London area of St James's guide

What to do and where to stay in London's St James's neighbourhood

Once the London home of the very wealthiest members of the British aristocracy, almost every building lining the streets of St. James’s is a palace – though now most play host to corporate headquarters and grand hotels rather than famous families. Pall Mall is the home of London’s gentleman’s clubs, in whose backrooms the new aristocracy of newspaper editors, CEOs, generals and investment bankers swig brandy and make insider deals. Their expensive tastes are catered to by the exclusive boutiques, delicatessens and tailors of Jermyn Street, and the grand theatres of Haymarket. To the south, St. James’s Park is one of the loveliest of the Royal parks, full of semi-tame wildlife and landscaped gardens. Stand on the bridge in the middle of the lake for a perfect London view, with Buckingham Palace on one side, and the palaces of Whitehall on the other.

See our recommended nearby St James's Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

St James's Hotels

in or near St James's
Washington Mayfair Hotel
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
5 Curzon Street, W1J
Dating back to 1913, The Washington Mayfair Hotel successfully blends historic art deco with modern design. Located in the premier commercial and cultural centre of London, ... More
 
 
 
Athenaeum Hotel London
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
116 Piccadilly, W1J
Situated opposite Royal Parks and Buckingham Palace, and just down the road from national museums and galleries, The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences is an independent, award-winning ... More
 
 
 
Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
35 Charles Street, W1J
Typically for this aristocratic part of town, a discreet entrance leads to a thoroughly luxurious interior. Muted colours and marble floors give the sense of an ... More
 
 
 

St James's Entertainment

in or near St James's
PICK
Empire Cinema Haymarket
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
63-65 Haymarket, St James's, London SW1Y
The independently-owned Empire owns cinemas at 14 locations across the UK including this one, the three screen Empire Cinema on Haymarket in London's ... More
 
 
 
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Theatre Royal Haymarket
London > Entertainment > Theatres
18 Suffolk Street, Haymarket, St James's, London SW1Y
The Haymarket Theatre was built by John Potter on the site of the King's Head Inn and the Gun Smith shop in 1702. It has had ... More
 
 
 
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Criterion Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
218-223 Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, St James's, London W1V
The tiny entrance of the Criterion Theatre is almost invisible among the massive advertisements, traffic and crowds of Piccadilly Circus. To ignore it, however, is to ... More
 
 
 

St James's Sights and Attractions

The best museums, galleries, attractions in or near St James's
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Clarence House
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
St James's Palace, St James's, London SW1
The home of the Queen Mother from 1953 to 2002, a tour of Clarence House is an excellent way of experiencing the living history of the ... More
 
 
 
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Spencer House
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
27 St James's Place, St James's, London SW1A
Spencer family's 18th London residence. The ancestral home of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Spencer family hasn’t lived in this, their London residence, since 1926. Following ... More
 
 
 
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Bowman Sculpture
London > Attractions > Art Galleries
6 Duke Street, St James's, London SW1Y
Bowman Sculpture in St James's is a presitgious gallery where art collectors with deep pockets can get their hands on an original Rodin. Specialising in 19th ... More
 
 
 

St James's Shopping

The best shops and markets in or near London's St James's
PICK
Lock & Co
London > Shopping > Clothing
6 St James's Street, St James's, London SW1A
Founded in 1676, for centuries Lock & Co. has been the place to shop for a top hat if you're off to Ascot. The quaint shop ... More
 
 
 
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John Lobb
London > Shopping > Shoes
9 St James's Street, St James's, London SW1A
This historic bootmakers in St James's, set up in 1849, may be steeped in history but it's still the place to go for top quality tailor-made ... More
 
 
 
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Berry Bros & Rudd
London > Shopping > Wine Merchants
3 St James's Street, St James's, London SW1A
300-year-old wine emporium. From £5 bottles of Berry’s Good Ordinary Claret to £7000 bottles of Romanée Conti this historic wine emporium has something to suit every palate. ... More
 
 
 

