Author Eugenia Bell takes the reader to some of the most beautiful, evocative locations in London, all the while weaving the shops’ and restaurants’ histories with that of the city: 

“While Shepherd’s shops and houses were a popular destination for the servants of Mayfair’s grand homes, it always had something of the louche about it, and still does. The area was portrayed in Patrick Hamilton’s 1929 novel The Midnight Bell as a hive of prostitution…the tangly alleyways remain…and it is still worth a stroll through Shepherd Market for atmosphere and a pint at the Victorian Ye Grapes pub.”

Not only the romantic atmospheres of these living landmarks but the superlative quality of the goods and services they provide has allowed them to endure in a world capital of discriminating shoppers and diners. Whether offering embroidered velvet shoes, artisanal cheeses from the British countryside, or hand-knit sweaters, these venerable establishments continue to provide the best of what London has to offer.

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