OUGD504 - Design for Print - Bond Street Research

London’s acclaimed Bond Street is revered throughout the world for its wealth of elegant stores, exclusive brands, designer fashion, luxury goods, fine jewels, art and antiques. Set in the heart of Mayfair, in London’s popular West End, Bond Street has become a haven for gracious living.

Since its foundation in 1700, Bond Street has been the playground of society’s wealthiest most stylish and influential people. Today, over 300 years on, Bond Street remains a much-loved destination for celebrities, socialites and the international jet set. The southern section is Old Bond Street and the longer northern section, developed nearly 14 years after original works began, is New Bond Street.

The street was named after Sir Thomas Bond, the head of a syndicate of developers who purchased a Piccadilly town mansion called Clarendon House, who proceeded to demolish the house and develop what would come to be one of the most expensive retail street in Europe. Built up in the 1720s, by the end of the 18th century the street was a popular place for the upper-class bourgeoisie living around Mayfair to socialise. It was during the 19th century that Bond Street became less known for its social atmosphere and more for its increased reputation as a street for luxury shopping.

Piccadilly Town Mansion Clarendon House.

The street has maintained its reputation for luxury shopping into the 21st century, and has on occasion been regarded as the best retail location in Europe. Westminster City Council have said that Bond Street has the highest density of haute couture stores anywhere in the world, attracting “the rich, the famous, and the simply curious.”

Home to some of the world’s most prestigious retailers including Asprey, Bulgari, Burberry, Chanel, Cartier, Dolce Gabbana, Hermès, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry, Ralph Lauren and Tiffany Co. Bond Street offers an unrivalled mix of history, traditional elegance and modern luxury. Bond Street and its surrounding area boasts an impressive number of Royal Warranties and is home to some of the world’s most individual and unique establishments, such as the world famous auction house, Sotheby’s.

The entire street is around 0.5 miles (0.8 km) long. Many of the shop frontages are less than 20 feet (6 m) wide. The nearest tube stations are Green Park in Piccadilly, and Bond Street station in Oxford Street.