The Stafford London Kempinski

Introduction: The Stafford London Kempinski is situated just off from Piccadilly in an area known as St. James's. The area is bounded by Mayfair to the north and the grounds of Buckingham Palace and Green Park to the south. Within St James's is St James's Place, once home to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and still a royal palace with a Household Calvary Guard at the entrance, making for a great photo opportunity. The road on which the hotel is located, is a cul de sac separating the hotel from the busy surrounding streets. This is a central location in an upmarket area home to several gentleman's clubs. Piccadilly has many well known shops including Fortnum and Mason along with the Royal Academy of Arts (RADA). The popular shopping streets of Regent Street, Bond Street (known for high quality jewellery) and Knightsbridge all close by also offer great shopping. Some of the many nearby attractions include Michael Faraday Museum (0.3 miles), Guards Museum (0.4 miles), Ripleys Believe it or Not Museum (0.4 miles), Nelsons Column and Trafalgar Square (0.52 miles), Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament (0.65 miles), Cleopatra's Needle (0.85 miles), London Aquarium (0.94 miles) and the London Eye (Millennium Wheel) (1 mile). In reality this area is surrounded by attractions and amenities and is a great central location while giving a feeling of seclusion.

Hotel:
The Stafford Hotel dates back to 1858 and prides itself For Friendliness while under-stated elegance affords every comfort. The main hotel building is s made up of three townhouses.
All of the hotels bedrooms are individually designed and have a traditional decor. Amenities include Air conditioning, safe, Satellite colour television with USA news channels, US-style plugs, Computer modem and fax points, Personal message facilities, A full valet service, Bose CD players, Hairdryer and complimentary wireless internet access.

The hotel has its rooms and suites spread out over its annexes and main hotel building.
The Main House has 68 rooms and suites.
The Carriage House is home to 12 rooms and suites that occupy this restored 18th century stable courtyard. Each room has original timber beams which themselves are said to come from 18th century sailing ships. They are furnished with English furniture and period pieces along with the latest in modern amenities and tech. Come Christmas time, Christmas trees are placed outside each door.
The Stafford Mews Opened in 2007 is home to 27 luxurious and classically English suites with an elegant and sophisticated feel. Decorated with antique furniture.

Room service is available 24 hours. Evening turndown service. Free overnight shoe shine.

Dining Options:
Restaurant: AA 2 rosettes award winner. The Restaurant offers a gourmets delight of classic English cuisine using fine ingredients complemented by an outstanding selection of wines from the famous 350 year-old wine cellars. Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, Gentlemen are required to wear jackets.
Breakfast served 07.00 till 10.00 (Sunday 08.00 till 10.30),
The Lounge: The elegant venue for Traditional afternoon tea 15.00 till 18.00.
American Bar: Hundreds of signed celebrity photographs dating from the 1960's to the current crowd the walls, and the ceiling is hung with a colourful collection of club ties, sporting mementoes and baseball caps. The bar was once declared as serving the best martini in the world and has won awards including being voted the second 'Best Cocktail Bar' as voted by Gourmet magazine. Open daily and also serves light snacks and suppers  and the famous 'Stafford Burger'. Gentlemen are required to wear jackets in the evenings. A fresco dining in the summer months.
Should you want to give a private dinner party or hold a business meeting 4 salons or the wine cellars are available for receptions, lunches and dinners. Above the cellars is the carriage house.

The Stafford mews annexe houses the well equipped fitness room with cardio and multi-gym machines and is open to all hotel guests.
There are 4 meeting rooms with a capacity for up to 70. Hotel guests receive membership a nearby health club.
Wireless internet access is available at no charge throughout the entire hotel.

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Room Numbers: 107
Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out: 12.00 noon

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Awards:
Forbes Traveler Top 400: 2008, 2007
Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report:
Number 2 international City Hotel 2006,2007, 2008
top London Hotel 2006, 2007
Catey Awards: Hotel of the Year 2008.
Virtuoso Best of the Best Awards "Best Concierge" in the World 2007

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History:
The Stafford hotel was bought by 'Costain' in 1947. Bought by 'Trafalgar House ' in 1985. Bought by 'Daniel Thwaites plc' (actually owned by his his subsidiary, 'Shire Hotels') in 1995. Bought by Egyptian-owned leisure firm Britannia Hospitality (run by the El Sharkawy family) in September 2009 for £77.5 million pounds. Became a Kempinski Hotel in February 2009.
Major refurbishment in 1996 with continual re-investment annually since then.
Carriage House rooms added in 1990.
The Stafford Hotel main building was first built in the 17th century. The home of Lord and Lady Lyttleton in the 1800's. Lady Lyttleton became Queen Victoria's nanny (to her children) in 1849 and the home was sold at auction.
Thereafter till 1900 the home saw use as the Richmond Club Chambers, Green's Private Hotel and St James's Palace Hotel. The adjacent building became the Stafford Club in 1886. This was bought out in 1912 and the merged properties became the Stafford Hotel. Became a club for American and Canadian officers during the second world war.