Landmarks in Mayfair

The Mayfair-Marylebone district of London encompasses the central part of the city from Mayfair and Piccadilly in the south to Oxford Street in the north. One of the most prominent and luxurious areas of the City of Westminster and of London as a whole, it hosts a number of historical landmarks and attractions.

Buckingham Palace

The royal family lives at Buckingham Palace, located at the south end of Mayfair. Built in 1705 as a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham, George III acquired it in 1761 for his consort, Queen Charlotte. Expansions in the 19th century grew it to its current size, which is over 830,000 square feet. The upkeep of the palace costs £15 million a year, and it is open to the public 60 days of the year.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is a 350-acre park in the center of the city. It features a large number of historical landmarks including the Wellington Arch, which was built to commemorate Britain’s triumph over France in the Napoleonic Wars, Speaker’s Corner, where political advocates go to speak, a memorial to Princess Diana and a memorial for the victims of the 7/7/2005 bombing victims. In addition, it features a rose garden and the infamous Weeping Beech, also known as the “upside-down tree.”

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is a road junction connecting Piccadilly to Regent Street. It is called a circus because of its circular shape, derived from the Latin word for “circle.” Built in 1819, it is in close proximity to a major shopping district, the West End theater district and the London Underground.

The district is also the home of Savile Row, known for its multitude of fine men’s clothiers, Grosvenor Square, location of the American embassy, the London Zoo, the Royal Academy of Arts and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. With so much history and activity, there is no shortage of things to do in the Mayfair-Marylebone district.