London lifestyles of the rich and fabulous
I’m going to cut to the chase and tell you the worst thing about staying at St James’s Hotel and Club. You will fall so in love with it, dragging yourself away to get among the action in London (you know, that city you travelled from the other side of the world to see) will be just a little bit painful.
The love affair starts as you pull up in the private cul-de-sac – moments away from luxe Mayfair, the exclusive shops of Jermyn Street, and a short stroll to the West End – and receive a warm welcome as your bags are swiftly delivered up the stairs.
A welcoming sight – St James’s Hotel and Club
It’s smiles all round from the team, who are used to welcoming celebrities.
Tom Cruise stayed at the St James just before our visit, and it counts Samuel L. Jackson, Lionel Richie, Meryl Streep, Elton John, Sean Connery, and Michael Caine among its guests in its long history as both an exclusive club and, more recently, five-star hotel.
If celebrities don’t impress you, then the hotel itself will. It combines the private feel of a townhouse with the lavish elegance of a luxury hotel.
Our deluxe suite is beyond spacious, with separate sleeping and living areas. Having your own lounge area is certainly a novelty in London, especially with a view like this!
Could it be more British?
Wishing this was my apartment
It doesn’t get any less luxe in the bedroom, with one of the most comfortable beds I’ve had the pleasure of resting my head on.
Oh so luxe
And it would be rude not to have a bubble bath with a swanky bathroom like this:
Mandatory bubble bath
The wow factor continues with a trip downstairs. Cocktail? Don’t mind if I do.
Sitting at the bar, the bartenders have the perfect mix of professionalism and polish you’d expect of a five-star establishment, and the banter and light-hearted fun you want from your local regular.
Cocktail hour
Mmm, caramel popcorn
While we could easily spend the night drinking away (and filling up on the snacks), a hard-to-come-by reservation at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is too good to pass up. A short cab ride away, the No.5 restaurant on the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards list continues the glam stakes. The famous Meat Fruit is a must-try.
Meat Fruit
We give in and order three desserts between the two of us, because how often are you in a Heston restaurant?
Totally worth it
Had it not been for this booking, I would have loved to try the St James’s Hotel and Club’s Michelin star restaurant, Seven Park Place. Renowned chef William Drabble oversees every aspect of the dining experience at the hotel – even afternoon tea!
Dinner next time, please
Still in a slight food coma, and with a train to Paris to catch that morning, it’s curiosity that gets us out of bed nice and early. On check-in, we were told of a door on the ground floor that provides easy access to “the park”.
The back entry at St James’s Hotel and Club. Laneways lead to interesting places!
Running gear on – out the door and into the laneway, we soon find ourselves not only among gorgeous greenery, but after no more than five minutes’ jogging right in front of Buckingham Palace! Having braved the crowds for the Changing of the Guard the day before, having the whole area to ourselves is pretty special!
Crowd? What crowd? This is how you do Buckingham Palace
Appetite firing again, we jog back to the hotel and sit down to breakfast in the dining area. We take our picks from the menu and buffet – even the jam and toast is a winner.
Winning at breakfast
Like many holiday romances, our affair with the St James’s Hotel and Club was short but sweet. The only way to rectify the worst part of staying at this hotel? Planning a return trip for a longer visit!
Have you been to London? Is there a hotel you’ve found it hard to drag yourself away from?
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