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An insiders guide to Mayfair
By: There are many facets to Mayfair. For some its one of the worlds finest shopping destinations; while for others its home to some of Londons most luxurious real estate exclusive restaurants and clubs. But for those who live and work in Mayfair its residents and its office workers it is a fascinating village in the heart of Londons West End. Property Finding a home or corporate offices in Mayfair may conjure up images of sky high prices but the reality is that with the right team around you properties can be found that represent good value while retaining all of the characteristics of Mayfair life. Turning first to offices one way of establishing a foothold in Londons West End without enormous overheads is via the serviced office route. A number of serviced office providers offer ready to go office accommodation throughout Mayfairs most prestigious locations all in stunning converted period buildings that characterise the area. Conventional offices too are available throughout Mayfair from value through to luxury with local agents that are happy to guide you through the process. Similarly on the residential front most of Londons top house agents are represented in the area including Savills (tel: 020 74998644) and Knight Frank (tel: 020 7499 1012). Daytoday services and amenities Most newcomers to the area will already be familiar with many of Mayfairs Top 10 attractions from its world famous Bond Street shopping area to its gracious parks and squares. But if its daytoday services that youre after independent local shopping or just a quick get out of the office walk at lunchtime read on. Shopping For local shopping Mount Street South Audley Street Curzon Street and Shepherd Market are just a few of the places where you can buy essentials with specialist independent stores of special note including: James Knight of Mayfair is a top quality fish retailer located at Selfridges Food Hall 400 Oxford Street London W1 (tel: 020 7318 3725) while for fresh meat Allens Butchers at 117 Mount Street London W1 (tel: 020 7499 5831) is an attractive traditional butchers shop that has supplied Mayfairs top restaurants for over 175 years. The Mayfair Food Fayre at 25 North Audley Street London W1 (tel: 020 7493 9372) sells a wide range of groceries and convenience foods together with household cleaning products toiletries and confectionery with H R Higgins just around the corner at 79 Duke Street London W1 (tel: 020 7491 8819) specialising in a wide range of freshlyroasted coffees and fine teas. For luxury home goods Thomas Goode & Co 19 South Audley Street London W1 (tel: 020 7499 2823) is regarded as one of the worlds top stores for fine bone china crystal and linen while for daytoday needs the Pharmacy at Mayfair 6 Shepherd Market London W1 (tel: 020 7493 2309) is a mainstay. Services Five star service is what Mayfair is all about with a range of services thats almost limitless. For him Geo F Trumper at 9 Curzon Street London W1 (tel: 020 7499 1850) retains its mahoganypaneled private cubicles and provides a wide range of grooming services from haircutting and tinting to moustache and beard trimming shaving manicures facial cleansing and massage. For her hair and beauty salons are almost too numerous to mention but suffice to say that most of the capitals great hair and beauty salons are located in Mayfair. In addition to the celebrity salons including Nicky Clarke John Freida and Michaeljohn there are exciting new names cropping up the whole time such as Eleven at 11 Blenheim Street London W1 (020 7491 2390). The May Fair Spa in Stratton Street (tel: 020 7915 2826) is a stylish day spa with excellent facilities and a range of treatments with 7 treatment rooms a luxurious mud bath and steam chamber as well as a herbal steam room and a tranquil relaxation room. Gym and fitness centres too can be found all around Mayfair but one thats located at its heart in Berkeley Square is Fitness First at Berkeley Square House London W1 (tel: 020 7493 2311). For health matters visit the Berkeley Clinic at 30 Dover Street London W1 (tel: 020 7629 5710) a walkin medical centre in the heart of Mayfair with a Berkeley Dental Clinic due to open soon. Or if its alternative remedies youre after Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy & Clinic at 73 Duke Street London W1 (tel: 020 7629 3118) provides homeopathic remedies and advice through its team of registered therapists. Eating and drinking You could eat and drink forever in Mayfair. But forget for a moment the Michelinstarred restaurants (of which there are more than a dozen in Mayfair) and take a stroll through Shepherd Market instead. Shepherd Market is a small square and a maze of lanes built in the mid 1700s tucked in between Piccadilly and Curzon Street. Bustling lively and sometimes scandalous throughout its 250year history Shepherd Market today is renowned for its intimate restaurants and pubs. Going out Of course the whole of Londons West End theatreland is on your doorstep in Mayfair. But in addition to Londons live shows and West End cinemas a more local venue is the Curzon Mayfair Cinema at 38 Curzon St London W1. Box Office: 0871 7033 989. Clubs meanwhile come in all shapes and sizes from the oldfashioned gentlemans club to exclusive casinos and exotic nightclubs from Annabels private dining and nightclub in Berkeley Square to Aspinalls casino club in Curzon Street and the fashionable Funky Buddha nightclub around the corner in Berkeley Street. Escape Mayfairs stunning squares and parks including Green Park and Berkeley Square are wellknown. But to experience the real Mayfair and get away from it all a walk through Mount Street Gardens is a must. Accessible from South Audley Street running behind the Mount Street itself the gardens were laid out in 1889 on the site of the former burial ground of the parish of St Georges Hanover Square and are a small haven of peace and tranquility from another era. In conclusion the allure of Mayfair has probably never been stronger in all its 250 years as one of the worlds most fashionable locations. There are hosts of websites all offering advice and information about Mayfair with some of the more helpful ones including: www.mayfairtimes.co.uk www.mayfairlondon.co.uk www.aboutmayfair.co.uk www.londontown.com www.touruk.co.uk www.viewlondon.co.uk Emily Taylor is the marketing director for the Executive Offices group; providers of prestigious UK |