Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, London — Hotel in London

A 2 star hotel masquerading as a 5 star. I’ll cut straight to the point – I have never been MORE DISAPPOINTED in a stay than I have for my 4 night stay at the “Taj” London (St. James). Location is the only thing this hotel has for it – central London. There appears to be three “sections” of the hotel: Classic, Executive and Premier. I’m not sure at the time of booking if it is obvious which section you are booking for but DO NOT BOOK ANY ROOMS IN THE CLASSIC SECTION. This is a run-down, 2 star facility that is covered in the mirage of something that acts like it is posh. Here are some bullet points of my issues: Arrived at 3:30 for a 3 PM check-in. It took guest services over an hour to get us until our room. When we finally arrived on our floor, exit the elevators and take a right, we literally have to open fire doors to under the “poor” section of the hotel. I wish I were kidding. The hallway looks pulled out of some ghetto motel with peeling and chipped paint. Hoping this was just a strange unimportant part of the experience, we enter our room and are shocked. We booked a suite (over 600 pounds/night) and the room looked like it had not been updated in 30 years. There was a particular smell in the air and the bathroom ceiling was falling apart with peeling and chipped paint and multiple ceiling tiles not fully settled. As I’m looking around, someone from guest services or house-keeping comes by to ask if everything is okay and I was very blunt and said no, explaining how shocked I was at the condition of the room and the hallway. The individual literally shook her head, turned and laughed a little to herself and I said, not the first time you’ve heard this? She explained that people are usually disappointed with the “Classic” rooms. I went to guest services downstairs and explained how disappointed I was, reiterating my conversation with the previous worker. They asked to see if they can relocate us and they did, to the fourth floor, but still in the Classic section. This room was a little bigger and a little less disheveled but the hallway suffered from the same condition. The shower barely works, the sink slowly drains, the desk chair I’m sitting on as I wrote this was literally falling apart – if I sneeze I think I’d end up on my butt. With our original room, we had a roll-out bed. This never made its way to the newer room and I waited over an hour for the bed to put my kids to sleep. They knew our booking was for 2 adults and 2 children and despite this there were only 2 bath towels in the bathroom. I had to call for additional bath towels.

Overall I will never stay here again and wisely advise you all avoid. Maybe if you're dropped 1K quid on an executive room, you would have a better experience, but it was an absolute waste of money and...

First time at Taj 51 Suites and Residences, and loved it.

3 nights 12-14 April

Kings Junior Suite booked, upgraded to Kings One Bedroom Suite.

We usually stay at a different chain of hotels, (being part of a loyalty program), but thought we’d try The Taj Hotel group instead, and are so glad we did. There are two types of accommodation at the Buckingham Gate address: St James’ Court and Taj 51. We stayed at Taj 51 Suites and Residences and definitely got more floor space compared to hotels of the same standard that we’ve stayed in before. We were given an upgrade 🙏🏻 (more of a double upgrade). The suite we stayed in was spacious, clean and comfortable. It had a contemporary feel, was homely and met all our needs, and was decorated as per the price bracket of this standard of accommodation. I looked at the higher end accommodation, which looks more lavish (rightly).

We really enjoyed our Breakfast at The Kona Restaurant. We decided to try the Indian option breakfast; the staff couldn’t have been more helpful in making our Indian breakfast experience something special. We loved it so much that we tried something different (Indian) each day. All the restaurant staff were delightful and helpful, and the restaurant manager Shubham Prakash went above and beyond to make sure we had a real taste of India. It was one of the highlights of our stay; thank you so much 😊

The property has a charming and pretty central courtyard, full of plants and colourful flowers, which makes it feel very secluded, welcoming and homely.

From check-in to check-out we were treated exceptionally well by all the staff we encountered, and who work hard to do their very best.

The location is great, we like to walk (the calories off!) and walked everywhere, but there are underground stations very close by, and it’s easy to get a taxi (the staff will help with that as well). Buckingham Palace and St.James’ Park are just down the road. Walk through St. James’s Park and you’ll pop out close to The Ritz, and right in the heart of it all. To give an idea: We went to the Victoria Palace Theatre to see Hamilton (which is an excellent show) and only 10 mins walk. We had afternoon tea at The Savoy, which was a 30 minute (fast) walk away, but you get to see lots of the attractions, and a feel for where you are.

The Savoy afternoon tea experience was as amazing as expected. Afternoon tea at The Kona at Taj 51 Restaurant is highly recommended and we definitely want to try the Jasmine Indian Afternoon Tea option, next time.

We’ve signed up to the Neupass loyalty program and already looking forward to our next stay, and delicious Indian breakfast.

Our thanks to everyone who made this trip a very happy and...

Deeply Disappointed: The Decline of a Once-Prestigious Hotel

As a loyal guest for nearly 20 years, I am truly saddened to see what this hotel has become. What was once a symbol of warmth, personalized service, and genuine hospitality has entirely lost its way.

In recent times, prices for everything—rooms, food, and amenities—have shot through the roof, with food prices increasing by 300%. Yet, the quality of service has plummeted. The hotel now levies a 12.5% service charge and a 5% voluntary tip, which I find entirely unjustified given the decline in staff attentiveness and overall standards.

This hotel used to be renowned for its "Tajness"—a true sense of care and emotional connection with guests. Today, it largely caters to celebrities and high-ranking officials, leaving long-term guests like myself feeling ignored and undervalued. Service is inconsistent, and basic amenities are neglected.

The gym, once a decent facility, is now a disgrace—unclean, unhygienic, and tiny. It’s been turned into spa space that only a handful of guests can use at once. The staff seem more focused on pampering VIPs than attending to regular guests, which is a stark contrast to the warm, welcoming atmosphere it once offered.

Considerable effort was once made to offer thoughtful services, such as providing takeaway meals for travelers with dietary needs—something I appreciated greatly. Now, these services are gone or overcharged (GBP 80 for a small dish), emphasizing profit over guest care.

Despite multiple attempts to raise these issues directly with management, I have seen no meaningful action or acknowledgment. The silence and inaction speak volumes about the hotel’s priorities shift from guest satisfaction to maximization of profits.

This experience has left me deeply disappointed. I no longer recommend this hotel to anyone seeking genuine hospitality and a welcoming environment. The decline is obvious, and it’s heartbreaking to see such a once-proud property lose its soul.

Save your money and seek alternatives that truly value and care for...