The Bottom Line
Not all roads in London lead to the Sofitel St. James London Hotel -- it just seems that way. From this hotel, it's a three block stroll up to Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square is right around the corner, and Buckingham Palace is also within walking distance. So the location couldn't be better for sight-seers. A gentleman traveling on corporate business is likely to find the accommodations ideal. But does the Sofitel St. James London Hotel provide a perfect setting for romance? Alas, no.
Pros
- Exceptionally convenient location.
- Satisfying breakfasts are served in the hotel's stylish brasserie.
- Contemporary rooms feature wide-screen TVs and high ceilings.
Cons
- Some guest rooms have terrible views.
- Rooms are on the small side and masculine in design.
- As with most hotels, charges for overseas phone calls are exhorbitant.
Description
- Unbeatable hotel location in the heart of London.
- A bowl of fresh, crisp apples greets guests at the hotel registration desk.
- Distinctive floral displays in the hotel lobby add a degree of warmth to a masculine environment.
- The tasty breakfast, served in the elegant Brasserie Roux, is a delightful way to start the day.
- Hotel rooms feature a writing desk, comfy chair, and ottoman.
- Well lit for work, hotel rooms also have lights built into headboards.
- Broadband laptop connectivity is provided.
- Some rooms have miserable views. Ours, which faced the back, overlooked a bank of air conditioners.
- VAT tax of 17.5% is added to London hotel room rates.
- Sofitel is the luxury brand within France's Accor Hotel Group, which also owns the Motel 6 chain.
Guide Review - London Hotel - Sofitel St. James London Hotel
Opened in 2002, the Sofitel St. James London Hotel is the only British outpost of the French Accor Hotels & Resorts Group. Built inside a stately former bank on the corner of Waterloo and Pall Mall, the Sofitel St. James London Hotel combines contemporary Gallic style with British sophistication. Like many London hotels, rooms at the Sofitel St. James London Hotel are on the small side. And the decor is decidedly masculine, with shades of cream, brown, and black lacquer predominating. Although there is a wide-screen TV provided, channel choices are limited. The hotel's one feminine sanctuary is its Rose Lounge, but some may find it treacly. This lobby space is scented with fresh roses, and a harpist plays during afternoon tea. A continental breakfast is served in the Rose Lounge but guests can enjoy a wider selection in the stylish Brasserie Roux down the hall. The morning array includes buttery croissants and apple turnovers, smoked salmon, eggs, bacon, sausage, cold cuts, broiled tomatoes and mushrooms, yogurt, cheeses, fruits, and juice along with coffee or tea. The St. James Bar, also on the ground level, is a traditional space with a fireplace and cigar humidor that offers a choice of 45 vintage Champagnes to the bespoke-suit-and-Thomas-Pink-shirt crowd. Below ground level, the Sofitel St. James London Hotel has banquet space that can accommodate a wedding party up to 150 people.
