Hotel in Detail:
Originally built in 1897 this Victorian building has long since been renovated into a modern hotel serving the needs of the business traveller and visiting tourists alike. The original facade and inner courtyard remain. The courtyard used to be by horses and carriages and is now the focus of the inner areas of the hotel. The hotel has traditionally classic style. Period prints decorate the walls.Rooms are all en-suite with 240/110 v sockets, robes, hairdryer, phone and scales. In-room amenities include air-conditioning, desk, safe, broadband internet (some have WifI), iron/ironing board, trouser press, hairdryer, minibar, cable TV with pay movies, dual line telephone with voicemail,
There is also a turndown service, wakeup calls provided and newspapers can be delivered to your room.
Room service is 24 hours.
The bedroom configurations are divided into Standard rooms, Superior rooms, Deluxe rooms and hotel suites and each one is individually decorated. A deluxe room especially adapted for accessibility is available.
Standard Rooms: twins or Queen bed.
The Standard Double rooms incorporate the old with the new. They are available in either twin-bedded (two single beds) or a queen-bed configuration, and include all the facilities and services listed above. All rooms are well appointed.
Superior Rooms: more spacious than standard. Twin, queen or king-bed.
Deluxe Rooms: Have added touch of luxury and also have more room than standard. Twin, queen or king-bed. extra bed option.
Standard Suites: Double bed. Separate lounge. Fax machine on a dedicated number.
Superior Suites: More spacious than standard.
Deluxe Suites: Feature walk-in cupboard with marble bathrooms with separate shower and bath. King sized beds.
Dining options:
Bistro 51: Serves classic French and British cuisine using fresh ingredients along with an Asian Corner menu. There is also an extensive wine list conveniently listing wines according to their flavour. special value pre-theatre dinner between 17.45 and 18.45. Open: 6:00 till 11:00, 12:00 till 15.00, 18.00 till 23.00.
The Quilon Restaurant and Bar: (former five star diamond award by the American Association of Hospitality Sciences.) South coast Indian menu served in a chic setting. The chef uses the freshest ingredients in all dishes. Open: 12:00 till 14.30 (closed Saturday, Sunday 12.30 till 15.30), 18.00 till 23.00.
Bank Westminster: The a La Carte restaurant is styled as an urban Brasserie in conservatory setting and has views out over the peaceful original Victorian courtyard. Serves an imaginative fresh menu with its own slant on classic dishes. Extensive wine list. Open: 12.00 till 15.00 (weekdays), 17.30 till 23.30 (closed Sunday).
Zandar Bar: has won the 'Evening Standard Bar of the Year' award and is a chic setting with one of Europe's longest bars measuring 48 metres. Range of cocktails. A resident DJ is on hand Wednesday till Saturday till 01.00. Open: 11.00 till 23.00 (till 01.00 rest of week, Saturday from 17.00 and closed all day Sunday)
Hamptons Bar: Intimate and relaxed setting for this bar that also serves a traditional afternoon tea (can be taken in the courtyard) (now with floral teas that unwind as you watch and 20 loose Jing teas) served with scones, light sandwiches, patisseries and champagne (as an option). The bar also serves a full range of drinks and is known for its martinis and mango Bellinis. Resident pianist. including Open: 11:00 am till 1:00 am (from noon on Sunday).
The twenty function/conference rooms can handle up to 250 guests and facilities include internet access and A/V equipment. A dedicated boardroom can accommodate 16 delegates and is fitted with the latest high tech amenities.
Onsite is the Spa at Fifty-One located just of the courtyard. Here you can treat yourself to Sodashi whole body treatments geared towards both men and women. The air-conditioned complex includes male and female separate saunas, hydrotherapy baths, steam rooms and relaxation area which are all free to use for clients of the Spa. Treatments 8:00 till 21.00 (weekdays), 9:00 till 20.00 weekends. Physiotherapist and masseuse can be arranged by appointment. There is also a gymnasium that has TV screens, range of cardio machines, free weights and resistance equipment. Gym open 06.30 till 22.00 (weekdays), 08.00 till 20.00 (weekends).
An outstanding feature of the hotel is the the award winning inner courtyard has an in-bloom all year round garden and a central fountain.
Other hotel features include the e-Business Centre with photocopying, faxing, printing, computer hire with with office software, internet access and secretarial services. Open weekdays 08.00 till 20.00, Saturday 09.00 till 13.00. Internet access 24/7.
