Originally a Spanish ranch growing lima beans, these days Beverly Hills is completely surrounded by LA and West Hollywood. Back in 1914 investors hoped to find oil on the site. Finding water instead, they decided to develop a town there... and the rest is history. Oddly, it isn't at all hilly. It's mostly flat. And the weather is glorious, averaging 85 in summer and 72 in January. Perfect.
House of Bijan is the world's most expensive shop. You can't go in without a reservation.
Enjoy a film at the famous Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Or explore the finely-manicured gardens at Greystone Mansion, the backdrop of many a smash hit Hollywood movie. You can almost smell the wealth in Beverly Hills. So what's the best way to imbibe its extraordinary vibe?
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Indulge in world-class retail therapy on incredibly posh Rodeo Drive
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Make like a movie star and treat yourself to a luxurious, lavish spa treatment
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Take a walking tour of the city and absorb the extraordinary, wealth-laden atmosphere
Line up all three and you'll almost feel like a local, steeped in Beverly Hills' legendary luxury. This is the life!
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What are the most interesting offbeat things to do in this richer-than-Croesus city, where there's more cash per capita than anywhere in the USA?
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Explore the museum of television and radio, AKA The Paley Center For Media
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Head for Mulholland Drive to drink in simply spectacular views of the city and beyond
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Love art? Love the remarkable Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Fancy a typical Beverly Hills photo opportunity? How about getting your picture taken with a $1.7 million Bijan Bugatti once owned by Bijan Pakzad, creator of the most expensive designer fashion ever? You'll find it parked outside House of Bijan, a shop so expensive and exclusive that the crazy-rich spend an average of $10,000 every time they visit.
“When I ride through Beverly Hills in the early morning, and all the sprinklers have turned off, the scents that wash over me are just heavenly.” - Hugh Laurie
You can't leave this quirky place without visiting the infamously pink Beverly Hills Hotel, with its 12 secluded acres of inner-city tropical gardens. A host of world class celebrities have stayed here including Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich. And Liz Taylor's dad once opened an art gallery in the hotel – something only the super-rich could get away with. Take a Beverly Hills Trolley Tour – a tram tour to us Brits, and a seriously good deal as well as a great way to get familiar with the city's extraordinary buzz. Or take a city tour by segway, an absolute hoot of a mode of transport, as environmentally friendly as it is thrilling, complete with a friendly local guide.
If your pockets feeling nice and healthy, Glitterati Private Tours take you on a voyage of discovery courtesy of remarkably friendly guides who will tailor your tour to your exact tastes and desires. A tour with a difference. Virginia Robinson was genuine Beverly Hills royalty, and the gardens at her place are absolutely stunning. Virginia herself died in 1977 at the age of 100 but she leaves behind one of the most beautiful green spaces in the area, lusciously rich, colourful, verdant and - of course - impeccably maintained.