Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Sofitel London St James offers five-star accommodation in the heart of London's West End. This landmark hotel - consistently rated as one of the best in London - combines traditional British design with contemporary style that is unmistakably French. Located in a grade II listed building, the hotel features Michelin star restaurant Wild Honey St James, The Rose Lounge, St James Bar, a large choice of conference suites and an award-winning spa. In a prime location on Waterloo Place, surrounded by historic buildings, Sofitel London St James is within easy reach of many of London’s main attractions including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Pall Mall, Piccadilly Circus, and guests can explore the chic shops, restaurants and galleries of the exclusive St James's district.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TheAA: The Automobile Association.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Sofitel London St James is celebrated by many for its luxurious atmosphere and sophisticated charm, with festive decorations adding to the allure. While some guests consider the pricing steep, the consensus is that the high quality and exceptional service justify the expense. The hotel's location earns rave reviews, being ideally situated near London's prime attractions and transport links.
Guests frequently commend the comfortable and stylish rooms, though a few mention they can be compact. The cleanliness and attentive staff are repeatedly praised, enhancing the hotel's reputation for excellence.
Location
Central
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Pristine
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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We wanted to stay in the St James area as a change from our usual destination of Covent Garden.
After researching hotels in the area we decided on the Sofitel due to its very high TA ranking and convenient location. On arrival we were welcomed to the hotel by the personable doorman and went to the check in desk. The process was quick and seamless, and we were escorted to our suite. We were immediately struck by the cleanliness of the hotel and thought it had the appearance of being recently opened ( it opened in 2002.)
Our suite was a deluxe category and was spacious enough for a short stay. The bathroom was large with dual basins and a huge walk in shower. It was nice that the televisions were positioned in a convenient place to view from the sofa or bed. So many hotels put them at an acute angle or other difficult to watch position. The noise from other rooms or outside was zero and we slept very well during our three night stay. The amenities in the room were good including a guest WC, and there was more than enough storage for clothes and the other things we all take with us to a hotel. A fridge would have been helpful though.
The most stand out feature of our stay was the staff. Every single person we came across spoke to us and made us feel we were valued guests. The bar staff were amazing - on the second and third evening we were recognised and warmly welcomed back and the service was prompt, efficient and very friendly. The only comparable would be the waiters in the American Bar at the Savoy, although we preferred the less formal approach from the guys in the St James Bar. Another member of staff who deserves a special mention is Jadzia who looked after us at breakfast. Again, all the staff were lovely but we had more interaction with Jadzia who was a consummate professional. The breakfast itself consists of the usual cold cuts, cheeses, fruit etc etc. This is what I’d planned to have when we went for breakfast on the first morning, but when I saw the cooked to order full English being served I couldn’t help but order it. The only downside was the lack of English mustard which didn’t come as a surprise- next time I’ll take my own 😊 There is a fantastic choice of hot food cooked to order. My wife thought the porridge was the best she’d had at a hotel.
The only negative of our stay was the enthusiastic pricing of drinks at the bar - £10.35 for a bottle of beer and £25.30 for a medium wine is expensive, and would probably mean we would spend slightly less time in the bar on future stays.
We have already booked our next stay at the Sofitel and are confident it will be another amazing experience.
As mentioned, all of the public areas were pristine - a clear sign of a very well run hotel.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Jan 20, 2025
Bonjour, Thank you for taking the time to review our hotel and for sharing your detailed feedback. We are truly thrilled by your heartfelt comments regarding your recent stay with us. It brings us great joy to know that you appreciated the warm welcome, seamless arrival, and the meticulous cleanliness of the hotel. We’re also pleased to hear that you found the design and comfort of the suite to your liking and that the tranquility of the rooms allowed for a restful stay. Additionally, we are happy that our amenities, such as the Diptyque toiletries and our exclusive Sofitel MyBed, enhanced your experience. We understand your comment regarding the pricing of drinks at the bar, and we value your feedback as we continually assess our offerings and ensure we remain competitive. What truly stands out to us is your recognition of our devoted team. We are proud that their warm and professional service made such a positive impact on your stay, and we will be sure to pass along your kind words to the St James bar team, Jadzia, and the rest of the breakfast team. We are also delighted that you enjoyed the prime location of our hotel in the heart of London’s prestigious St James’s area, as it truly offers convenience and charm for our guests. We look forward to your next visit and the opportunity to once again provide you with our exemplary service. Rest assured, we have English mustard ready for you, along with our delicious breakfast offerings and a member of the team is always on hand to assist with any requests. Thank you for choosing Sofitel London St James. Best wishes Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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As I write this I am still blown away by the warm welcome we received by Mantas and the ENTIRE concierge team. We checked in, to be welcomed to a glass of sparkles and a side note to welcome us to Sofitel London St James. We landed into London at 6am and flew through customs and arrived much earlier than expected so we’re advised our room was not yet ready which was absolutely fine by us as we had shopping to do.
