Reviewing the Conrad St James: A Luxurious Stay in London
Reviewing the Conrad St James: A Luxurious Stay in London.
When looking for a luxurious stay in the heart of London, look no further than the Conrad St James. This five star hotel offers guests an unparalleled experience that combines elegant decor, spectacular location and impeccable service. As soon as you enter the lobby, you will be welcomed by cozy yet stylish surroundings with stunning artwork throughout. The Conrad St James is located right at Westminster, so it’s easy to access all major attractions like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Trafalgar Square on foot or by public transportation. Delicious food is served to all guests through room service for those who do not feel like venturing out for meals. The Conrad St James also provides a variety of amenities such as Wi-Fi connectivity, fitness center and concierge service. All in all, this hotel offers an amazing stay for those looking for a luxurious experience in London.
The Conrad St James is definitely one of the best hotels we've ever stayed in and from personal experience, here's what makes it such a great option:
Location of the Conrad St James
The Conrad St James is one of the most ideal locations for visitors to London. Located in the heart of Westminster, this five star hotel offers guests a luxurious stay and easy access to all of the city’s major attractions. Whether you’re staying at the Conrad St James while visiting London as part of a holiday or business trip, its unbeatable location means that you won't have to travel far to take in some of the best sights in Britain's capital.
Getting to The Conrad St James from Gatwick Airport and Heathrow International Airport:
If you're flying into either Gatwick or Heathrow airport and planning on staying at The Conrad St James, there are several transportation options available for getting from the airport to the hotel. From Gatwick, you can take a train from Gatwick Airport Station to London Victoria Station which is just one mile away from The Conrad St James. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and runs around every 15 minutes during peak times. Alternatively, there are plenty of taxis available at both airports that offer direct services to the hotel.
We suggest taking the train over a taxi/uber, as it will save you almost an hour of travel time. We took the train from Gatwick to Victoria Station, and the walk to the Conrad St James was a little under 10 minutes. Pro tip: when taking the train it is best to use contactless payment (watch, card, etc.). Using contactless payment will ensure you get the cheapest fare possible between your train stations.
Location near major tourist attractions:
The Conrad St James is conveniently located in the heart of Westminster, making it one of the most ideal locations for visitors to London. This five star hotel offers guests a luxurious stay with easy access to all of the city’s major attractions, such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and The London Eye, which are all just a short walk away. For those that aren't up for exploring on foot, there are plenty of convenient public transportation options nearby including buses and trains. Whether you're visiting London for business or leisure purposes, staying at The Conrad St James will guarantee your access to some of the best attractions in all of Britain's capital.
Buckingham Palace is located just half a mile from the hotel and can be easily accessed by foot or a short bus ride. This iconic landmark is one of the most recognizable places in London and should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for things to do. From taking a tour of the palace grounds to watching the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony, there's plenty to explore here.
Nearby Westminster Abbey is also definitely worth checking out. This religious landmark has been standing tall since 1065 and continues to be an important destination for visitors from all around the world. Take a guided tour through its ancient halls, admire its intricate architecture and learn about its history throughout the centuries with audio commentary available in eight different languages.
The London Eye is another must-see attraction located just a few minutes away from the Conrad St James, offering some of the best views of London from its iconic Ferris wheel. Whether you’re traveling with family or friends, this is one experience you won’t want to miss.
The surrounding area also offers plenty of other attractions for those looking for more than just the famous landmarks. Check out some of the nearby parks and gardens such as Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens for a day of picnicking in the sun or take a leisurely stroll around Marylebone Lane Market and enjoy all that Britain's diverse culture has to offer.
No matter what brings you to London, staying at The Conrad St James will guarantee easy access to some of the top tourist destinations in the city. Whether you're looking for a taste of culture, some history, or just want to experience the best of what London has to offer, this hotel puts all the action within your reach. With its convenient location and luxurious amenities, The Conrad St James is sure to make your stay in London a memorable one.
Check-in at the Conrad St James
We arrived at the Conrad around 8pm, after a short walk from Victoria Station. While the lobby was buzzing with other tourists (a couple large tour groups), there was no line at the check-in desk. The clerk warmly greeted us and thanked Erika for being a Hilton Diamond member. Since we booked the room through Hilton Impresario, he then explained the benefits attached to our reservation: Late checkout, free breakfast for two, room upgrade, and an $85 hotel credit. He kindly let us know that we had been upgraded to a King Junior Suite. Likewise, he explained our access to the Executive Lounge on the second floor, due to Erika's Hilton Diamond status. Overall, check-in was warm and efficient, making us feel very welcome.
