Review: Taj 51 Buckingham Gate

The closest hotel to Buckingham Palace, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences is absolutely stunning. It was such fun to be invited to stay so close to the Queen’s residence, and as we drew past the Palace and on to the hotel, we were struck by the beauty of the building and its striking blue and gold façade with red brick.

{Gifted trip}

It really doesn’t feel like central London, as you enter and experience the peace of the enclosed courtyard and calm atmosphere. We stayed on Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, but linked is St. James’ Court, a Taj Hotel. Both have access to Jiva Spa, Quilon Michelin Starred restaurant and the stunning St James’ courtyard, but we were treated to one of their beautiful suites.

Once three townhouses that played home to Lords and Ladies of the Royal Court, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate is as luxurious as it would have been back then. With our own butler escorting us to our suite, we marvelled at the marble floors before being blown away by the suite itself.

The suite

The suite tour took a while… We stayed in the gorgeous King Deluxe One Bedroom suite. It was so relaxing and comfortable, like a home away from home, with a big king sized bed, gorgeous lighting and beautiful curtains, a white marble bathroom and windows that looked over the fountain in the courtyard. We relaxed for a while in our suite before heading off for a little explore of the hotel.

Pre dinner drinks were taken in Kona, the club lounge, which guests of the suites have access to, and drinks and nibbles were enjoyed there! We also found out about their themed afternoon teas – Alice in Wonderland, Candy Striped Carousel or a wonderful Jasmine Indian afternoon tea. They all look incredible, with so much attention to detail for a delicious treat – perfect for a hen weekend!

Dinner

Dinner was served at Quilon, luxurious but laid back, and we enjoyed the prawn masala – the best curry I have ever eaten. Fresh and fragrant and served with fluffy rice, we returned to our suite and enjoyed a wonderfully restful night’s sleep.

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast in Kona, before taking a tour of the hotel, and a peek at the other suites; the Jaguar suite, designed by the car manufacturer’s design director, Ian Callum and reminiscent of the luxury of the classic and contemporary vehicles; and the Cinema Suite, a two bedroom suite with décor inspired by the era of 1940s and 1950s Hollywood and Indian Cinema.

Weddings at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate

Taj 51 Buckingham Gate have so many spaces for events and weddings, but our favourite was the Edwardian 1. With wood panels, high ceilings and chandeliers, this space can accommodate up to 300 for a drinks reception. We also loved the Taj room – long and naturally lit, this bright space can accommodate up to 45. You can combine the rooms, or mix and match them, depending on your requirements, they really are so versatile, definitely worth a visit.

Jiva Spa

With our tour over, it was time to relax in the spa. The newly refurbished Jiva Spa is absolutely outstanding. We had the infinity pool to ourselves before enjoying a two hour cleansing ritual with a full body massage – perfect for a pre-wedding treat. It felt just like being on holiday, it was truly fantastic.

From the suite to the food, the staff service to the spa, the beauty was in the luxury finishing details at the Taj 51 Buckingham Gate.

We were gifted this stay in return for a review – but our views are our own!