Dukes London, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World is an historic jewel that has held court in St. James Mayfair for over 100 years. Hidden away on St. James Place, the hotel is renowned for its five star experience. A lovely staff welcomes you to your London home that just so happens to be around the bend from Buckingham Palace.
The atmosphere is refined but not formal; elegant yet relaxed.
Dukes London invites your family to explore London with a new Family Tradition Package. The hotel offers a variety of connecting bedrooms accommodating up to 4 guests.
Dukesy, a tiny toy dachshund in each room awaits your family’s arrival along with a personalized monogrammed bathrobe for each child. Teepee tents can be erected and extra beds are available at no charge.
All family bedrooms have YOTO players - child-friendly nightlights that also read out loud to young guests from adventures to fairy tales. Classic board games, gaming consoles, and family movies with popcorn can be arranged.
A dedicated concierge team can book experiences, private tours, and access to attractions so that families can simply enjoy the experience. A pre-arrival questionnaire guides the hotel team to curate welcome amenities for every family, and a child-friendly afternoon tea is served in-room on arrival.
The package also offers book vouchers to redeem at Hatchard’s, the UK's oldest bookshop, and a range of kid-friendly picnics to enjoy in nearby Green Park or St James's Park.
It's time to take the dog out! DUKES has designed a special scavenger hunt around London, “The Great DUKES Adventure” with DUKESY the toy dog. Kids bring Dukesy along on the hunt, following a map to solve clues, and marking each secret spot as it’s discovered - from Shakespeare’s Globe to the Tower of London, Tate Modern, The Shard, or the Imperial War Museum. There’s an activity book with a map, crayons, and stickers for each child and once the hunt is complete, there's a special prize waiting for each family back at the hotel concierge desk.
The new DUKES Family Tradition package includes complimentary breakfast for the whole family. For breakfast, lunch, or dinner children under 12 eat for free from the kids menu at the hotel’s Great British Restaurant, or GBR. Interesting name for a restaurant, but in fact, that's exactly what it is- it's great and it's British-locally sourced, expertly prepared, and smartly designed in small or regular-size servings. This is exceptional dining from breakfast to dinner under the helm of executive chef Nigel Mendham.
Each menu item at GBR and the Afternoon Tea menu is identified with symbols for food sensitivities. There's even a Vegan high tea menu!
The hotel inquired about food allergies before arrival and it was amusing how many waitstaff announced they were aware of my husband’s nut and strawberry allergy. Families with food allergies will be so appreciative of the hotel staff’s heightened awareness of possible food sensitivities.
Parents, it’s cocktail time and you don’t have to leave the hotel to experience London’s renowned martini bar. Dukes’ martinis are legendary and bar manager, Alessandro Palazzi is the master of the martini. Each cocktail is prepared table-side as performance art from a 1908 wooden trolley cart laden with bottles of frozen gin, vodka, and Dukes' specially prepared Vermouth with all-English ingredients and organic Amalfi lemons.
It’s a martini experience for the purist, to be sipped slowly, without the distraction of music, or interruption of food being served; just a few snacks, cocktails, and conversation. Dukes bar was a favorite spot of James Bond author, Ian Fleming and the inspiration for the phrase “Shaken, not stirred.” It’s no wonder travelers from around the world come to Dukes Bar to experience the art of the martini.
A toast to Dukes London, bring the family, and create a London memory!
by Debbie Silver