Room - King Junior Suite at the Conrad St James
The King Junior Suite was very nice. There was a welcome note and a welcome gift of chocolates waiting for us in the room. The room had a large sitting area, king size bed, and a large bathroom with shower and tub. In the sitting area, there was a quaint desk with many charging adapters (including outlets for Europe and US). The room had ample closet space, more than enough for the two of us. In the closet there were two robes, a mini safe, luggage stand, and laundry bags. Next to the closets was a coffee/tea station. Here we found a Nespresso machine (with pods), a quality selection of tea, and a mini-fridge filled with an assortment of beverages.
The view from the room was nothing to write home about. Even though it overlooked Tothill St, and there was quite a bit of construction going on, the room remained very quiet. We didn't think much about the view, as we were going to be spending most of our time sightseeing, anyway.
The bed was extremely comfortable and we both got an excellent night's rest. The bed also had a couple of different types of pillows, if you prefer soft or firm.
The bathroom was huge and replete with all the amenities from little stitching kit to cotton swabs to soaps and lotions from Mojave Ghost. There was both a rainfall shower head, as well as an oversized bath tub. We found there was no wait for the water to be hot in either of them.
General feel of the Conrad St James
The clientele was ‘business’ and ‘rich.’ As Joe would say, "We're surrounded by suits." Looking around, we were definitely outliers rolling in with our backpacks and worn luggage (we travel a lot!!). However, as has always been the case with our stays at Conrad properties, we warmly welcomed and comfortable despite the luxury offerings and wealthy guests.
Similar to our other Conrad stays, he service was incredible, the food was divine, and the the room was decadent. Interestingly, the soaps and lotions were a brand called Mojave Ghost which we found delightful considering we live in the Mojave. It smelled fantastic.
The Conrad is filled with some incredible art works. Usually, hotel art is bleg at best, but the Conrad was somewhat of an art gallery. The most memorable piece, aside from the cohesive, fresh decor, was “The House Always Wins” by Evil Ed and Dan Robotic. It’s an arena filled with sci-fi creatures and demons meant to depict politicians in the House of Commons. It’s very, very cool.
Restaurant and Bar at the Conrad St James
Conrad St James Executive Lounge
After we settled into our room, and before we went out for some evening sightseeing, we stopped in to the Executive Lounge. We had access to the lounge through Erika's Hilton Diamond status. The lounge was comparable to an airport lounge but much more chill. As with most lounges, there were scant vegan options but several beverages both alcoholic as well as not. Beverage options several varieties of juice, tonic, water, in addition to wine, beer, scotch, gin, etc. We enjoyed a scotch and potato chips. We arrived before service ended. The lounge is open 24 hours, but adult beverage service has limited hour availability concluding around 11pm.
Room service at the Conrad St James
With 85lbs to use, we explored our options. The room service menu, to our delight, had two labeled vegan options. We had never seen that before. We ordered the vegan shepherd’s pie and the vegan BLT. In addition to the two meals, we were able to also include a bottle of wine. The food was utterly delicious, and I will enjoy that meal again at the Conrad again.
Breakfast at the Conrad St James
Again, here there were few vegan options, but the service was exceptional. We arrived at breakfast at about 8am and the dining room was mostly full.
There was toast, vegetables, jam, hashbrowns, oatmilk, oatmeal, and fruit. Not a bizarre of options but certainly sufficient. The service staff was exceptionally friendly and attentive but not overbearing. They were welcoming and present to ensure the quality of our experience was nothing short of excellent.
Conclusion
Overall, our stay at the Conrad St James in London was truly remarkable. From the moment we arrived until the time we said goodbye, we were treated with respect and care. The lobby staff warmly welcomed us and made sure all of our needs were catered to throughout our stay. Every single one of their employees embodied the highest standards of hospitality and attended to our every request with enthusiasm.
The room itself was luxurious and filled with amenities like high-quality linens, comfy pillows, and plush furniture that allowed us to truly relax after a long day of sightseeing. We also enjoyed unique touches like Mojave Ghost soaps and lotions that added to the overall ambiance of luxury while also reminding us fondly of the Conrad's global presence.
Of course, we were also treated to a variety of amenities outside of our room as well. The art gallery contained amazing pieces from all around the world, including “The House Always Wins” by Evil Ed and Dan Robotic which provided an intense but fascinating glimpse into the political atmosphere of London. We also got to enjoy delicious food and drinks in the Executive Lounge thanks to Erika's Hilton Diamond status and indulged in vegan-friendly meals delivered right to our door with room service.
All in all, there is no doubt that the Conrad St James was one of the best hotels we have ever stayed in. From its beautiful decor to its attentive staff, it truly exceeded our expectations. We can’t wait to come back and experience the luxury of the Conrad St James once more.
