Conrad London St. James

We were blown away by the service at the Conrad in Westminster. We came for sightseeing, and the hotel is brilliantly placed for walking to Westminster Palace and Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the government buildings, and even Piccadilly Circus. The underground station is very close, on a line serving many popular sights. We'd read reviews before booking, and the location really lived up to them. We're Diamond members and arrived early, around 1pm. We were happy to leave our bags and head out, but Alex from Munich found us a room that was already ready and was also an upgrade. He explained everything thoroughly at check-in, and we were offered sparkling wine. Everyone was attentive throughout. My husband's bag missed its connecting flight, and the airline kept giving us misleading delivery times. The staff were understanding when we asked about it, then brought it straight to our room once it arrived. We thought we'd be waiting until after 11pm on the second day, but by 4pm it was there, along with a six-piece fancy chocolate set. The King Deluxe Room was spacious by London standards, with lovely decor and a divine bathroom. After a long day walking, the tub was great for a soak. Breakfast was wonderful. On Valentine's Day they gave out free mimosas, the buffet was always well stocked, and there was a nice mix of familiar and changing items from day to day. We tried the three-egg omelette and pancakes from the included à la carte menu, both were good. I especially liked the pancakes because they weren't as sickly sweet as American ones. My mornings usually began with a croissant, cappuccino and one of those little smoothies. The executive lounge was spacious and convenient for picking up water, soda or coffee while we were out and about. We also went in for evening appetizers a few times, and the food was great. There was a good choice of beers and wine, plus a couple of liquors, though we stuck with the beer and wine. My husband loves English cheese, so he was in heaven. In the evening, there was usually one hot and one cold appetizer with cheese and charcuterie. Food was replenished quickly, and we never saw it run out or people rushing to get some. We had drinks one night at the attached Blue Boar Pub before dinner. Even with a full house, the staff were attentive and recommended local beers for us to try. The rate was reasonable to us given all the amenities, even though we paid cash. For sightseeing in London, this is where we'd stay again. We don't get to travel abroad often, but when we do come back to London, this will hands down be our choice.