Dukes Bar in the very posh Dukes Hotel to St. James Palace itself.

Cocktail with a royal, anyone?

🏆 Insider Tip:

Check out the picturesque Farm House across the street from the Punchbowl. Once the home of Viscountess Thelma Furness, it became a tryst spot for Edward VIII and the notorious Wallace Simpson.

It should be noted that the Vicountess had an affair with Edward first. How do you think that played out?

3) A Hidden Perfect Place for Lunch

Lunching is one of the top things to do in Mayfair, but where?

For a swanky meal try the café in Sotheby’s Auction House. That’s right. You may not think of an auction house as a place to eat, but I did and it was fabulous.

Go look at the Matisses and Chagalls or whatever else is being auctioned off at 34 Bond Street then nip into the ground floor cafe for some wild halibut and Pino Grigio.

(Reservations are recommended – and don’t get upset if there are no free art shows to look at when you’re there, it depends on their upcoming auction schedule).

Also, you’ll be happy to note that according to the Sotheby’s website you don’t need to wear a tux to lunch:

The Cafe, while situated on one of the most affluent shopping streets in London, imposes no formal dress code, creating an elegant and comfortable environment. Cloakroom facilities are secure and available throughout the day.

Good to know – because personally I hate insecure and unavailable cloakrooms.

🏆 Insider Tip:

Above the entrance at Sotheby’s is a black basalt statue of the Egyptian lioness-goddess, Sekhmet. Dating back to 1320 BC, it’s the oldest private sculpture displayed out in the open in London.

4) London Has An Eco Wall at the Athenaeum Hotel

Some of the best London hotels are in Mayfair – the Ritz, for example is world class.

I stayed at the 5-star Athenaeum Hotel on Piccadilly Street, and was intrigued by its ‘living wall’ that runs 10 stories high on the outside of the building.

“Why did they do that?” I asked the bellman.

“Because they could.”

“No, really why?”

“It continues the green of Green Park across the street.”

So wonderfully eco chic. Designed by artist/scientist Patrick Blanc the Living Wall at the Athenaeum is a massive vertical garden with more than 12,000 plants and vines, giving the phrase ‘urban jungle’ a whole new meaning.

5) The Curse of the Celebrity Flat

Sad, strange and surreal … not one but two famous musicians died in the same flat in Mayfair.

In 1974, Mama Cass was found dead in her bed at 18 Curzon Street, and in 1978, Keith Moon of the Who, died here, too.

The owner of the flat, convinced it was cursed, sold it to Peter Townshend.

Bonus Fact: Where Do celebrities Hang Out in Mayfair Now?

If you want to celebrity spot in Mayfair try the Italian restaurant C London, a local hotspot at 23-25 Davies Street. Simon Cowell has been known to hang out there.

Or, try to spot Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice at the steakhouse and seafood restaurant 34 Mayfair on Grosvenor Square (entrance on South Audley Street). If you don’t manage to see Kate Middleton or Joe Jonas, just settle in for some pricey Wagyu beef and pretend you’re rich and incognito.

Should You Visit Mayfair?

Why not? It’s not where I’d go to see blockbuster sights like St. Paul’s Cathedral or the Tower of London, but it’s a glimpse into an exclusive world you might not otherwise see.

And with these intriguing facts about Mayfair, you might see it even deeper.