One of the best addresses in London

Mayfair, the most expensive property on the Monopoly board, takes its name from the annual May Fair, a 15 day celebration which was thought to have started in the days of Edward I to mark St James Day.

In 1603 it was postponed for a number of months because of the Plague which ravaged London. It became a highly popular gathering where toys and gingerbread were sold. Entertainment came in the form of theatre, puppet shows, jugglers, fencers and boxers. Other forms of amusement included swings and roundabouts, sausage stalls and gambling tables.

But it became an annual nuisance for residents in the area who complained about the ‘unsavoury and lewd’ happenings, so the May Fair was closed in 1708.

Shepherd Market, the site where the fair used to take place, was developed in the mid-1700s, resulting in the area’s paved alleys, a two-storey market, a theatre and a duck pond. Today the neighbourhood maintains its village feel and boasts an array of intimate little restaurants, art galleries, Victorian pubs and excellent art-house, the Curzon Cinema.

The area remains fashionable and is still one of the best addresses in London. It has a variety of architectural styles but retains the air of a well-bred Georgian neighbourhood.