The St. James’s Hotel and Club offers some of the most exclusive London hotels, with premium service, and plenty of London style.
I’ve stayed in a lot of London hotels, so being surprised isn’t something that happens to me often, but The St. James’s Hotel and Club kept surprising me throughout my stay, and has quickly become a London favourite. This quintessentially British hotel is all about grown-up Mayfair glamour, exceptional service, and warmth.
Located in a quiet cul de sac in Mayfair, Buckingham Palace is a stone’s throw away, as are stunning parks including Green and Hyde Park, as well as some of London’s most exclusive shopping and dining. Jermyn street is across the road. I loved strolling to Victoria Beckham amongst other high end boutiques to window shop, which are all very close to the hotel.
Years ago it was a club for diplomats, when it was based in Piccadilly, and opened in 1859.It closed in the 1970s and re-oepend as a hotel and club for high profile people, and then moved into the gorgeous hotel it is today with 60 rooms and 10 suites.
The first surprise at The St. James’s Hotel and Club was my room, a newly revamped expansive deluxe suite, located on the top floor. It was huge, with fresh, sublime lime green furnishings, and a gorgeous separate sitting room next to the bedroom. The whole suite was flooded with natural light.
The marble filled bathroom was glamorous, and spacious and well designed to make the most of every inch of space. The TV at the end of the spa bath was somewhere I enjoyed an indulgent daily ritual of a soak whilst watching the evening news before heading out.
Both the sitting room and bedroom had large windows overlooking the surrounding rooftops, much like those of exclusive Parisian hotels. What a fabulously new way to view London. The sitting room even had a balcony I could step onto to embrace the crisp London air each day.
It really was a haven from the pace of London’s streets below, and I could have quite happily spent a night in watching a movie and ordering room service. The suite would have easily accommodated my 10 year old twins if they were traveling with me.
This is definitely a fabulous place for families to stay as it’s spacious with excellent service (that’s not the least bit snobby), kids menus and babysitting.
Just a few metres from my room, I discovered a gorgeous rooftop balcony complete with whicker chairs and tables, perfect to enjoy a summer apertif with friends. A drink on a London rooftop in summer is one of life’s great luxuries and pleasures. I’d stay there again just for another champagne there.
The bar on the ground floor of the hotel , William’s Bar and Bistro is a sensational spot to have pre-dinner drinks or morning coffee, and serviced by excellent staff. There always seemed to be a great vibe there, with people popping in and out throughout the day and night. It’s gorgeous for hotel guests for a late night drink upon returning home, before retiring to bed.
Just when you thought the experience couldn’t be more decadent, there is an impressive collection of 20th century portraiture within the hotel too including the 1920s-50s Rosenstein Collection scattered on the walls of suites and in public areas.
The club has relationships with upmarket fitness clubs in the area, but when I rose at 6am to go find them, the concierge instead showed me to a secret door, the ‘royal entrance’ leading directly to the surrounding parks in the basement of the hotel, without having to jog through the main shopping streets. I was sold. It was a magical way to start a day in London, one of the world’s great cities.
The concierge are old school and familiar in the best ways possible, and full of insider knowledge wrapped in some of the best manners you can only find in this part of the world. Whether you want the best morning coffee, British fragrance shop, mascara, or singles bar – these guys have it nailed, and they can get you bookings you wont get yourself especially at the last minute.
I haven’t even mentioned the Michelin star restaurant, Seven Park Place By William Drabble, which I have dined at several times, including last month during my stay at St. James’s Hotel and Club and is extraordinary.
It is one of London’s best for upmarket modern French fine dining, with exceptional food and wine matching and excellent service. The walls are adorned with rich, decadant, silk and cashmere wallpaper, and it is filled with black lacquer furniture. There are only nine tables, making it super intimate. The tasting menu with matching wines is heavenly.It’s the kind of restaurant you want to keep going back to.
Breakfast at the hotel is also excellent, and nicely relaxed, but made to order. It is served in the front section of the hotel.
The vast majority of guests at The St. James’s Hotel And Club are return visitors, so if you want to experience this exceptional hotel, book in advance.
Meanwhile click here for Renae’s favourite massage in London.
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