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A central London hotel with history, a choice of restaurants, a spa, and a greenery-packed courtyard; I was initially intrigued and then utterly charmed by St. James’ Court London Taj Hotel.
Why We Love This Hotel
There’s little not to love! The location, the ambiance, the service, the décor, the cuisine; however, the Courtyard did simply shine as the centerpiece, and I won’t forget our evening here anytime soon.
Location
Central London is quite literally on your doorstep here; Buckingham Palace is a 5-minute stroll down the road, continue down The Mall, and you stumble into Trafalgar Square, and then you’re minutes from Leicester Square, Covent Garden, and Chinatown. Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are a 10-minute walk.
Best Time To Visit
London in Springtime is one of my favorites. The Summer brings a party atmosphere and pop-up delights by the bucket-load but having said that, Christmas shopping and snuggly around a cozy fire means London is a joy any time of the year.
How To Get There
The hotel is just a five-minute walk from St. James Park Underground Station, and Victoria, with its Rail and Coach stations, is a 10-minute walk. Heathrow is about 45 minutes away by car, or you can take the underground, which takes about an hour. We came into London Waterloo train station and took the underground on the way to the hotel, but on the way back, we instead chose to meander through Westminster, which took around 25 minutes and was a lovely walk.
Style & Character
This hotel is all about style and character. The sense of immense history combines with Eastern charm, ornate architecture, and a stunning courtyard with an impressive marble fountain at its heart and stunning urban gardens surrounding it. The hotel, built in 1902, describes itself as a ‘discreet Victorian masterpiece,’ and it’s no surprise to hear of its royal past where it hosted guests of nearby Buckingham Palace.
Service & Facilities
The hotel boasts the Jiva Spa, where you can make use of a 24-hour fitness center as well as a vitality pool, sauna, and steam room. Their spa treatments are inspired by Indian wellness philosophies and use Temple Spa products.
The service here was an absolute joy; the front desk team was all welcoming, familiar, and extremely professional. They even offered to take a family photo for us, so kind! The restaurant staff were also very professional and helpful.
Rooms
There are 338 rooms and suites to choose from. The Indian chic vibe very much continues in the guest rooms with sumptuous fabrics; even the towels seemed fluffier than towels can possibly be! The hotel has recently launched a collection of Premium, interior-designed rooms and suites with stunning contemporary décor and a natural, light palate. We stayed in one of these rooms, and I would definitely recommend them.
All the amenities you would expect are provided; free and fast Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and Nespresso coffee machines. The larger rooms also have desks and sitting areas. For me, the highlights were the very comfortable bed and the feeling that all the little extras were thought about; USB points by the bed, our children were given wonderful teddy bears and a full kit of goodies, and the bathrooms even had a small, low light for ease during night-time visits; truly exceptional service.
Best Rooms
I would definitely recommend the Premium suites, which enjoy separate lounges. Plenty of space, beautifully appointed, and those luxurious fabrics and a calming color palette make you feel instantly at peace. Our ensuite had a bath and rain shower over as well as a second toilet located off the lounge room. This setup is so useful for traveling families.
Food & Drink
For me, food is a very important part of my hotel stay, and St. James’ Court clearly takes it just as seriously with an exceptional collection of dining establishments found both at St. James’ Court and its adjacent sister hotel Taj 51. The two hotels are connected by the beautiful St. James’ Courtyard. You can enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets as well as an alfresco dining menu which includes contemporary Indian dishes; it feels stunning that such a location exists in the heart of central London, and I’d strongly recommend visiting it if you’re ever in the area. The award-winning Michelin Starred Quilon serves dishes inspired by South West India, and nearby Bombay Brasserie serves authentic Indian cuisine from its home in South Kensington. Other restaurants include Bistro, which is located within St. James Court itself. It serves British and pan-Asian fare by evening, but it was the sophisticated location for our delectable breakfast. Kona features modern European dishes and has a long-standing reputation as the place for afternoon tea; Kona is located within Taj 51. We also enjoyed a relaxing beverage at The Hamptons Bar, serenaded by the tinkle of grand piano before the seductive Courtyard pulled us back again!
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