Private Tour
Mayfair, London's famous aristocratic village - Exclusive, Private Walking Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Just 300 years ago, the Mayfair and Berkeley Square area was no more than a muddy field. This walk charts its progress from a playground for the aristocracy in the 1700s to today's 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 and be amazed at the beautiful glass and china on display in Mayfair's shop windows! We visit London's most sophisticated department store to hear how they invented the hamper, why Michelle Obama was responsible for clearing its shelves and the inside story of Royal Warrants. Discover how Mayfair used to be one of London's most notorious red light districts and find out its sordid secrets. 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
Additional Info
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 at 10.00 a.m. under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly.
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 100 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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
A fun & experienced professional local guide, accredited by the ITG & University of Westminster.
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Transportation to/from the start and end points of the walk
What To Expect
Fortnum & Mason
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!
Royal Academy of Arts
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.
Options
Mayfair, London's famous aristocratic village - Exclusive, Private Walking Tour
Reviews
10 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Tour you definitely don’t want to miss!!
susangG1017ON,
May 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy 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.
Outstanding!
Trip59999506379,
Dec 16, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy 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.
An unforgettable tour in Mayfair!
S967BDthomas,
Dec 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We 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!
Unseen areas of Mayfair
kevinwC2108UF,
Oct 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very 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.
Mayfair walking tour 25/9/23
Sibarjo,
Sep 29, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The 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.
Excellent tour
Road60396773721,
Sep 25, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00If 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.
Wonderful and uplifting!
johngG8682OT,
Aug 17, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful 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.
Delightful tour of Mayfair with Sandy
Estie H,
Jul 11, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy 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!
Fantastic tour
821EmmaO,
Nov 7, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy is an excellent guide. My husband & our boys thoroughly enjoyed their tour of Mayfair. They haven't stopped talking about the tour since! Sandy personalised the tour to suit our boys - 13 & 9. A highlight for them were the Bentley & Ferrari car garages on Berkley Square. Sandy arranged for them to actually go inside. My husband found some of the quirky facts about the buildings fascinating. We will definitely book up another tour very soon.
Sandy The Mayfair Expert
U7171STsimonb,
Oct 23, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sandy is absolutely first class! We did a team tour and even though we are Mayfair based we have lots to learn and that we did on this tour. Insightful, fun and engaging, Sandy really does do a great job. Highly recommended.
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