Mayfair, London's famous aristocratic village - Exclusive, Private Walking Tour
Description
The Mayfair of today is a comfortable mix of luxurious mansions, exclusive shops, enchanting parks and squares. There are hidden gems everywhere, and as we pass houses once occupied by Royalty and the aristocracy, you can marvel at the architecture. We visit London's most sophisticated department store to hear its history. We see some of the capital's oldest shopping arcades built a couple of centuries ago to provide the aristocratic ladies with shopping options away from the prying eyes of the hoi polloi! We stroll through beautiful squares and gardens. We discover how Mayfair used to be one of London's most notorious red light districts and get up to date with a bit of current day gossip about London's clubland! This tour tells tales of Mayfair's highs and lows, of the characters who called it home and of the odd celebrity with a connection to this fascinating area. 100% of my TripAdvisor are graded Excellent; why don't you book a Hobnob tour to find out why?
Tour Options
Itinerary
It's hard to believe looking at this sophisticated store that Fortnum and Mason's started life as a market stall! William Fortnum worked as a Footman for Queen Anne of 'Favourite' fame and took the half used Royal candles to sell on his house mates market stall and there began the entrepreneurial business - we'll do a quick turn around the ground floor of this magnificent store which will leave you wanting to return for certain!
If the original owners of this property, the Earls of Burlington, could see their home today, they wouldn't recognise it! Since it was built in the 1660s, at least 9 architects have worked on it to make it the glamorous home of the Royal Academy. Its transformation from private home to world famous art treasure is fascinating to hear.
This arcade has just celebrated its 200 year anniversary - it was originally built by George Cavendish, one of the Earls of Burlington, so that his wife and her aristocratic friends would have somewhere to shop without being pestered by beggars! It also stopped all and sundry from tossing rubbish over his garden wall because, of course, he lived in Burlington House next door! A pleasant 10 minute stroll along the arcade gives you a chance to see the arcade's guardians, the Beadles, in action and enjoy a spot of window shopping as well.
The only road joining Piccadilly and Oxford Street, it is one of the most expensive strips of real estate in the world. As you walk the pavements, the shops certainly read like a who's who of retail! As you absorb the well known names and marvel at the window displays, we'll saunter along Old Bond Street and a part of New Bond Street for about 10 minutes before turning off to see the home of Norman Hartnell, one of fashion's most famous designers from the 1950s and 60s.
Although the building no longer stands, we can see the site where the late Queen Elizabeth II was born and let our imaginations do the rest!.
Most famous for its nightingale singing which is stuff of legend, this is a square full of historical interest. From the centuries old plane trees to the grade I listed buildings around its edges, this is one of the most beautiful squares in London - and who would have thought a river runs through it too. All will be revealed as we wander between the ancient trees.
The centrepiece of Richard Grosvenor's development in the 1730's, the square is still magnificent today. The buildings might have changed but the square's beauty is unsurpassed and the stories of its history just as fascinating as ever!
A tranquil oasis in the heart of a City that never stops. Its past is not quite so calm as today though - come on the tour and in the 10 minutes we'll stay in the gardens, you will find out what lies beneath your feet and what gruesome building used to grace the side of the gardens.
Set up in James II's reign, the market he established gave Mayfair its name. For centuries, Shepherd Market was Mayfair's much visited red light district (what else was there for the aristocracy to do!). During our 10 minute stop here you will find out its fascinating history and which MP lost his reputation here!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- When your booking is confirmed, you will receive contact details for me (Sandy), your guide on this tour. My aim is to give you, my client, the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to let me know what they are!
- Your comfort is my priority - if you need to stop for a coffee or a comfort break just let me know.
- The tour will last up to 3 hours.
- The tour will cover about 2 - 3 miles in total.
- The tour will go ahead come rain or shine so please don't be put off by the weather. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing. If needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella!
- The tour is an outside walking tour but does include an internal stop at one of Mayfair's most unique department stores.
- I will meet you outside Le Deli Robuchon on the corner of Piccadilly and Bolton Street, time to be agreed.
- Unlike some other guides, I specialise in just five areas of London, Mayfair being one of them. This means that I have detailed knowledge of the area which I pass on to my clients in a fun and interesting way.
- 100% of my Trip Advisor/Viator reviews are graded 'excellent' and as I now have over 175+ reviews in total, I must be doing something right!
- I prefer to guide small groups of up to five family or friends so everyone can hear what I am saying above the usual street noises of a busy city. Also, everyone can ask as many questions as they like.
- I ALWAYS contact my clients in advance of a tour so if you have not heard from me one week before your tour date, please contact me.
- I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.
Reviews(12)
Sandy gave a fascinating insight into Mayfair, from its development in the 18th C to the present day following a route through grand squares and little known back streets. She had plenty of anecdotes about the past residents and visitors over the centuries to make a very interesting and informative tour.
Hi Peter, thank you for a lovely review. As you say, Mayfair has a lot to offer: glitzy department stores, Victorian shopping arcades, beautiful gardens and squares and seedy stories about the red light district of old. There's something for everyone! Hopefully, our paths might cross again in the future! All the best. Sandy
Sandy Rhodes is a superb tour guide. Knowledgable, personable and well organized. On the Mayfair tour her emphasis is on the history of the development of the neighborhood and the unique commercial establishments there. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour.
Hi Andy, it was a pleasure guiding for you and Mary and I'm delighted you enjoyed the experience. Thank you for a lovely review. Sandy
Sandy Rhode's walking tour of Mayfair was excellent! It was informative, fascinating and fun! I would highly recommend any of her tours! I look forward to booking more of her tours when I return to London.
