Hot Destinations: Mayfair

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Whether you’re travelling in from the home counties for business, or simply planning a weekend in London, everyone knows that the place to do it in style is Mayfair. Exclusive, dripping with old money, and with a status firmly cemented by top dollar (or rather, pound) billing on the Monopoly board, Mayfair is a byword for wealthy London.

The area was named after the annual May Fair that used to take place on the site throughout the 18th Century, as London expanded its edges to provide housing for a growing bourgeoisie. This landlord class – still prominent in the district today – has, in the past, included such luminaries as the Duke of Westminster and the Rothschild family, who owned large swathes of Mayfair in the 19th Century.

Mayfair’s exclusive reputation has grown and grown. Many of the fantastic old Georgian mansions have been converted from private residencies into commercial ventures such as corporations, boutiques and luxury hotels. The US embassy also resides here, and in grand fashion too. The rents in Mayfair are renowned for being among the most expensive on earth.

Of course, the bells and whistles all chime and blow their fanfare around big name hotels like Claridge’s and the Dorchester. But if you are wanting to splash out on a weekend in the West End, there are plenty of other fine establishments to choose from.

If you’re coming for a few days, you can even save a few quid. The Millennium group is currently promoting their ‘Leisure for Longer’ deal, offering savings of up to 20% when you stay for 3 nights or longer. Find out more about selected exclusive Mayfair hotels at Millennium’s site (click the link for more info).








Among them, the Millennium Hotel London Mayfair is right up there with Claridge’s in terms of sheer class. Situated on Grosvenor Square, it’s a little subtler from the outside than its famous peers, retaining the elegant flavor of the private Georgian residence it once was. Still, the thrusting Doric columns that herald your entrance leave you in no doubt about the level of luxury you’re about to experience.

You might find yourself simply wanting to stay in and marvel at the rooms (all fabulous, with not a pillow case out of place). But if you do venture outside, you will discover the London that exists in many people’s fantasies. Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are close, as is Shaftesbury Ave and London’s theatreland. Shopping on Bond Street and Regent Street is among the best (and priciest) in the world, but just ambling around the neighbourhood is its own pleasure.



EssexTouristGuide.com

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