Moving on, we receive word our room was ready well ahead of the usual check in time and two ladies (Harsha and Miriam) would show us to our room. Initially we are thinking one is training the other, and also what a nice touch to be shown to the room on a personal level. When we arrived at our door, Miriam went to open it and the eyes in the back of my head could feel Miriam grab something… a camera to capture this special moment.
Door opened and we are blown away by the level of attention and detail the room showcased. FRESH Rose petals, Champagne, decorated bed, a bath bomb, and… how’s this?!?!? Pictures taken at our wedding hanging off just married balloons. This was absolutely next level and something we will cherish forever and ever. London is the last stop of our honeymoon after exploring France and Maldives so naturally we were on a down however this moment picked us straight back up.
We cannot thank both Harsha and Miriam enough for creating this special moment we will lock in our hearts forever.
Ok back to the hotel… Sofitel London St James.. WOW is an understatement. Let’s go with elegance and sophistication. This is exactly what the hotel offers compared to another Sofitel property we stayed in only a few weeks earlier. We felt charm, character and warmth the entire time. The bedroom featured grand views over Pall Mall, with Sofitels amazing touches including King Size Bed, fabulous bathroom and the most amazing pillow menu to make your nights sleep as comfortable as possible.
The chief concierge and his team would always greet us upon departing and returning to the hotel as well as look after our taxi requirements.
The gym is one of the best gyms experienced in a hotel. Brand new technogym equipment including a large selection of dumbbells (upto 24kg), weight machines and cardio. The gym also included a relaxation zone and provided coconut water, protein balls and headphones. This is again next level!!!
One additional note is to talk about the pre arrival experience which included a what’s app message asking us to check in. This is such a great concept and this channel allowed us to communicate to the staff throughout our stay. Once we checked out we even received a message inviting us back for our first wedding anniversary next year. This is a grand example of the level of service received at this hotel. I could actually go on for hours here however there is one final point to make…
Allow me to go back to the title of this review… Does the Sofitel London St James employ only the most talented and genuine people within the industry? I am very well travelled and so excited to claim this is the case. From our welcome at the front office and guest relation staff, bar team and housekeepers. This property is certainly a STAND OUT performer within Accor and other international chains we utilise.
Sofitel London should be considered for not only any special occasion, but business trip, couples and families.
Thank you to Harsha, Miriam, Mantas, Head of Concierge and Team, Bar staff and all. You are amazing.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Absolutely a must when visiting London
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Sep 2, 2024
Bonjour, Thank you sincerely for your incredibly thoughtful and detailed review! We are absolutely delighted to hear that your stay at Sofitel London St James surpassed your expectations and added such a memorable touch to your honeymoon. It’s wonderful to know that from the moment you arrived, you felt warmly welcomed and cared for, and that you appreciated so many aspects of our hotel and the exceptional service provided. We take great pride in creating special moments for our guests, and it’s truly heartwarming to hear that Harsha, Miriam, Mantas, and the entire team were able to deliver an experience you will always cherish. Our goal is to make every aspect of your stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible, and your kind words mean the world to us. Thank you for your commendation, and we look forward to welcoming you back the next time you visit London. Merci beaucoup, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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I wanted to leave a review for our exceptional stay at your hotel. From start to finish, the service was impeccable, and we were made to feel truly welcomed by everyone. We celebrated our 10-year anniversary here as the hotel has an excellent location, just a short walk from Bond Street and Oxford Street, making it perfect for shopping.
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed and offered a brief tour of the hotel’s amenities, as well as an insightful history of the building. Our room was outstanding, thoughtfully prepared with beautiful flowers and champagne to mark our special occasion ( there are various packages available at the time of booking).
Our dining experience at Wild Honey was also remarkable – I highly recommend making a booking here, the menu runs seasonally and the food and service is excellent! The hotel bar has a real luxury vibe to it, and the off-menu cocktails made for us went down a treat!
I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. A huge thank you to everyone who made our stay truly unforgettable, we are most definitely booking again and cannot wait to come back.
