As London’s most luxurious and affluent neighbourhood, where a one-bedroom studio is likely to set you back more than £1 million, Mayfair justifies its position as the most expensive square on the Monopoly board. Located just to the east of Hyde Park, and centred around the prestigious Grosvenor Square, the area’s historic, leafy streets are lined with some of the finest Georgian and Victorian architecture one is likely to find in the city, though most of the buildings are left empty by foreign owners. Numerous 5-star hotels, such as Claridge’s, Brown’s, and the May Fair, occupy many of the area’s buildings too. Lavish, serviced apartment blocks are home to overseas investors and wealthy city-workers, and with numerous corporate offices situated nearby, by day the area is populated with young professionals. These individuals also take advantage of the extensive local nightlife, which has been allowed to thrive in part because of the lack of permanent residents. Bond Street and Oxford Circus stations mean that transport links are fantastic, and ensure a steady flow of visitors to this prestigious part of town.

Much of the previously rural land was passed onto Sir Thomas Grosvenor in 1677 following his marriage to Mary Davies. The area became known for its two-week-long May fair (hence its name), which drew crowds of ‘loose, idle and disorderly crowds’. The neighbourhood was built up with fashionable, high-class residences and shops, as well as Grosvenor and Berkeley squares. This encouraged the well-to-do residents to exile the rowdy fair to Bow in 1764. The US Embassy was established in Grosvenor Square by John Adams in 1786, and it remained near to the square until 2017. When Hugh Grosvenor died in 1899, all developments were stopped and by the time of the First World War, many of the upper class were moving out due to the shortage of servants. Many of the buildings were converted into offices to be used by spies. Now those office leases have expired, newly wealthy individuals are moving back into the area in swathes, making it once again the most desirable address in London.

The iconic Claridge’s hotel is the place to stay of choice for many of the rich and famous. The luxury suites have been occupied by such esteemed clients as Audrey Hepburn, Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Sinatra, and Brad Pitt, as well as the politicians Nikita Khrushchev, Richard Nixon, and Benito Mussolini. Royalty from almost every country in the world have also briefly called the hotel home, as well as many others.

Music fans will be interested to know that the only flat that The Beatles all shared was also located in the neighbourhood at 57 Green Street.

Those who visit Mayfair in the day are often surprised by how lifeless the neighbourhood is, with few of the houses actually in occupation and everyone else in work. Many of the facilities the area has to offer are also catered to the very wealthy, meaning that, unsurprisingly, the locality is difficult to be enjoyed unless one has lots of money.

Mayfair’s reputation means that more and more wealthy individuals from around the world are looking to relocate to the area. Clivedale Londonare developing a number of luxury properties in the neighbourhood to accommodate them, such as Mayfair Park, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, and 73, 75 and 77 Brook Street. Many of these developments will include services such as spas, rooftop bars, pools, valet parking, and 24/7 concierge services.