Hello everyone reading this;

I will be in London around the 22 of Feb. for 4 nites. My husband and myself will have my parents ( 84 & 90 respectively) I know this is last minute booking - but so far I don't think room availability will be the problem - touching wood as I write! The weather , of course, is not so great this time of year. Our budget is fortunately for this trip not really an issue, as we want this to be very speacial. I am thinking of the Sofitel St. James - my mom may not even want to venture out - so a hotel with room service and cable tv is a must. The whole reason we are going to be there is a
story unto itself .So, finally for you whom are still with me - are there a lot of pubs and casual retaurants near the hotel? Also, what to you think of the Club Quarters - St James? A million thanks.

Too tired to keep looking.
CC

PS - we are very casual people!

Don't know the hotel, but yes, there is quite a lot around there, though possibly not really casual except for semi-fast food places.

Haymarket and Regent Street are a bit like 5th Avenue and Lexington Ave, busy streets with upscale shopping.

I hope you and your husband can get an evening or two away from your parents. You may prefer trendier places, but since you suggest that this is a sort of once in a lifetime, here are some nearby restaurants with experiences you are not likely to have at home.


One of the best fish meals I have ever eaten was at J Sheekey, a quick walk from your hotel, though I'll let others say whether it is still good. Another restaurant, an easy walk in the other direction is Wilton's on Jermyn Street. It is a quintessential old-fashioned English restaurant, though jacket is required. Your mother might like going to Fortnum and Mason for tea,and Simpson's in the Strand, a short taxi ride away for her and your father, offers a very traditional lunch experience, but again, not casual. You are likely to find more casual places around Covent Garden, and again, nothing is very far away in this part of London.

One of the reasons to stay in a hotel like this is a good concierge. Share your concerns, then ask him or her to review your list, make reservations, then tip them well.

Don't worry about the weather. Crocuses and occasionally daffodils often bloom in February. Just hope you don't get "the wrong kind of snow." This is a local joke, like "it fell off a lorry." You can use it should you see snowflakes.

There's no Club Quarters St James.

If you mean the place calling itself the Club Quarters Trafalgar Square (it's not in Trafalgar Square, just like the Sofitel's not in St James's, but when did hotels ever see the need to describe themselves accurately?), it's about 400 yds from the Sofitel, a bit more convenient for public transport, but otherwise as far as location is concerned preactically interchangeable with the Sofitel.

Depending how mobile your parents are, you might argue the Sofitel's handier for pubs and restaurants. There's a huge mass of them very close to the Club Quarters, but they can get raucous. Getting to quieter places involves a 500 yd walk, mostly across Trafalgar Square, which some 90 year olds might find a tad punishing.

Both, though, are really exceptionally well-located, with a huge range of places to eat and drink (not to mention the park and the river) within the half mile my 90 yo m-i-l would regard as a normal walk to somehere to eat or drink.

club quarters is ok mainly used by visiting professionals. (my partner uses it when she is in \london) but all that means is good wifi and every room has a desk. Other than that nothing wonderful

If budget is not an issue, I always recommend the Renaissance Chancery Court on High Holborn because it is very well maintained and I was treated so well there for many years. The rooms are large, comfortable and immaculate. The building used to be the headquarters of Sun Life Assurance. Many of the original details remain.

On one side of the lobby is a quiet lounge and informal dining area where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served--expensive but good. A large bar is on the other side of the lobby. The club floor has its own breakfast room/lounge with flat screen TV where your mom would be very comfortable.

Across the street are two casual restaurants, a Pizza Express and a pasta place--both are chains but not bad for a quick, casual meal. There's also a Starbucks, Pret a Manger, etc. within 25 yards. The hotel is around the corner from the Holborn tube stop and more pubs and casual restaurants. Covent Garden is maybe a 10 minute walk.

Hotel staff is great--hotel entrance is in a courtyard but doormen go out on Holborn to flag cabs, they help people in and out of cabs, etc. The concierge is helpful for restaurant advice and reservations, directions, booking theater, etc.

CC,

Last summer, with a higher exchange rate than now, room service breakfast at the Sofitel was $140 for two.

There is a Pret a Manger just across the street.