Hotel review: Conrad London St James, Westminster  

Perfect for a luxurious family friendly getaway, the Conrad London St James in Westminster makes a fantastic base for exploring London with fantastic food, a beautiful cocktail bar and a very warm welcome for little ones.

Words: Natasha Lovell-Smith

STAY

Despite being a thoroughly luxurious affair – think liveried doorman, glossy, sophisticated interiors, and world-class London-themed art all around – Conrad London St James is also extremely welcoming to children and families. Upon arrival in our room, my daughter was welcomed with pink balloons and a host of toys to play with during the stay, while the wonderful staff had already thought of any concerns I might have had. It’s a hotel where children are celebrated rather than just tolerated. Our interconnecting rooms were generously sized and very bright, with a beautiful spa-like marble bathroom, incredibly comfortable beds, a generous mini bar and Nespresso machine.

A wall of the bedroom is given over to a giant smart TV, and parents of small children will also appreciate the excellent blackout curtains, which open and close at the push of a button!

Anyone brave enough to go on holiday with small babies and toddlers will know how much planning is involved. One particular concern of mine was being able to arrange interconnecting rooms – so that my baby daughter was able to have her own quiet space to sleep and my husband and I could enjoy our evening. In most hotels, staying in connecting rooms requires endless calls and emails to arrange, and usually it’s only guaranteed upon check in. However, Hilton recently made the whole process seamless across many of its hotels, allowing you to easily book and quickly confirm connecting rooms online. This is definitely not something I would have prioritized before having a baby, but it’s something I think would be so helpful to travelling families.

EAT

Start with a drink at the glamorous cocktail hideaway, The Hedgerow. With a dramatic marbled bar and soft shades of blush pink and green, this inviting space has a menu of drinks carefully crafted using British botanicals and fruits. For dinner, options are The Pem (serving seasonally-focused and refined British food from Michelin-starred Chef Sally Abé) and The Blue Boar, a more family friendly option serving top quality, creative pub dishes like Coronation chicken scotch egg, wild garlic soup and sea trout with samphire fritters. It also has a cracking children’s menu. Tired after a busy day of sightseeing, we ordered a feast from the room service menu, including a British charcuterie platter, beautiful quality smoked salmon and juicy aged shorthorn steaks with triple cooked chips. Everything was cooked to perfection.

DO

Located in the former Queen Anne’s Chambers, the 19th-century building is less than a mile from Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. It’s opposite St. James’s Park underground, and makes a fantastic base for exploring central London. Gorgeous St James Park is a five minute stroll away.

Hilton.com

Food image: ©Foodstorymedia