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Date of stay: January 2025Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded 5 weeks ago
Bonjour, Thank you for your wonderful review of your recent stay. It is truly heartening to hear such kind words about your experience with us. We are delighted that you enjoyed the warm welcome and attentive service from our team, making your anniversary stay so special. It’s also fantastic to know that our central location added to your celebration. Your praise for the exceptional dining experience at our Michelin-starred restaurant, Wild Honey St James, along with the luxurious ambiance and bespoke cocktails at St James Bar, fills us with pride. The dedication of our team to creating unforgettable moments is at the heart of what we do, and we are thrilled that their efforts made your stay truly memorable. We look forward to welcoming you back again in the future. Best wishes and merci. Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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Upfront: the Sofitel St James is not a cheap stay. But the comfort, quality, location and attention to detail reconcile the rates and provide for a memorable stay. We chose the Studio Suite and given we are talking about a stay in Central London, the room was exceptionally spacious. A large entrance leads to a luxurious sitting area complete with small dining table and facilities. The bed is King sized with large side tables and the bathroom is also well sized, beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean. Windows are large and look out across Waterloo Place. Daily gifts of chocolates, biscuits and sweet treats were a welcome surprise. The breakfast is buffet as well as a 'La Carte and all options we chose were well prepared and tasty. The Restaurant area is well designed and decorated, and spacious. Staff serving breakfast were very attentive and prompt. Other than finding the Bar a little small and dark, I really cannot fault the Sofitel St James. Worth the outlay.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Sep 4, 2024
Bonjour, Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful feedback. We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay in our spacious Studio Suite, with its beautiful views of Waterloo Place and the historic St James's neighborhood. We’re sorry to hear that the design of our cosy St James Bar wasn’t to your taste. Our goal is to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and we offer a contrasting design in our Wild Honey bar, as well as the serene Rose Lounge, which is perfect for a relaxing drink or afternoon tea. We're also delighted that the quality of our breakfast, featuring the freshest ingredients, along with the attentive service from our entire team, made your stay memorable. We look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you back again soon. Best regards and Merci, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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Wonderful place , good staff . Nice and very attentive in detail,observant . We feel like we live at home The decoration is in a modern classic style, clean and fresh with a unique scent. The location is in the city center but not too noisy. Come back again for sure
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Date of stay: December 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Jan 9, 2025
Bonjour, It is a pleasure to receive such a positive review. We are delighted that you found comfort and luxury throughout your visit, from the meticulously attentive service provided by our team to the modern classic elegance of our decor. Knowing that you felt at home complemented by the distinctive Sofitel Essence fragrance carefully selected for our guests, is truly gratifying. We are also pleased that our central yet serene location contributed positively to your experience, and we eagerly anticipate your return. We look forward to seeing you again on future occasions. Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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The hotel is lovely, however after have been lucky enough to have experienced other 5 star hotels (see my other reviews) they have let themselves down.
The rooms are amazingly comfy with plush bedding and very comfy, the bathrooms are spacious and showers are amazing as you would expect from any top end hotel.
However, there is no where for anyone to do their makeup and hair where there is good lighting and a mirror, which is a common issue at lots of hotels so my wife had to drag a chair to the mirror with half decent lighting
The main issues were for two days there was a coffee cup missing which we had to report to reception. Not a big thing but in a 5 star hotel, it’s the little things that make the difference
The other thing, on our 2nd evening we took drinks back to our room, on returning after the day out the following day, the dirty glasses had been placed with the coffee cups, they still had old wedges of lime in them, we didn’t report it to reception but, leaving dirty glasses in the rooms for any hotel is simply un-acceptable, what levels of checking and quality control are being done.
Breakfast, only time we ate breakfast at the hotel, on our last morning was lovely and piping hot, however tables that came in and ordered after us were brought coffee and their food before us and we had to ask twice for the coffee and again to find out where our food was
Yes perhaps over critical but for the amount we paid for the 3 nights stay in a hotel that their own website describes as:
“The 5-star Sofitel London St James hotel is a magnificent example of neoclassical architecture in the heart of London.”
I think the little things have massively let them down
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Sep 20, 2023
Dear Guest, We thank you for taking the time to provide us with your constructive feedback. We are pleased to hear that you found our rooms to be comfortable and appreciated the spacious bathrooms however it is very disappointing to hear of the challenges you encountered during your time with us. We take your feedback very seriously and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused as we normally pride ourselves on the high levels of service provided. We will certainly be ensuring that our team pays closer attention to all details in the future. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back again for a better stay in the future. Sincere apologies and kind regards, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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Sofitel is a true luxury hotel. My husband and I went recently for our anniversary and it was so perfect. Pillows, bedding and slippers were so nice. They also offer laundry and dry cleaning services. Breakfast was always delicious- especially the muesli and juices! The jacuzzi room was complimentary and the Rose Lounge was so classy for cream tea. We were SO IMPRESSED by the room service, and multiple times a day there was the option for someone to refresh our room, bring water/tea/snacks. We truly felt they cared about our experience and were checking in on us frequently, very prompt to fulfill our every request. The gym is also extremely nice- with a jacuzzi shower, vibration bed, amenities, water, apples, coconut water, even earphones and scented cold towels.
