TIMELESS HOSPITALITY AND LAIDBACK LUXURY , ARRIVE AS A GUEST AND LEAVE AS AN OLD FRIEND , AT
DUKES LONDON
BY SAMANTHA READY
DUKES LONDON IS ONE OF LONDON ’ S HIDDEN TREASURES . SET BACK FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF MAYFAIR ’ S BUSY STREETS , NESTLED IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC ST . JAMES ’ S , DUKES OFFERS LUXURY , PRIVACY AND AN ALLURE OF SECRECY – IF EVER THE ‘ IF WALLS COULD TALK ’ COULD APPLY , HERE IS ONE PLACE I WISH IT WOULD COME TRUE .
The former Royal palace , now sophisticated bolt hole , dates as far back as 1532 , when King Henry VIII built the palace as a more hidden retreat away from Whitehall . It remained a private Royal residence until 1890 , becoming the DUKES LONDON Hotel at the turn of the century , in 1908 . Whilst notable extensions and refurbishments have followed – the most recent a multi-million pound update just two years ago – the special heart and exclusive retreat ambience is as alive today as it was then .
Yet , knowing that my guest and I were about to embark in a stay where royalty have slept , ride the original ( and notably instagramable !) 1920s elevator to the upper floors where the great and the good have ascended for slumber or descended for exclusive and perhaps raucous private celebrations , and dine in the drawing room where both the late Queen Mother and Princess Diana had favourite spots ( the former , the secluded sofa , the latter , a seat beside the elegant fireplace ), and sit adjacent to where HRH Prince William is known to frequent for a cigar and whiskey in the secluded garden , it didn ’ t feel nerve wracking nor intimidating , it felt very much like coming home ( if of course home was a beautiful royal house ...).
And therein is what sets DUKES apart .
DUKES understands that luxury lies not only in the elegant decor , refined furnishings or renowned cuisine , but also in the perfect execution of each and every simple task . Here it ' s all in the little , finer details and the clear demonstration that every guest is a VIP .
Greeted first by a rather beautiful , and aptly maskwearing , sausage dog sculpture ( the Dachshund is the hotel ’ s symbol dating back to when the dogs would bring rabbits from Green Park to the chef !), we were immediately greeted by Alberto Cambus , the epitome of DUKES in one graceful , humble , yet vivaciously enthusiastic incarnation . Check in was easy and we were soon shown to our relaxing , elegant suite , one of 87 suites and bedrooms available to guests . Bending to place key into lock , Alberto explained that door handles are deliberately set low in Royal households so that people bow upon entrance – and so truly began our felt-like-royalty experience …
Settled into our retreat , we took in the plush neutral tones , super king size bed and marble en suite bathroom with Penhaligon ’ s London toiletries , noting how Turkish cotton bathrobes and superior bed linen now coexist alongside bluetooth speakers and USB sockets . Unpacked and freshened from the journey , we descended to enjoy the next epitome of classic British culture – afternoon tea .
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