That Mayfair is the top property on the Monopoly board is no idle boast. The name of the district comes from the annual fair that was held in the area each May until the 1760s when residents objected to the fair on the grounds that it lowered the reputation of the neighborhood. The area extends from Oxford Street in the north to Picadilly in the south and Hyde Park in the west to Regent Street in the east. The area encompasses stunning residential property and the most exclusive shops in London.

The whole area is owned by the Duke of Westminster who is Great Britain's richest man and a stroll around the impeccable streets will illustrate just why this is. Mayfair is also home to some of the world's grandest and most prestigious hotels including The Ritz, Brown's, The Dorchester, the Grosvenor House and the delightfully grand Claridge's - if you're unable to afford a stay in one of these opulent places, then at least experience afternoon tea in one - but do ensure you wear a jacket and tie.

The glorious Burlington Arcade which runs from Picadilly to Burlington Gardens was built in 1819 and is patrolled by top-hatted Beadles who enforce the rules of 'no singing, whistling or hurrying'! If you turn right at the Burlington Gardens end of the arcade, you will find Savile Row, world famous for its fine bespoke tailoring.

Turn left out of the arcade and you'll find Bond Street, the smartest shopping street in London with more 'By Royal Appointments' than any other! Here you will find the chicest clothes and the most expensive jewellery around with famous names like Aspreys, Tiffanys and Cartier wherever you look. Bond Street is also where some of London's most famous auction houses, such as Sotheby's, Christies and Phillips are located.

Mayfair is also home to the Museum of Mankind which houses exhibits from foreign lands and the Royal Academy where constantly rotating exhibitions can display anything from the Frenh Impressionists to Old Masters. Grosvenor Square is often nicknamed 'little America' on account of the US Embassy and statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt. A walk around the streets of Mayfair is a true delight - from Berkeley Square to Park Lane, there are endless sources of visual richness.

BRIAN TURNER MAYFAIR - Grosvenor Square (entrance in Adam's Row), Mayfair, London, W1
Tel: (0)20 7596 3444 - Cuisine: British

BENTLEY’S - 11-15 Swallow Street, London, W1 - Tel: (0)20 7734 4756 - Cuisine: Seafood

DORCHESTER GRILL ROOM - The Dorchester Hotel, 54 Park Lane, London, W1 - Tel: (0)20 7317 6525 - Cuisine: British

FAKHRELDINE - 85 Piccadilly, London, W1 - Tel: (0)20 7493 3424 - Cuisine: Lebanese 

LOCANDA LOCATELLI - 8 Seymour Street, London, W1 - Tel: (0)20 7935 9088 - Cuisine: Italian

NOBU - The Metropolitan Hotel, 19 Old Park Lane, London, W1 - Tel: (0)20 7447 4747 - Cuisine: Japanese/Modern