St James' & Mayfair Tour: Discover London's Royal and Aristocratic Neighborhoods
5.0
4 Ratings
Greater London
Explore the royal and aristocratic neighborhoods of St James' and Mayfair in London. Discover the majestic palace, gentlemen's clubs, elegant outfitters, and beautiful parks of St James'. Then, wander through the luxurious houses, beautiful gardens, and exclusive shops of aristocratic Mayfair.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Fortnum & Mason - One of London’s most sophisticated department stores, it’s hard to believe it started life as a market stall! We will wander around the ground floor so I can point out what the store invented 300 years ago which is still in demand today and explain what intriguing structures are on its roof. I guarantee you will want to return at a later date for a more leisurely browse of the entire store to do some serious shopping!
What's Included
  • Accredited, local guide with fun & experience
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Food sampling
  • Gratuities - optional
  • Transportation to/from the start and end points of the walk
Additional Information

Experience a captivating journey through two of London’s most beloved districts, St James’ and Mayfair, with a tour that spans 3.5 to 4 hours. St James’ is known for its royal roots, while Mayfair is famed for its aristocratic heritage - and you’ll be tracing the steps of both! The highlight of St James’ is the grand palace erected by Henry VIII. As you stroll its surrounding streets under the imposing gatehouse, you’ll notice the clubs for gentlemen, the stylish outfitters that have catered to royals and gentlemen for ages, and the attractive parks. With Buckingham Palace just around the bend, this is indeed the epitome of Royal London!
Venture slightly further north, and the tour transports you through the opulent homes, stunning gardens, and exclusive boutiques of regal Mayfair. We tread past shops flaunting stunning collections of china, glass, and silverware before reaching Shepherd Market, the longstanding hub of Mayfair’s active sex industry.

  • When your booking is confirmed, you will receive contact details for me (Sandy) your guide for this tour. My aim is to give you the best experience you could possibly have so if you have any special requests, be sure to tell me what they are! If you need to go at a slower pace, or stop for a break midway through the tour, that will be fine with me.
  • The tour will last between 3.5-4 hours depending on what walking pace you set and the number of questions you ask.
  • The tour will cover roughly 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 and, if needs be, bring waterproofs and an umbrella.
  • Due to the distances involved, and the speed with which we need to travel between events, this tour is not recommended for those with serious medical conditions including walking difficulties and back problems.
  • Tours start at 9.45 under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly.
  • If you need directions from your hotel to the Ritz Hotel, do contact me on [email protected].
  • Unlike some other guides, I specialise in just five areas of London, St James’ and Mayfair being two of them. This means I have detailed knowledge of the areas 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 before a tour so if you have not heard from me one week before the tour is due to go ahead, please make contact with me.
  • I only accept bookings directly from customers. Any bookings made by a travel agent on behalf of a customer will be cancelled.
Location
The Ritz London
Piccadilly
We meet under the Colonnade of the Ritz Hotel at 9.45 a.m.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
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Daniel_g
Sep 19, 2023
Will - Will was fantastic. Very generous. Sharing is passion for history. Always smiling. Giving tips about restaurants.
Review provided by Viator
Dionr733
May 28, 2023
Great personal tour guide. - Wonderful morning walking tour. Very informative and interesting. Great personal tour guide well studied on the areas history and stories.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mike
Sep 4, 2022
Wonderful Tour of London’s Aristocratic Neighborhoods - We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of St. James’ and Mayfair with Sandy. We covered a lot of ground during the tour and learned a lot about the history of the neighborhoods and the architectural significance of the aristocratic homes we passed. We also made several fun stops to learn about the various stores and the development of commerce in the neighborhood. We highly recommend Sandy’s tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Uminabeachgal
May 17, 2022
Sensational - An amazing stroll through Mayfair and St James. Sandy my guide is charm personified and her knowledge was extensive, informative and delivered in an easy friendly manner. If like me you are interested in an extensive and detailed history of the two areas then this is the tour for you. I discovered the history of so many shops and how many of them started at Market stalls. The stroll through Fortnum and Masons was informative and discovered just what an innovative store it is. Most notably the many beehives scattered throughout London rooftops and the frenzy of purchasing when released for sale in late summer. I'm particularly interested in the Regency's period and Sandy went out of her way to take me to particular areas of interest. I can not recommend this tour more highly. Next year when I return to London off to Hampton Court I will go with Sandy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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April 2024
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