Special thanks to Yee Ki at the front desk, Rodrigo at the entrance and Nadjib for his luggage services and for making us feel so welcome. These three employees as well as Luis at breakfast really are what Sofitel is all about: luxury customer service! Thank you all so much for making our anniversary so perfect.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Go to breakfast early! You will enjoy the quietness of the space
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Nov 3, 2023
Bonjour, We appreciate that you took the time to review your recent celebratory stay. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and you had the chance to experience many areas of the hotel. It is great to know that our breakfast offerings were delicious and the Rose Lounge a lovely treat for cream tea on this occasion. Thank you so much for your kind words about our attentive staff; we are proud of our team's dedication to providing exceptional service, and we will be sure to pass along your compliments to everyone, especially those mentioned individually. We look forward to seeing you again on future occasions. Best wishes and merci,
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Unbelievable hotel experience! The staff is amazing. Friendly, welcoming and professional. We were greeted outside before we had walked through the front door with an offer of assistance with our bags. Check in swift and flawless. Staff and the upper management team all greeted us warmly and genuinely wanted us to enjoy our stay. The entire hotel from common area restrooms, lobby, restaurant, bar, etc was spotless and the decor is colorful, comfortable, classy throughout making one feel right at home. Rooms are the same and offer quality bedding, towels, coffee, water, the list goes on and on with the pampering details. The location couldn't be better: Buckingham Palace, Green Park and so many other great destinations just a short walk or Underground ride away. Don't miss the breakfast! I am typically not a breakfast person but I could not resist all the healthy offerings. Fresh pressed juices, chia pudding, broiled tomatoes, smoked salmon. Delicious! I look forward to a return to this incredible hotel.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Oct 9, 2022
Bonjour, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We pleased that you found our location to be ideal for your needs and appreciated the high standards and quality service which we strive to uphold. We all look forward to have the pleasure of welcoming you back on your next stay. Merci, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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What more can you wish for when arriving and a warm welcome given room assignments as requested etc,etc The staff are so accommodating and helpful with everything and they want to achieve your stay pleasant and memorable. We have to say for the location that we both experienced a brilliant nights sleep with No corridor noise or external noise brilliant Brilliant achievement. Finishing off with the location you can walk to many different areas in a very short period of time we wouldn’t hesitate to return here anytime. Ps thanks for the birthday cake and wonderful stay. Paul & Lesley
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Dec 16, 2022
Bonjour Mr and Mrs Perrin, We are so happy that everything met your expectations during your time with us and that all your preferences were accommodated for your birthday celebration. Thank you also for your appreciation of our convenient location, ideal for visiting the city. It is great to hear that you felt well taken care of by our hardworking team who will be pleased that they helped make your stay enjoyable and thankyou for acknowledging them. It is very rewarding to know that you intend to visit us again and we hope to see you soon. Best wishes and merci, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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We just spent a bit over a week at the Sofitel on a business trip and can only recommend this hotel which, to our delight, has managed to keep the highest standards post covid. The service of the concierge, reception, doormen and at the Wild Honey Restaurant was perfect. Breakfast is delicious, with many healthy options. The Rose Lounge is very suitable for tea or business meetings during the day. The highlight and Kudos! to the Bar and its staff. Exceptional and friendly service, and the drinks are all of high quality. We stayed in a Premium Deluxe room, which was of good size and quality, had a very nice bathroom and was well maintained by housekeeping. Location of the hotel is within walking distance of Jermyn Street, Piccadilly and beyond. All in all, a wonderful stay and the hotel we will come back to in London. Thank you for making our stay a very pleasant one.
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Date of stay: October 2022
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hotel- cmanager, Owner at Sofitel London St James
Responded Nov 8, 2022
Bonjour, Thank you so much for sharing this positive review. We are thrilled that everything met your expectations and the team looked after you so well. Your feedback inspires us to continue with our efforts to maintain our high standards and ensure that every guest has the best experience possible. It is a pleasure to hear you enjoyed so many aspects of the hotel including the St James Bar and thank you so much for choosing to stay with us. We look forward to welcoming you back again in the future. Merci, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager
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Also sorry for the late reply. I can’t explain why there are not many reviews. What I can say is that we loved our several day stay there. The location is great—easy to walk or take public transit anyplace. The staff is outstanding and extraordinarily helpful. Around the holidays, they have great hot chocolate, etc. in the lobby. It is one of my favorite Sofitels around the world.
I really don't have an answer for that. However, the present exchange rate is very favorable to the dollar. I highly recommend the Sofitel St. James and I even higher recommend the Italian restaurant just up the street, Don Carlo.
Ask for the server, Leonardo. i promise you that you will never have a better meal.
There are more places to choose from in the London area.
PRICE RANGE
$527 - $685 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
sofitel st james london hotel london, accor st james london, sofitel london, london sofitel st james
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandLondonSt. James's
NUMBER OF ROOMS
183
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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