A cultural celebration in Mayfair

Mayfair’s Mount Street is fast becoming one of London’s most interesting enclaves: a neighbourhood of fine red-brick architecture with a village feel where luxury fashion mixes with art and culture. Here, you can shop for Lanvin or Louboutin, dine at Scotts or the formidable Mount St. Restaurant, peruse art galleries and unearth the unique, eccentric and artisanal: from Sautter Cigars, known as one of London's finest cigar emporiums, to gun and outdoor apparel maker James Purdey & Sons, and Mount Street Printers, the beloved family-run stationer and printmaker. It is also home to the five-star Connaught Hotel and has its own flower-filled garden oasis.

This June, the neighbourhood is hosting the second edition of Mount Street Neighbourhood Festival (running from the 4th to 20th June). The literary and cultural gathering coinciding with London Gallery Weekend (a free city-wide event from 5th to 7th June), offers a two-week programme spanning art, publishing, fashion and food. Most of the action happens at a new central hub on 62 South Audley Street. Elsewhere, restaurants and boutiques will summon the festival spirit with summer menus, outdoor carts serving treats and alfresco experiences.

Thames & Hudson Pop-up Bookshop & Talk Series 

4th to 20th June; 10am-6pm (Closed Sundays)
Shop for new releases, rare editions and limited-runs spanning art, photography, fashion and design, and take a seat for a series of talks, signings and workshops. On 9th June, Lachlan Goudie, author of The Secrets of Painting joins Alexandra Loske, the British-German art historian, writer and museum curator behind the book The Artist’s Palette to explore how paintings have been made throughout history in a special “In Conversation” event. The focus switches to fashion as writer and curator Susanna Brown hosts a discussion on photographer George Hoyningen-Huene on 11th June; and writer and critic Alexander Fury lends his expertise to a discussion about Vivienne Westwood, one of the most influential UK designers of all time, on Friday 12th June. Feminism takes centre stage when Fiona Rogers, author of Cut Out, joins V&A curator Catherine Troiano to explore the relationship between photography and feminist collage on 17th June. The clock winds back 3,000 years with David Miles, author of The Land of the White Horse: Visions of England as he muses on the subject of the White Horse of Uffington, the oldest chalk hill figure in Europe, on 18th June. Plus, there are more hands-on events on 6th June including a “kid’s artist’s” workshop and a foiling workshop. 

Kathryn Maple In Residence

The English painter takes-up residence at the hub from 5th to 13th June, where she will continue to work on a group of recent and incomplete collages that reflect chance encounters and observations made in London’s green spaces. Those who want to get involved can join her on the 6th June in Mount Street Gardens, where she will lead a public sketching workshop. Maple is also hosting collage workshops inviting guests to engage with her practice first-hand.

Le Monde Béryl Pop-up Store

Founded by Katya Shyfrin and Lily Atherton Hanbury, the artisanal Italian shoe house is celebrating its ten-year anniversary. During the festival, it will pay tribute to its Venetian roots and showcase new exclusive styles, available to purchase at the hub from 4th to 13th June.

By Walid In Residence 

From 15th to 20th June, the British Iraqi designer Walid al Damirji of By Walid returns to the festival for a residency presenting a collection of homeware, sculpture and clothing made entirely from salvaged materials. The trove includes furniture upholstered in rescued 17th-century Flemish tapestry, wall panels crafted from 19th-century opera gloves, and one-of-a-kind coats made with antique Chinese and Italian embroidery.