DUKES LONDON
London · United Kingdom
Reviews
Character and identity
Tucked off St James's Place at the end of a paved lane just wide enough for a black cab, DUKES LONDON occupies a cluster of townhouses around a private courtyard dating to 1532. The 87 rooms (15 suites) sit behind window boxes, parquet and panelling that lean hard into Edwardian Englishness. DUKES Bar is the calling card: tableside martinis poured by bartenders in white tuxedo jackets, a ritual Ian Fleming reportedly drew on. The Great British Restaurant handles refined classics and a serious English breakfast; the Drawing Room does afternoon tea, and a Rémy Martin Cognac and Cigar Garden sits alongside. Service is warm, name-recognising and discreet.
Who's it for
Best for:
Traditionalists and Anglophiles who want the fantasy version of London, cobblestones, royal-park strolls, gin-clear martinis, all within five minutes of Green Park and Buckingham Palace. Couples on a romantic city break, solo female travellers (the Duchess Room Service is a genuine touch), dog owners, and returning loyalists who value quiet over scene.
Should look elsewhere:
Design-minded guests will find the rooms plain: cream walls, beige carpets, the occasional accent cushion. Most bathrooms have showers over the tub. If you want a buzzy lobby scene, a full spa, or contemporary cooking, this isn't the address. Note the hotel is closed for renovation and reopens in autumn.
Bottom line
What you're really booking is the bar, the address and the register of service, not the bedrooms, which are comfortable but unremarkable. Spend up for a suite if the room product matters to you, otherwise put the budget into martinis and afternoon tea. Check post-reopening rates in the autumn, when the refreshed product should be at its sharpest.
Location
What this place offers
- Wi-Fi
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Room service
- Breakfast
- Breakfast buffet
- Smoke-free property
- Kid-friendly
- Activities for kids
- Front desk
