The storied DUKES LONDON delivers discretion with a friendly face from a series of townhouses tucked away off St James Square with its own private courtyard dating back to 1532. The 87-room hotel (with 15 suites) has earned a loyal following from those who return time and again for the attentive service, classic decor and mouthwatering martinis served at DUKES Bar. Upstairs, the rooms have been refurbished to reflect a style that's more streamlined and contemporary, all while keeping with the historic charm of the hotel.
The property’s Great British Restaurant offers all-day dining and a mean English breakfast in a refined setting, while an elegant Drawing Room and Conservatory provides the perfect spot for a light lunch or an elegant afternoon tea. If you're craving something stronger than the average cuppa, head for the adjacent Cognac and Cigar Garden, a sumptuous retreat developed in partnership with storied spirits brand Rémy Martin.
The property’s Great British Restaurant offers all-day dining and a mean English breakfast in a refined setting, while an elegant Drawing Room and Conservatory provides the perfect spot for a light lunch or an elegant afternoon tea. If you're craving something stronger than the average cuppa, head for the adjacent Cognac and Cigar Garden, a sumptuous retreat developed in partnership with storied spirits brand Rémy Martin.
In the basement you'll find the intimate Private Members Health Club with an exercise room, marble-clad steam room and a treatment room serviced by the in-house therapist.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- DUKES LONDON is situated on its own courtyard at the end of a private paved line (just wide enough for one black cab) off of St Jame's Place, a five-minute walk to St James Square.
- Crowded the neighborhood is not — you’ll find a few boutiques, posh Mayfair and a tunnel shortcut to Green Park around the hotel.
- The property has a quiet, elegant atmosphere — an updated lobby is furnished with wingback armchairs in contemporary fabrics and a staircase with polished wooden railings and a wrought iron balustrade winds upward to the top floor of the hotel.
- True to its classic Edwardian style, afternoon tea is served in the drawing room, surrounded by gilt-framed paintings, white tufted sofas.
- Guests and non-guests alike flock to DUKES Bar nightly for its famous martinis — they’re prepared tableside by bartenders in white tuxedo jackets and are shaken, never stirred, as an homage to James Bond novel series author, Ian Fleming, an old haunt of the bar.
Things to Know
- Although the hotel’s location is quiet, DUKES LONDON is just steps away from posh and buzzy Mayfair.
- Hotel staff is smartly clad in navy blue suits and provide warm, efficient service. They’re quick to greet guests by name, obtain a taxi and offer a fresh pot of tea upon arrival.
- Do as the locals do and borrow one of the hotel’s complimentary logoed blue-framed bicycles for a leisurely ride around nearby Green Park or Hyde Park.
- Solo female travelers won't be left out at this London hotel with its Duchess Room Service. The offering includes thoughtful extras like a female room attendant to handle your luggage and housekeeping, fresh flowers and fruit, and a complimentary in-room blow-out to help you primp for a business meeting or night out.
- The dog-friendly hotel pampers pooches with plush beds, two gourmet meals per day, mineral water and a map highlighting the best walking trails the nearby Royal Parks have to offer.
The Rooms
- The guest rooms at DUKES LONDON have an updated and airy design style that takes its cues from the Edwardian era.
- Dark polished wooden furnishings fills the rooms, from the double-door wardrobe to the writing desk with its tapered legs.
- Gilt-framed artwork of botanical and villa drawings decorate the walls, adding a sense of history to your lodgings.
- The guest rooms at DUKES LONDON aren’t the type with bells and whistles, and no central remote consoles are provided for updated in-room technology. But rooms have flat-screen TVs and access to wireless internet.
The Restaurants
- Dine at Great British Restaurant for English fare in simply elegant surroundings. Signature dishes include Norfolk gin- and beetroot-curd longshore cod, 57-degree lamb neck fillet with pickled sea asparagus, and English burrata with roasted onion squash.
- Taken in the airy Edwardian drawing room of the hotel, the afternoon tea includes a traditional tiered tray with finger sandwiches, warm fruit and plain scones and a selection of pastries. For a more spirited edition of the classic service, opt for the hotel's Marteani Afternoon Tea — savor three mini-martinis made with infused vermouths and perfectly paired with sandwiches and sweets.
- Make the most of the lavish digs and enjoy a glass of Rémy Martin in the hotel’s secluded silk-tented Cognac and Cigar Garden.
Getting There
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