Location Map
St James's - A London Village
London is really a series of small villages, each with its own personality and attractions and all are best seen on foot. So when we at the St. James’s Hotel and Club are asked by guests for the best way to see the capital we give one simple piece of advice – go walking.
Take our area of St. James’s as an example: we are situated in a quiet cul-de-sac off St. James’s Street, an area named after our near neighbour St. James’s Palace. This 16th century palace was a residence of the Kings and Queens of England for over 300 years and remains the official residence of the Sovereign although since 1837 they have actually lived in Buckingham Palace, also nearby. Interestingly though all ambassadors from United Kingdom are accredited to the Court of St. James’s.
A few steps from the palace bring to you Berry Bros & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, having traded from the same shop for over 300 years and still family run. A placque in a nearby courtyard marks the site of the Texas Legation maintained there from 1836 to 1845.
James Lock & Co, hatters, comes next; founded in 1676 Lock and Co holds two royal warrants and still makes gentlemen’s headgear and ladies’ millinery with a style that is envied worldwide.
From top to toe, so the next stop in St. James’s street must be John Lobb, purveyor of handmade shoes. John Lobb continues the royal connection and also boasts celebrities from the silver screen, the world of politics and the arts as customers.
In the middle of St. James’s street is D. R. Harris & Co, London’s oldest pharmacy, whose range of skincare products has just been selected by British Airways for the latest first class bag and opposite is William Evans, gun and rifle maker and a relative newcomer having opened in 1883.
On the corner of London’s famous Jermyn Street is Fox of St. James’s, purveyors of fine specialist cigars to European Royal, and other distinguished customers, (including Winston Churchill) for over 200 years.
Nearing the end of St. James’s street is Piccadilly, home to the Royal Academy and Fortnum and Mason, London’s famous grocery store, having supplied high quality provisions since 1707.
All bespoke and unique establishments and all easily accessible from the hotel by foot. Of course the shops around St. James’s are not all about history: nearby Bond Street has all the designer names any shopaholic could wish for from Prada to Gucci and Ralph Lauren to Burberry and as for the nearby art galleries........
So if you intend to visit London take our advice and bring walking shoes – handmade of course!
By Henrik Muehle
