The Arcade was constructed in 1879 and connects Old Bond Street with Albemarle Street in the heart of London’s most exclusive shopping district, Mayfair. It is the city’s oldest purpose-built shopping arcade.
Development of an arcade in the area was originally proposed in 1864 as a longer link between Old Bond Street and Regent Street, but was rejected due to the scale of proposed demolition and restriction of access to existing properties. A subsequent redesigned proposal was submitted to its current layout, with The Arcade as it appears today opening in 1879 and replacing the Clarendon Hotel, which had been demolished in 1870.
With its saddled glass roof, richly decorated stucco arches, curved glass window bays and elegant Ionic columns, it was the epitome of Victorian design. The arcade has changed little in the intervening 136 years and retains all its original features. As such, it is a rare opportunity to experience a genuine Victorian arcade is it was intended.
The arcade is hugely popular with shoppers throughout the year, but especially so at Christmas when its impressive architecture makes for a stunning setting for its Christmas decorations. With a new scheme installed for 2015, the arcade really is a magical place to visit, as shown in the gallery below:
No 1 & 2
Edward Goodyear (1905), Leatherluxe Ltd (1948), Lumat Establishment – Leonard & Yvonne Adams (1979), J R Hogg (1976), Dent & Co Ltd (1989)
No 3
Mary Scully (1949), The House Property and Investment Company Limited (1949), P. Wengraf and Butler & Brooke Ltd (1994)
No 4
Peter Boswell Arts Limited (1966), Walter S. and Henrietta G. Hakim (1982), Dent & Co (1987), Bellini (Roma) Clothing Limited (1994)
No 5
Teofani & Company Limited (1931), M Leavy (1950), Angela Hale (1996, 2001, 2006)
No 6
Mary Elizabeth Richards (1918), Popularis Schweiz Genossenschaft Fur Volkstourismus (1958), Populair (Travel Service) Limited (1967), Kent & Curwen Limited (1984)
No 7
W. H. Paul Limited (1950), The Arcade Gallery Limited (1965)
No 8 – 11
Aitchison and Company Limited (1927) / Dollond & Aitchison (1948), Daphne Rosemary Hilda Johnson (1951), J Zwirn & Company Limited (1994)
No 12
H W Brettell Ltd (1934)
No 15 & 16
P & M Arts Ltd (1988), Joanny Ltd (1939)
Edward Goodyear, another original Royal Warrant holder and still in business today, was forced to relocate after being bombed out during The Blitz in 1940.
Today, The Royal Arcade continues its long-established reputation for luxury retail, with the current tenants providing a mix of world renowned brands and
unique independent stores. The royal connection is also still in place, as Charbonnel Et Walker, located at Nos 1 & 2, hold the Royal Warrant as chocolatiers to Her Majesty The Queen.
Even if you have not yet visited the The Royal Arcade, you may already have seen it, as it has often been used as a location for TV and cinema.
In 2023, winner of the BBC’s Sound of 2022 poll, singer & songwriter PinkPantheress released a video for her song Mosquito which opens with a sequence filmed in the arcade.
Other appearances include Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2016), Balletboyz (2013) for Channel 4 and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008). Parts of Agatha Christie’s Poirot episode The Theft of the Royal Ruby were also filmed here.
