What is Bond Street?
Bond Street is a famous London street which hosts some of the most upscale shopping in London. This street is littered with boutiques offering a variety of very expensive and high quality goods, and many people view “Bond Street” as being synonymous with “luxury goods.” Visitors to London often make time to stop at Bond Street and admire the shops and surrounding area, and the area is quite fashionable with wealthy Londoners as well.
The street is named for Sir Thomas Bond, a wealthy Englishman who purchased property in the area in the late 1600s and started to develop it. By the early 1700s, Bond Street was already known for being London's premier shopping district, and this reputation has only increased through the centuries. Bond Street is found within the district of Mayfair, an section of London which is known for stratospheric real estate prices and very fashionable living.
Technically, there is no “Bond Street” in London. Bond Street is actually composed of two streets, Old Bond Street and New Bond Street, which run from Piccadilly to Oxford Street. However, many people use the term “Bond Street” to refer collectively to both streets, since one essentially turns into the other, so one could argue that they are essentially the same street. The Northern section of Bond Street is known as New Bond Street, and it is significantly longer than Old Bond Street.
In addition to being a powerhouse for couture garments and the fashion industry, Bond Street is also famous for its associations with fine art and antiques. Numerous art galleries and antique firms are headquartered on Bond Street, including the venerable Sotheby's auction house. Jewelers and other artisans also have shops on Bond Street, where it is possible to purchase custom work in addition to the objects on display.
Bond Street is extremely pedestrian friendly, as are the neighboring streets, many of which also offer shopping. For those who tire of Bond Street, the Mayfair district has a number of lovely parks, galleries, and shops beyond the confines of Bond Street, and a number of London Underground stations as well as buses offer access to points beyond.
Written by S.E. Smith
