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LIVING IN MAYFAIR
Why Live In Mayfair
Mayfair is an exclusive residential area that offers the best of central London living. It has some of the finest properties, shops, restaurants, bars, clubs and hotels in London. And is a short walk from Mayfair to parks, theatres, cinemas and vibrant nightspots.
Mayfair is the home of ...
History of Mayfair
Urbanisation Mayfair takes its name from the May Fair, which was held in an area now known as Shepherd Market until 1709. The land on which the Grosvenor Estate of Mayfair now stands came in to the hands of the Grosvenor family in 1677 as the dowry of Mary Davies when she married Sir Thomas Grosvenor. Development of this land began in the 1720s and the Grosvenor Estate now occupies North Mayfair, while southern Mayfair, including Berkeley Square, is known as the Berkeley Estate.
Home to Prime Ministers
Mayfair has housed numerous British Prime Ministers from the 18th Century to the 21st century, including: Benjamin Disraeli, who lived in Curzon Street; Sir Robert Peel, twice prime minister and as home secretary responsible for the creation of the Metropolitan Police Force; William Pitt the Younger, Britain’s great war leader and the man who created income tax; Winston Churchill, who lived in various Mayfair properties and sheltered in the disused underground station in Down Street during the war.
Residential Heritage
Before the Second World War, it was London’s premier residential address. During the War, heavy bombing in the City forced a large number of businesses to relocate to Mayfair. From the mid 1990’s these buildings started to revert back to residential use and once again Mayfair is London’s most exclusive address. The most famous Mayfair resident is the Queen, who was born in Bruton Street and lived in Mayfair as an infant. Many French aristocrats in exile from the French Revolution also resided in the area.
Mayfair Ties to the USA
America has always had very close links with Mayfair since John Adams, the first American emissary to Britain and later America’s second president, lived at 9 Grosvenor Square (now the office of Tony Blair).
Four other US Ambassadors who were resident in Grosvenor Square, went on to become President and General Dwight D Eisenhower commanded the allied expeditionary force from his base in Grosvenor Square. The US Embassy was based here until 2017, when it moved to its new location in Battersea. The old US Embassy plot is now being covnerted into a 5-star hotel.
Places of Interest in Mayfair
Mayfair Local Authority
Getting to Mayfair
Marylebone Local Authority
Getting to Marylebone
Trains: Marylebone Station (to destinations including Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon and Birmingham)
Underground: Baker Street (Bakerloo, Jubilee, Hammersmith, District and Circle lines)
Marble Arch/Bond Street (Central line).