VIBE
Cozy boutique that is distinctly English without overdoing it. Located on a quiet cul-de-sac off St. James, this lovely destination is peaceful but still favorably located in central London.
GO HERE WITH
Significant other; friend; parents; family. Ideal digs for small, laidback parties. Tends to attract a slightly older crowd.
WHY WE LIKE IT
The hotel feels more intimate than others in London, despite having 90 rooms. The rooms are simply decorated in a clean, soothing style. Also, Dukes Bar is a huge draw: it’s a small, comfortable “place” in London, and you can tell right away why. With a warm, clubby feel, Dukes is the perfect spot for a martini or a nightcap–they say that it is here that author Ian Fleming, the James Bond creator, first conceived the phrase “shaken, not stirred.”
AMENITY WE LOVE
The public areas. Intimate and serene, the courtyard is a charming place for an evening drink when the weather’s nice. Afternoon tea and breakfast can also be served there or in the sitting room just inside.
WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE
Some of the standard rooms are a bit small. Spring for a Junior Suite (or better yet a Duke Suite) if you can.
GOOD TO KNOW
Dukes Bar serves only hotel guests after 11:00pm. Part of the Campbell Gray Hotel Group, which also includes One Aldwych (London), Carlisle Bay (Antigua), and Le Gray (Beirut). Guests enjoy complimentary use of mobile phones (call charges are separate).
CLOSEST COMPS
The Rookery (London); Draycott Hotel (London)
Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to London
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