london
Opulent
Mayfair
An affluent central London neighbourhood with plenty of history
M Guy Bradshaw Managing Director UK Sotheby’s International Realty
Simon Walker Director of Sales Caudwell
Charlie Gibson Managing Director Oliver Bernard Private
ayfair has long been synonymous with exclusivity, and is defined by upmarket hotels, fine dining and luxury shopping. Charlie Gibson, Managing Director for Oliver Bernard Private sums up the area even better… “Sandwiched between a beautiful Royal Park, the hustle and bustle of Soho and the Kings Home at Buckingham Palace, with its terracotta streets, 5* hotels (7* soon to arrive in Grosvenor Square) and abundance of Michelin-starred restaurants and private members clubs, there is something for everyone.” Guy Bradshaw, managing director for UK Sotheby’s International Realty adds: “Mayfair has been one of the most robust postcodes in prime central London over the last decade. These new schemes attract ‘global citizens’ who are less bothered about short term ‘fluctuations’ or political uncertainty, as on a global scale the UK is still very attractive and of course, the weakening of the currency helps to sustain this. The epicentre of Mayfair is Mount Street, which seems to get ever more ‘high end’, and the streets surrounding it remain the most popular.” Charlie continues: “People imagine Mayfair as a microclimate for opulent freehold mansions with garden courtyards and connecting mews big enough to park a Rolls-Royce Phantom, replacing the traditional horse and cart of which they were originally purposed. This is still the case for a handful of houses predominantly located on either Hill Street, Charles Street or South Street, but generally speaking that’s sadly a thing of the past with a number of freeholds split up into flats to accommodate the growing need for housing, even in Mayfair.” “Historically, Mayfair would have been weighted in favour of large houses,” says Simon Walker, Director of Sales for Caudwell. “However, in more recent times there has been the introduction of a wide range of residences and predominantly larger apartments. Serviced apartment buildings in partnership with high-end brands and providers are also becoming increasingly prevalent.” Claire Reynolds, Head of Savills, Mayfair office weighs in on Mayfair’s property types: “Mayfair has it all when it comes to the types of property available - a real blend with varying architecture, from Georgian to brand new developments. You can find some of the best trophy townhouses in London on the likes of Charles Street, charming mews houses like those on Hays Mews, and lateral apartments in both period conversions and newer developments like Burlington Gate. “A trophy townhouse can offer up to 20,000 sq. ft. of space with garaging for multiple cars, a courtyard garden and terracing, indoor pool, lift and staff accommodation. The offering of branded residences such as Twenty Grosvenor Square - a Four Seasons serviced residence - are also on the rise
“Mayfair has been one of the most robust post codes in prime central London over the last decade”. here, where buyers at the top end of the market can enjoy the benefits of world class hotel services including 24-hour concierge and security, a pool, spa, gym, cinema and a private dining room. There’s something for everyone essentially, with large and smaller properties to suit your lifestyle and the amount of time you spend in your home. What they all have in common is that the properties here in Mayfair are of some of the highest calibre in the world.” In terms of prices, Charlie says “Entry level apartments in Mayfair are in and around Shepherd’s Market, a vibrant little square in the heart of Mayfair. You can pick up a one-bedroom unmodernised flat for around £700K. At the other end of the spectrum, houses go for up to £150 million. As a general rule for buying in Mayfair, if you can buy under £2000 per sq. ft.
24
London Mayfair.indd 1
03/01/2023 15:23