Insider’s guide: Mayfair’s most Instagrammable spots

Shepherd Market

This quaint 18^th century square lined with boutiques in original shop fronts genuinely feels like stepping back in time. Harking back to London of a different era, it’s the perfect spot to get a social media shot showcasing a different side of the city.

Burlington Arcade

This luxury covered shopping arcade was built in 1818, and still carries the charisma of its 19^th century origins. A former spot where artisans moved in to create and sell their wares, the charming shop fronts are now home to some of the most revered brands from across the globe. In particular, the glass topped roof casts light and shadows in an enchanting way that is perfect for original Instagram images. The beadles are also great to capture on camera. Beadles are tasked with patrolling the arcade, and dress in traditional frockcoats and top hats.

The Living Wall at The Athenaeum

Our vertical garden is a feat of gardening and engineering – creating an immense green wall in the heart of London. Spanning from ground level to the tenth floor of the hotel, The Living Wall was created in 2009 by Patrick Blanc, the award-winning artist and botanist. He spent years studying how plants grew on vertical rock faces without the need for soil, perfecting his technique until he could create our amazing wall. You can even experience the wall from indoors too, as The Bar at The Athenaeum has windows looking at the verdant wall from the inside out.

Fortnum & Mason

This high-end department store has been operating in London since the 1700s, making it one of London’s most Instagrammable spots. From traditional old features to creative displays of food and drink, Fortnum & Mason has an interior like nowhere else in London. Every visit unearths a new social media worthy spot to snap.

sketch

This Mayfair institution just off Regent Street is full of unexpected surprises when you stop in for a cup of tea or a drink. The Pink Parlour may sound garish, but it’s full of tongue-in-cheek art by David Shrigley, while the egg-shaped toilets are like something from the future…

K2 telephone boxes

Almost hidden away in the entrance to the Royal Academy of the Arts (RA) are a couple of original red phone boxes. One is actually the original red phone box, as it is the wooden prototype of the K2 telephone box that subsequently became the best known design of all of Britain’s red phone boxes. Nothing says ‘Instagram’ like an iconic piece of British design history! The RA courtyard always has something new going on in it too, providing yet more photo opportunities.