The Home of Luxury: 200 Years and Counting

Standing proudly in the heart of London’s Mayfair, Burlington Arcade is the home of superlatives. Not only does it enjoy status as Britain’s first department store, but it is also one of the longest covered arcades in the country – and just like its stunning architecture, Burlington’s reputation for luxury and service remains firmly intact more than two centuries since it first opened for business.

Lord George Cavendish, Earl of Burlington would be proud. The nobleman-turned-politician commissioned the construction of Burlington Arcade to create a luxurious haven where his wife could shop, away from the crowded streets of London. According to original records, it was designed “for the sale of jewellery and fancy articles of fashionable demand.” Unofficially, it also served as an effective, if extravagant, way of preventing neighbours from tossing the remnants of oysters – the fast-food of the day – into the gardens of the adjacent Burlington House, now the Royal Academy of Arts.
Upon opening, Burlington Arcade housed 51 independent boutiques, selling luxuries like hats, gloves and jewellery – it was notably the place to go for a bonnet, and undoubtedly the place to be seen.