Conrad London St. James

The Conrad London St. James is housed in connected town houses with red-brick and beige facades. Inside, sophisticated decor, including cream-colored marble floors, glass tables, gray and beige button-tufted armchairs, and chandelier lighting, exudes a modern business vibe. Large works of modern art add pops of color throughout, though a few artistic accents seem out of place (an odd cast-iron statue in the atrium-style lobby of a worker on a ladder apparently pays tribute to the working class). Attention to detail is what makes this property stand out -- fresh flowers, immaculate cleanliness, a dedicated concierge team, even the hallways are thoughtfully considered with stylish lighting and framed black-and-white pictures. The darkly lit pub-style bar offers a stylish, moody vibe with black leathery seating, exposed-brick and subway-tile walls, and wood accents. The hotel attracts its share of business travelers, but tourists, including couples and families, are also frequent clientele.

The hotel is conveniently located in the Westminster area of central London, across the street from St. James's Park tube station (a one-minute walk away). There are a few chain cafes and coffee shops in the neighborhood, along with London's police headquarters and a few independent restaurants to serve the daytime business crowds. This prime location is great for sightseeing, as many of London’s top sights and attractions are within walking distance, including Westminster Abbey (a five-minute walk), Big Ben (an eight-minute walk), Buckingham Palace (a 10-minute walk), and the London Eye (a 17-minute walk). Gatwick Airport is about 45 minutes away via public transport and Heathrow Airport is a little under an hour. 

Conrad London St. James' sophisticated rooms have neutral color palettes, with beige heavy-pile wall-to-wall carpeting, taupe curtains with a gentle sheen, and cream-colored leather headboards. Flat-screen TVs are embedded in floor-to-ceiling glass panels. Bathrooms are particularly luxurious and spacious, with dark marble floors and fixtures, bathtubs, and separate stalls for toilets and wet-room style rainfall showers, and for the bathtubs. Standard Rooms are small, but they efficiently designed and not out of step with room sizes in central London.Amenities include 42-inch HDTVs with satellite channels, media hubs with international connections, and free Wi-Fi. In-room drink stations are particularly nice, with Nespresso machines, tea cups with saucers, generously stocked minibars (with free bottled water), plus wine and beer glasses and a cocktail shaker. Beds have 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. Bathrooms are stocked with robes and high-end toiletries from Aromatherapy and Associates and personal care items. In addition to Twin and King Rooms, the hotel has 15 suites, including the impressive Conrad Suite with 1,432 square feet of space and a private elevator entrance. There have been occasional complaints about noise in street-facing rooms, so light sleepers may want to request rooms facing the courtyard.

The hotel has a sophisticated restaurant and bar. Blue Boar Restaurant serves British dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and has a business-casual vibe, while the bar serves drinks and light fare within moodier pub-style decor. An a la carte breakfast is available -- guests tend to enjoy it but complain about its price. Emmeline's Lounge offers a brighter ambience, along with a luxurious afternoon tea with live harp music, which is popular with local residents too. Private dining rooms are available, and room service is offered 24/7.The hotel also has a small, 24-hour fitness room with treadmills, elliptical machines, and free weights, and other exercise equipment. It's nicely stocked with towels and bottled water, but the windowless room lacks atmosphere.The hotel's 24-hour business center provides a private room with two desks with desktop Macs and a printer and scanner. Seven meeting and event rooms are also on-site. An Executive Lounge is offered to guests staying in executive-level rooms and above. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.In addition to a 24-hour front desk, the hotel has a dedicated concierge team who can arrange for car service, reservations, tickets, laundry and dry cleaning. Family services include cribs, children's menus, high-chairs, and childcare arrangements.