Activities & Days Out / 14 June, 2022 / Ellie Thompson
If you’re looking for a family-friendly London base from which to explore the capital, check out Conrad London St James. Situated in a quiet street in iconic Westminster, right next to St. James’s tube, the hotel has curated a fabulous family experience for little adventurers this summer. I took my gang down there last weekend to check it out.
Conrad London St James has put together a truly memorable family package that includes a bespoke Build-A-Bear gift. Ordered in advance, you can customise any bear by taking a quick questionnaire to share your children’s favourite character. Choose from Disney Princesses, Harry Potter, Encanto, and even Sonic the Hedgehog! Their new furry friend will be waiting in their bedroom, ready for the adventure to begin!
We arrived at the hotel earlier than planned but were greeted by a super-friendly member of the reception team. The kids were given a VIP welcome sticker and were told it gave them access to as much complimentary ice cream as they could eat. They were instantly impressed and beyond excited, although only managed two scoops between them!
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With £100 credit to spend as part of the family package, we had lunch at Blue Boar, the hotel’s very own gastropub. The kids tucked into a mouth-watering plate of fish goujons and chips from the kids’ menu (designed by award-winning chef, Sally Abé, you might know her from The Great British Menu), while we enjoyed the chicken and bacon club sandwiches. I also had a delicious Cosmopolitan (well, apparently it’s always cocktail hour somewhere, right?).
Booking a hotel can be a worrying experience when you’ve got kids as young as ours (3 and 5 years old) because you want to keep them close and safe at night. Conrad London St James offers families interconnecting rooms so you can sleep safe in the knowledge that your kids are in the room next to you. Any apprehension over sleeping arrangements vanished upon entering the room. We left all internal doors open, effectively turning our space into a rather grand ground-floor apartment.
The kids’ excitement levels soared upon seeing their bedroom and the two Build A Bear teddies waiting for them. They climbed onto their beds, made up with special London-themed bedding from The White Company to greet their new companions. Billy’s bear was a bright green super-cute dinosaur, so he knew instantly which bed was his, while Maddie’s was a dainty princess cat in pink and purple rainbow colours. She fell instantly in love, of course.
The kids’ separate shower room was spacious and came complete with a London-themed shower curtain, such a lovely touch. The bathroom was stocked with mini dressing gowns and child-friendly toiletries so the kids felt extremely pampered.
The adult room plus bathroom also exceeded expectations. The shower boasted a gorgeous rainforest shower that I could have stayed under for days, a separate bath, toilet and large bedroom with tea and coffee making facilities. All boxes brilliantly ticked.
As part of the hotel’s summer package, they offer each family an exclusively free Kids Pass. The Kids Pass offers awesome savings on popular London attractions including cinema tickets. With so many options for the perfect family day out at your fingertips, it’s best to plan where you want to go and book ahead of your stay, to make the most of your time.
Conrad London St James is located within walking distance of Big Ben, which was the first destination on our own itinerary. Billy was as keen as mustard to see the clock up close – after parading around in a dino/Big Ben t-shirt for the past three months. The beauty of staying in Westminster means you’re bang-smack in the middle of town, so London’s famous theatreland and most of the iconic kid-friendly attractions and destinations are all ridiculously close at hand. From Big Ben, we took a casual walk down to the Southbank, where en route the kids accidentally got ringside seats to London’s Naked Bike Ride 2022. We did our best to cover their eyes, but in the end, all four of us found it hilarious!
On returning back to the hotel after our day’s adventure, the barman greeted us with a smile as he served the kids oat milk and cookies before bed, which as you can imagine, went down a treat. We braced ourselves for an hour or two of over-excited shenanigans back in the hotel room, but both kids were completely exhausted from their busy day, and fell asleep instantly, our youngest even without his dummy. Which was great, because we forgot to bring it.
The night was a peaceful one, and with no noise from the rest of the hotel or outside on the street, we all slept soundly. And I can report that the pillows are just dreamy.
The Conrad London St James’ Family Adventure package is available during weekends, half terms and school holidays.
Overnight stay starts from £605 in a Family Room inclusive of breakfast, a VIP check-in, Build-A-Bear gift, and a £100 credit towards a meal in Blue Boar Pub. The package price is based on 2 adults and 1 child and is adaptable for various family types with upgrades available for additional children. Build-A-bear gift includes the option to theme the styling of bear. Option to include a favourite scent, sound and heartbeat available with an upgrade.
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