Hi Susan, it is so kind of you to leave such a wonderful review, thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Mayfair with you. What I like about it is the variety, from the history of how the area started back in the 1660s right up to the modern day gossip, there are plenty of stories to tell. I would love to guide for you again - perhaps St James' next time so we can talk about the Royals as opposed to the aristocracy who dominate in Mayfair. All the best. Sandy
Sandy is simply phenomenal. We were dragging after a long flight and no rest. Yet, she kept us breathlessly engaged and enthusiastically moving. We learned historical facts, both bringing to life what we learned in school (or were supposed to have) and expanding our knowledge of all those juicy historical facts that one would never get in a formal setting. Outstanding! We must return to London simply to experience all of her tours and of course to spend more quality time with our new friend.
Hi Cooper, thank you for a lovely review. It was fun exploring St James’ and some of Mayfair with you guys and I think you're all amazing to have kept awake after a long flight where not much sleep was had! I loved arriving in Mayfair as darkness fell because the Christmas lights were so spectacular. Do enjoy the rest of your London stay and I hope Paris matches up. All the best. Sandy
We were lucky enough to take a private tour with Sandy in Mayfair, and we can only highly recommend it to anyone who wants to experience London in an authentic and profound way! Sandy was just great: kind, friendly and always available to answer all our questions with a smile. His preparation is extraordinary – he knows every corner, history and curiosity of the neighborhood, and has been able to make every stage of the tour interesting and engaging. Not only did he let us discover the hidden sides of Mayfair, but he also told us anecdotes and stories that you won't find in any tour guide. Thanks to his enthusiasm and sympathy, the tour flew, leaving us with the feeling that we really knew the heart of London. If you are in London, a tour with Sandy is essential to experience the city to the fullest! Do not stop at the surface, book the tour and let yourself be guided: it will be a unique and memorable experience!
Hi Thomas, thank you for a wonderful review and I am so pleased that you and Bere enjoyed the tour so much. For the benefit of those who do not speak Italian, I give below a translation of what Thomas said in his review. ‘We were lucky enough to have a private tour of Mayfair with Sandy and we cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone who wants to experience London in an authentic and profound way. Sandy was simply fantastic: kind, friendly and always available to answer all our questions with a smile. Her preparation is extraordinary - she knows every corner, history and curiosity of the neighbourhood and was able to make each stop of the tour interesting and engaging. Not only did she make us discover the most hidden sides of Mayfair but she also told us anecdotes and stories you won’t find in any tourist guide. Thanks to her enthusiasm and friendliness, the tour flew by leaving us with the feeling of having truly known the heart of London. If you are in London, a tour with Sandy is essential to experience the city to the fullest. Don’t stop at the surface; book the tour and let yourself be guided: it will be a unique and memorable experience.’
Very knowledgeable and pleasant guide who gave a well informed tour of Mayfair, including some areas we’d not seen before, even having stayed here on several occasions.
Hi Kevin, thank you for a lovely review. I'm delighted that we managed to explore a few hidden areas of Mayfair that you had not seen before. Do look me up the next time you visit London. All the best. Sandy
The tour was excellent. Our guide, Sandy, was well prepared, well informed and very up to date with what was happening around us. She was interesting and engaging and alert to the small group that we were with to get the pace and interests just right. We would thoroughly recommend.
Thank you so much for a lovely review. Mayfair has a fascinating history anyway and add to the mix current day Mayfair gossip and it really comes to life! Thanks again. Sandy
If you do one thing on a visit to London I suggest that you book one of Sandy’s tours. We did the Mayfair tour and her enthusiasm and knowledge was apparent from the start. The 2 ½ hours flew past whist we leaned facts old and new - from the building of Burlington House in a muddy field over 300 years ago to the pub once owned by Madonna. Yes, it might be a little cheaper to book a large tour with 20 or 30 others but if you want a real insight to what lies under the surface of this fascinating area then I would recommend this private tour.
Hi there, I'm not sure which one of the group I guided for yesterday morning has left this lovely review but thank you so much! I like to build a rapport with the people I take on a tour and having groups of 6 including me really works so well. Mayfair is a fabulous area to explore. As you say, there is so much variety: one minute we're talking about the shopping arcades built for the aristocratic ladies and their friends and the next, about the plane trees making up over 50% of the trees in London! There can't be many better ways to spend a morning! Thanks again. Sandy
Wonderful revelations! Bowled over by Sandy’s description of surroundings I’d worked in all my life and not noticed or enquired about. Routine and business as usual sometimes needs a step outside the box to appreciate values and the society in which we live and Sandy achieved this. She is exceptionally interesting and knowledgable on so many aspects we’ve not been able to stop telling our friends about. My wife and I would like to do more of her tours.
Hi John and Elizabeth, thank you for your kind words. It was a pleasure taking two such knowledgeable and interested people around Mayfair. We certainly covered a lot of ground during our two and a half hours together! You expressed an interest in Hampton Court Palace so perhaps I might see you again for that tour when you next find yourselves in London. With best wishes, Sandy
Sandy was just wonderful. Our party of 3 learned so much about the neighborhood where we were staying. We loved the way that she mingled history with shopping and international relations. We would recommend Sandy’s tours very highly and strongly encourage anyone who is interested in one of her tours to book with her. We wished we had done the tour earlier in our visit to London so we could have taken advantage of more of her suggestions for eating and shopping! Highly recommend!
Hi Estie, thank you for a lovely review. It was a pleasure to guide for you, Rhett and Pam and so pleased you enjoyed the variety of the tour. I hope to see you again the next time you visit London. Sandy
