Shepherd Market

Shepherd Market is a small precinct in Mayfair, in the West End of London. It sits between Piccadilly and Curzon Street, occupying two squares lined with businesses. The area has a village-like atmosphere, with narrow alleys and a relaxed pace. It was built between 1735 and 1746 by Edward Shepherd on land once used for the annual May fair. The Tyburn stream once flowed through this open ground called Brook Field. Shepherd, a local architect, designed the site with paved alleys, a duck pond, and a two-storey market topped by a theatre. The market has long been a place where writers and artists gathered. In the 1920s, figures like Anthony Powell and Michael Arlen lived or spent time here. Arlen rented rooms opposite The Grapes public house and used the area as the setting for his novel *The Green Hat*. The market also gained a reputation for upmarket prostitution, which lasted until at least the 1980s. In the 1980s, Jeffrey Archer met the prostitute Monica Coghlan here while he was deputy Conservative Party chairman. Visitors today find a quiet corner of Mayfair with a mix of old charm and modern life. The Curzon Mayfair Cinema stands at the eastern end, marking the transition to residential streets like Market Mews. Hertford Street crosses at right angles, adding to the area’s character. The market retains its village-like feel despite its central London location. A new walkway to Mayfair opened in 2025, restoring a link lost for centuries. The area’s history is visible in its architecture and the stories tied to its past.