Review St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

PR trip
Having been suitably impressed by our stay at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences a few years back, we were delighted to be invited to experience St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel just next door.

Review St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

Only a few steps from Buckingham Palace, it’s beautifully central to all London offers, with 329 rooms and suites, a gorgeous courtyard, stunning restaurants and an indulgent spa.

Review St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

Suites at St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

The hotel has a different feel to the residences, very welcoming and grand, with gorgeous marble floors and seating areas making the lobby feel very relaxing. After a lovely greeting, we made our way up to our suite, newly refurbished and on the 7th floor. With four stars, St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel, really does have that five-star feel, with stylish grey floors, navy walls and dark wood accents.

Review St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

The grey door opened, and we were greeted with a spacious corner suite. A calming and beautiful colour palette embraced us as we took in the comfortable bed, welcome chocolates, TVs and stunning marble bathroom with a huge shower, separate bath and exquisite spa-quality Templespa bath products. This would be an absolutely beautiful honeymoon suite or a girls’ space to get wedding-ready!

Premium Bathroom, St. James Court – a Taj Hotel

Time for a trip to the spa! Across St. James courtyard, with its seating areas and shelters perfect for a summer glass of champagne, we hurried through the March chilliness to Jiva Spa for a swim. The courtyard has a beautiful light-draped fountain with koi carp in the pool, and with the hotel’s iconic red brick walls stretching up on each side, it’s a lovely, secluded spot to enjoy an afternoon tea.

Jiva Spa Vitality Pool – St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

They even have a theatre there in warmer months. Beautifully lit and super relaxing, the spa was so welcoming. Swimming in the infinity pool, with its dark walls, begs you to relax and unwind, and so we did! We were the only ones there, so it was so peaceful to enjoy a dip along with the heavenly smells of the spa before heading back to relax in our suite before dinner.

Dining at St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

TH@51 is a super stylish restaurant with a modern menu inspired by global flavours. On our way, we passed a pianist playing live in the lobby, adding such a relaxing and refined feel to the evening, perfect for listening to as we waited for dinner.

St. James Court – A Taj Hotel

St. James Court – A Taj Hotel

Review St. James’ Court, St. James Court – A Taj Hotel

A DJ within the restaurant played a lovely eclectic mix of music, and we sat in the conservatory, cosy in a booth for a gorgeous meal. We were so well looked after by Joel, and after a margarita cocktail, we enjoyed tempura prawns, lamb bao buns, dahi papdi chaat, as well as a stunning Malabari prawn curry and caraway Malai chicken. The layers of flavour were exquisite, and the curry was the best ever, beautiful and creamy with huge prawns, accompanied by fresh poppadoms and fluffy rice. Amazing desserts followed, with gulab jamun, an Indian cheesecake, perfectly rounding off the meal.

Indian Jasmine Afternoon Tea, St. James Court – A Taj Hotel

After dinner, the atmosphere in the hotel was lovely, and we wandered slowly back to our suite and enjoyed a gorgeous night’s sleep. Breakfast the following day was super busy, with so much to choose from for an authentic Indian breakfast. Delicious!

Jiva Spa at St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

I wish every Sunday began at 11 am with a foot massage. A one-hour reflexology treatment awaited me at Jiva Spa, and I donned a beautiful robe and slippers before heading down to wait on a comfy chair by the pool with a cup of tea. The Pada Mardana massage treatment benefits the entire body, stimulating the reflex zones on the soles of the feet. Notes of delicious lime wafted up from the golden bowl prepared for my feet, and then for a blissful hour, therapist Badma analysed my health through these pressure points and offered advice to complement my health – I didn’t want to leave!

Jiva Spa Double Treatment Room – St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel

Floating out of the spa, it was time to check out. We have been wonderfully looked after throughout our stay, treated to gorgeous food, an exquisite spa experience and a beautiful suite. It would be a lovely place for a hen weekend, the perfect spot to get ready for a London wedding, ideal for a city honeymoon, the first night, or minimoon, or even to hire for a private dining experience. It gets a 5-Star seal of approval!

My top five 5 Star highlights:
1 Jiva Spa – the infinity pool and foot treatments were divine.
2 The Malabari prawn curry – is delicious.
3 St. James’ courtyard – such a wonderful atmosphere.
4 Our suite – newly refurbished, it had a 5* feel.
5 Music – live pianist and DJ were a great accompaniment

Related reading: the wedding profile of St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel, wedding venues in London and the United Kingdom Wedding Atlas. We have also reviewed Corinthia Hotel London and London, and you will find all of our venue reviews together.