Mayfair

Photo of a Cartier shopfront with a red K6 telephone box in the foreground. Photo of a Cartier shopfront with a red K6 telephone box in the foreground.
Photo by me, I am actually proud of this one!

Mayfair is the most expensive place on the UK Monopoly board, so we’ve all been conditioned to see it as the epitome of luxury.

I was expecting to be sniffy about the relentless vulgarity of the rich but I did actually like New Bond Street and the shopping arcades.

Still, I got caught in the rain and it was all a bit Rime of the Ancient Mariner - surrounded by shops selling umbrellas but doomed to be soaked thanks to my limited means.

Things to do

A picture of yellow flags flying at the front of the Royal Institution A picture of yellow flags flying at the front of the Royal Institution
Photo by me. I tried to be artistic, I failed.

Royal Institution

A charitable organisation that has been hosting scientific lectures for over 200 years, most famously the annual Christmas Lecture for families, broadcast on television.

There’s a museum in the basement dedicated to Michael Faraday. It is interesting but small - really something to do on the way to a talk.

www.rigb.org
The Collection Gallery at the Royal Academy of Arts, with the painting "Flaming June" in the background
Photo by me.

Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts is a charitable society and art school most famous for their annual Summer Exhibition, for which anyone can submit art to be displayed in their galleries.

As well as paid exhibitions there are often free collections on display towards the back of the building - it is a bit of a maze.

Free - Paid exhibitions

www.royalacademy.org.uk
A picture of the entrance to the Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House
Photo by me, rushing to shelter from the rain.

Society of Antiquaries

The Society of Antiquaries started life in 1707 as a gathering of men in a pub - something to try for yourself when you’re next at Wetherspoons.

Members of the society collect and study historical artefacts, their headquarters has a small collection of Tudor art displayed inside.

They have open days on Fridays and there’s a YouTube channel of past lectures.

www.sal.org.uk
A corner of a wood panelled room in Handel's House
Photo by me. The Handel side of the house.

Handel Hendrix House

The Georgian townhouse where famous composer Handel lived and the flat next door where Jimi Hendrix lived in the 1960s.

They both have their own incredible stories, vividly told by the volunteers in each room!

£14.00 - Children free

handelhendrix.org