St. James’s Hotel & Club Mayfair

Originally a gentlemen’s club for the English aristocracy, today St. James’s Hotel & Club Mayfair is a perfect London sanctuary for the modern traveller.

It's easy to become wrapped up in the hottest hotel openings and exciting refurbishments, often overlooking the quieter, more unassuming establishments – ones that have been hosting guests for centuries, not merely decades – and yet, just like their newer rivals, are continually evolving without complacency.

One such five-star hideaway is St. James’s Hotel & Club in Mayfair – with such a long tradition of impeccable service, it's no wonder Sir Winston Churchill, Henry James and Ian Fleming have been previous members. Today’s high-profile guests are no less impressive (Elle Macpherson, Sir Sean Connery and Sir Elton John, to name but a few), perhaps attracted by the privacy of this historic boutique club, subtly located in a peaceful hidden cul-de-sac, protected from London’s usual hustle and bustle.

As a guest of St. James’s, you get to experience this prestigious area of London while living like a local – the remarkable location is a short walk to a plethora of attractions; Buckingham Palace, the exclusive stores of Jermyn Street, Burlington Arcade, Bond Street and the Royal Academy of Arts. The West End's theatres and nightlife are also close by... and with no chauffeur required, you can simply potter about, enjoying the locale and feeling carefree and part of the sociable community.

The Victorian townhouse itself is unmistakable, with a striking red-and-white façade, retaining all its charm and heritage. Red carpeted stone steps lead the way inside the foyer, where there is an understated style and classical elegance, wood-panelled walls and polished natural stone. To the right is the reception where one of the hotel’s impressive 20th-century paintings, from the Rosenstein Collection, demands attention. Throughout the hotel, there are more than 400 paintings, pictures and sculptures from this impressive private art collection.

St. James’s Hotel & Club Mayfair

As a guest of St. James’s, you get to experience this prestigious area of London while living like a local... feeling carefree and part of the sociable community

There are 60 exquisitely designed bedrooms with handcrafted Murano glass chandeliers and sumptuous silk wallpapers – the vast Terrace Suite has an open fireplace and spacious roof terrace, or for complete exclusivity, the St James and Westminster Suites (which, connected, become The Penthouse) come complete with your own private lift and panoramic views over London. De-stress with a 90-minute body treatment or other in-room spa and beauty service.

Art Deco is the theme at the Seven Park Place restaurant with William Drabble, known as Billy, at the helm. Fresh lobster and Lune Valley lamb are just some of the delights to look forward to, thanks to Billy’s own unique French-inspired menu, which helped gain him one Michelin star just a year after opening.

If casual dining is more your style, take a bite from the all-day dining menu at 1857 The Bar, offering a delectable choice of classics, from a St James Beef Burger to Gnocchi with Lobster. It is also here, at London’s fashionable wine bar for oenophiles, where you can sample the oldest wine to be sold by the glass in the UK, the Graham’s 1882 Ne Oublie port.

Jessica Way was a guest of St. James’s Hotel & Club Mayfair, Double rooms from £375, stjameshotelandclub.com

Text by Jessica Way