Stunning New Garden Suites Debut At The Trafalgar St. James, London

The former headquarters of Cunard, the well known transatlantic shipping company founded in 1840, is today one of London’s best-located hotels, the Trafalgar St. James. On the south west corner of the John Nash designed Trafalgar square, the five-star hotel is ideally placed for art lovers, with free admission to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery on the other side of the square. The National Gallery has just unveiled a major refurbishment and rehang of the Sainsbury wing, making it an even better time to see its collection of masterpieces of Western art from Raphael and Leonardo to Cezanne, Turner and Van Gogh. Also nearby is St Martin in the Fields, one of the most famous churches in London, offering wonderful lunchtime and evening classical concerts.

Trafalgar St. James, part of Hilton’s luxury Curio Collection, has recently launched the new Spring Garden Suites, six luxury suites, part of the hotel’s £6 million renovation, a full refurbishment of the ground and lower ground floors and the opening of Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar. The lobby opening into the restaurant and bar feels so much brighter and modern with the renovation. And there are plenty of helpful staff, ensuring that check in is a breeze.

New Suites

The new Spring Garden Suites are tucked away on the lower ground floor but they are astonishingly bright, thanks to a clever lighting system that emulates daylight. The hotel has used innovative lighting company Light Cognitive to create the most realistic lighting effect possible. Light Cognitive used an LED innovation that follows nature’s circadian rhythm. The lighting design is claimed to help to improve mood, sleep and health for guests. The warm, sophisticated interiors from from Design LSM (the award-winning studio behind another Hilton property, 100 Queen’s Gate and restaurants Cinnamon Bazaar and Gaucho) are from a contrasting palette of bold colors against natural tones of dark oak and rattan.

Each suite has great amenities from a Nespresso Vertuo coffeemaker, a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and Molton Brown toiletries. As well as being well away from the bustling Trafalgar Square above, a super comfortable bed and a sleep sound machine ensures a restful night’s sleep. The six subterranean Spring Garden suites are in addition to the hotel’s 131 bedrooms and suites on the upper floors.

New Restaurant and Wine Bar

The redesigned lobby flows nicely into the elegant new restaurant and bar, also designed by Design LSM. Hotel guests can have breakfast at all-day destination, the Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar. For guests and outside visitors, the Rockwell is an inviting oasis of calm, right on the corner of London’s most famous square, a major tourist destination. The menu offers deli-style dishes and small plates for lunch and dinner, including Sussex Wagyu Beef, cured meats and cheeses. Menu highlights include Iberico ham croquetas and an incredibly delicious vegan pasta dish – Cavatelli with cavolo nero pesto, chilli, and Stracciatella cheese that you’d never guess is vegan. The wine list is comprehensive with wines from 15 countries including some of England’s finest sparkling wines.

Rooftop Bar

For panoramic views, The Rooftop definitely deserves its title as one of London’s top skyline bars. Sip on the excellent cocktails and enjoy succulent burgers, prawn bao buns or nibbles while surveying Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and many more of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Booking in advance is recommended.

An overnight stay in a Garden Suite is from £479 (room only).