St. James's Hotel and Club London

Following an 18 month refurbishment, St James's Hotel & Club has opened (Sept.'08) offering luxurious accommodation and the highest standards of hospitality and service. St James's Hotel is located in a quiet cul-de-sac just off St James's Street in the prestigious London district of Mayfair.

The historic St. James Hotel & Club first opened its doors as a gentlemen's chamber for the English aristocracy in 1892. Today, the hotel offers state-of-art comforts and facilities elegantly combined with traditional elegance and sophistication.

The St. James's Hotel & Club is now managed by the luxury hotel group, Althoff Hotels. Althoff Hotels operates seven luxury hotels in Germany and France, where it has a reputation for high-quality customised service and extraordinary gastronomy. Two of its restaurants have three Michelin stars and are among the best in Europe.

AREA

The secret of this intimate and elegant London townhouse hotel lies partly in its unrivalled location, in a quiet cul-de-sac just off St. James's. In the immediate vicinity you have many fine dining choices and high class boutique stores. You are also within walking distance from St James's Park, Green Park, Jermyn Street, the Burlington Arcade, Bond Street, Mayfair and Piccadilly Circus. The theatres and the nightlife of London's West End are just a 10-minute stroll. Some of the finest bars and restaurants in London are on the doorstep, as are the historic attractions of Buckingham Palace and the Royal Academy of Arts.

The nearest underground station is Green Park, just a two minute walk with easy connections to Victoria, Waterloo, Canary Wharf and other main London railway stations

ROOMS

St. James's Hotel has sixty elegant bedrooms and suites which offer the perfect retreat from the hustle and bustle of London and all rooms offer the high standard of modern amenities and service that a sophisticated traveller would expect. A significant proportion of the rooms also have a balcony and views over the rooftops of the historic St James's district.

Every room is equipped with air-conditioning, flat screen TV, 2 ISDN telephones (1 cordless), complimentary high-speed Internet & W-LAN, VDA Multi Media System, I-pod docking station, Minibar, laptop safe, beauty products, hair dryer, shaving mirror and bath robes and slippers

DINING

In the last few years, St James's has become one of the most fashionable areas of London in which to dine. This reputation is now enhanced by the arrival of Head chef Philipp Vogel and his team, who has designed a superb menu for the hotel's new restaurant. Under his direction, guests will be able to go on a voyage of exploration. An exploration of the variety of culinary traditions and tastes on the route followed by the explorer Marco Polo, from Venice to China.

THE BAR

A good bar with great staff is at the heart of any hotel, whether for regulars, who find it a welcome home-from-home, or for visitors looking for somewhere to unwind after a busy day in the capital.

The hotel's own bar meets these needs exactly. With comfortable seating and an unhurried, sophisticated atmosphere, it is the ideal place to unwind. Looking for a retreat from the West End, where you can while away the hours over a classic English afternoon tea? After a cool, laid-back but exciting place to enjoy a cocktail? Once you have experienced it, our bar will be the first place you think of.

VERDICT

Any newly refurbished 5 star hotel is always worth consideration at this price, especially one managed by Althoff. With the average room size at 25 square metres - much larger than your average hotel - we think that this hotel would please the most demanding of customers. Recommended.