St James's Restaurants

What are the best dining options in or near St James's London?
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Boulestin
London > Restaurants > French restaurants
5 St James' Street, St James's, London SW1A
Named after legendary French chef Marcel Boulestin, this St James' Street restaurant from Joel Kissin takes its inspiration from the original Boulestin which stood on Covent ... More
 
 
 
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Pret A Manger
London > Restaurants > Cafes and Delis
21 Crown Passage, St James's, London SW1Y
Pret sells up market fast food, hand made from natural ingredients, to take away or eat on site, in its trademark no nonsense chrome interiors. The ... More
 
 
 
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Il Vicolo
London > Restaurants > Modern European restaurants
3-4 Crown Passage, Pall Mall, St James's, London SW1Y
... More
 
 
 

St James's Pubs

The best pubs in or near London St James's.
PICK
The Reform Club
London > Nightlife > Pubs
104 Pall Mall, St James's, London SW1Y
Located in the heart of London's traditional Clubland in Pall Mall, The Reform Club was founded in 1836 and was membership was initially restricted to those who ... More
 
 
 
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Ye Grapes
London > Nightlife > Pubs
16 Shepherd Market, St James's, London W1J
Built in 1882 this gorgeous Victorian pub could be the perfect spot for a night out, if you can find it, that is. Very close to ... More
 
 
 
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Waxy O'Connor's
London > Nightlife > Pubs
14-16 Rupert Street, St James's, London W1D
Located where it is, Waxy's is fairly predictable. It's busy, it's Irish and it's got a fair smattering of tourists, but it also has that certain ... More
 
 
 

St James's Nightlife

St James's clubs, bars, cabaret nights, casinos and interesting nightlife.
PICK
Dukes Hotel: Cognac and Cigar Garden
London > Nightlife > Bars
35 St James's Place, St James's, London SW1A
Famous for its martinis - a favourite with James Bond author Ian Fleming - Dukes Hotel extends its drinking area to include an outdoor Cognac and ... More
 
 
 
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The Rivoli Bar
London > Nightlife > Bars
The Ritz Hotel, St James's, London W1J
The Rivoli Bar, an intimate cocktail lounge within the famous Ritz Hotel, re-opened in 2001 after a closure of some twenty years with interiors stylishly updated ... More
 
 
 
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Fortnum & Mason: 1707 Wine Bar
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
181 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1A
The Fortnum's wine bar has had a makeover as part of the store's refurbishment in 2007, three hundred years after this grand old department store first ... More
 
 
 

St James's Leisure

St James's gyms, sporting activities, health & beauty and fitness.
PICK
Catalyst Health and Fitness Ltd
London > Leisure > Fitness
30 Bury Street, St James's, London SW1Y
Catalyst personal trainers are among the best in London. Get fit without doing yourself an injury, lose weight with a specially devised programme or build your ... More
 
 
 
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So SPA Sofitel St James
London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
6 Waterloo Place, St James's, London SW1Y
Opened in July 2009, So SPA by Sofitel is a stunning relaxation space - all marble and modern design - housed within the Sofitel St James ... More
 
 
 
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Green Park
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
Piccadilly, St James's, London W1J
Although many of the parks in London are officially owned by the sovereign, it is the four central London parks (one of which is Green Park) ... More
 
 
 

St James's Education

in or near St James's
Royal College of Pathologists
London > Education > Professional Training
2 Carlton House Terrace, St James's, London SW1Y
... More
 
 
 
 
 

St James's Meeting Venues

Where to have your meeting, conference, exhibition, private dining or training course in or near St James's.
PICK
Spencer House
London > Business > Venue Hire
27 St James's Place, St James's, London SW1A
Spencer family's 18th London residence. The ancestral home of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Spencer family hasn’t lived in this, their London residence, since 1926. Following ... More
 
 
 
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195 Piccadilly (BAFTA)
London > Business > Venue Hire
195 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1J
The home of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is also available to hire for your own event. The iconic building at 195 ... More
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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