Hotel Vicinity:
Nearest: Tube Station: St.James"s Park 316 yards (288 metres), Railway Station: London Victoria 0.4 miles (0.6 km), DLR Station: Tower Gateway 2.9 miles (4.7 km), Motorway: M4 Junction 1 6.1 miles (9.8 km).The St. James Hotel London is next door to the 51 Buckingham Gate Apartments. Buckingham Gate is the side road that links Victoria Street (close to Parliament Square and the Houses of Parliament half a mile to the east) to the grounds of Buckingham Palace (the hotel is just 400 yards from the Palace to the north). As such its a popular cut through for traffic but still somewhat quieter than the busier main roads that surround it. Victoria station is less than half a mile and from there you can catch the Gatwick Express service out to Gatwick Airport. Just 200 yards to the north is St James's park which is part of the grounds to Buckingham Palace. 58 acres in size it has its own small lake and bridge. This is a central London location and so there are numerous attractions in the surrounding area. The best of the night life is just past Buckingham Palace from around T rafalgar Square less than a mile . Nearest places of interest include Westminster Cathedral (0.2 miles), Queens Gallery (0.2 mile), St James's Palace (0.4 miles), Westminster Abbey (0.4 miles), Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (0.4 miles) and Tate Britain (0.7 miles).
Bedroom Numbers: 321/ 21 suites
Check-in: 14.00 (2pm)
Check-out: 12.00 noon
This hotel has averaged a score of 4.45 out of 5 by 8839 past guests
>>>Booking.com (average customer rating 4.4 out of 5 from 3820 reviews)
>>>Tripadvisor (ranked 167 of 1140 for Hotels in London and rated 4.5 out of 5 from 5019 reviews)
Parking:
Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is not needed) and costs £40 per day.Internet:
WiFi is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge.Pets:
Pets are not allowed.Compared to other London hotels: This hotel has been rated 89% by past guests. The London average is 79% and the average for 4 star hotels is 80%. Therefore this hotel is well above average for its sector (star rating) and for London as a whole.
Milesfaster ranking: 87th from 865 London hotels, and 34th of 333 four star rated hotels.
Another to Consider:
Also close by and a similar hotel (0.3 miles, 0.4 km) would be the 4 star Rubens At The Palace Hotel,
whose lowest rates start at about £226 and which has a 90% guest satisfaction rating. The Rubens At The Palace Hotel also offers: free WiFi.
We can also suggest a cheaper options nearby which would be the Rochester Hotel by Blue Orchid. 0.3 miles
from the St James Court, A Taj Hotel (0.5 km), has scored 74%
from former guests and has rates from around £94. Fancy something highly rated by its guests? We think the 5 Star 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites could be a good choice. The 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites is only 0.0 miles (0.0 km) away. The 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites has a perfect unblemished customer rating 99%, a truly stunning achievement.
Local hotels analysed:
The 50 nearest hotels around this area (45-51 Buckingham Gate, SW1 postcode) which we have have on our website extend out to a 0.7 miles (1.1 km) radius. The breakdown by star rating is 15 five star hotels (average rating 90%), 16 four star hotels (average rating 86%), 16 three star hotels (average rating 76%) and 3 two star hotels (average rating 69%). Top 4 star hotels are The Resident Victoria and the Artist Residence London (both 97%). Of the 50 local hotels top rated is 41 Hotel (5 star) at 100%.Base Rates: We use base rates as a guide to the hotels starting rates. They do not include special offers and deals though so are just a rough guide. Taking all the hotels in the area together the average starting rate is £174 per night. Rates range from £49 at Victoria Inn Hotel (3 Star, 75%) with top rates of £505 at Ritz Hotel London (5 Star, 90%). Rates broken down by star rating: Five Star average: £314, Four Star average: £144, Three Star average: £91 and Two Star average: £73.
Summary:
We rank hotels based on their guest rating but balanced for their influencing factors. We rank St James Court, A Taj Hotel 17th (joint) of 50 and 8th (joint) for the 16 four star hotels in the area. For lowest base rates in the area this hotel ranks 48th of 50 (16th of 16 four star hotels.). Our ranking for this hotel based on both its rates and its user rating is 43rd of 43 for pure value for money (Victoria Inn Hotel was top).
Note: Do not confuse this hotel with the similarly named Sofitel St James Hotel or St James Hotel and Club which are also in SW1.
Comment:
2006 Envirowise challenge joint winner
History: Was called the Crowne Plaza Hotel London St James untill January 7th 2014.