Dukes London review: What it’s like to stay at a Hilton SLH property in London like a top-tier elite

Elite Hilton Benefits at Dukes London

While I didn’t feel like my Hilton Honors Diamond status dramatically improved my stay, it certainly helped in some ways (aside from getting the “free” room with points).

Hilton Honors members can expect the following benefits during a stay at SLH:

• Member: Guaranteed member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, free late check-out, bottled water, and no resort fees on award stays
• Silver: 20% bonus points, 5th night free standard reward and all “member” benefits
• Gold– 80% points bonus, complimentary breakfast (for two guests), space-based upgrades, free 5th night standard reward, and all “member” benefits
• Diamond: 100% Points Bonus, Complimentary Breakfast (for two guests), Space-Based Upgrades, Free Standard 5th Night Reward, and all “Member” benefits.

As a Diamond Elite member, I was upgraded to a superior twin room, which is one category above Dukes London’s most basic room. This room has what the hotel describes as a “UK Double” bed; In reality, it looks like a glorified single bed.

Despite having top-tier Diamond status, I really didn’t expect to be upgraded to a suite, especially since I booked with points.

During my two-night stay, I enjoyed a complimentary breakfast, a benefit for Elite Diamond and Gold members. At the hotel they told me to choose the continental buffet breakfast or order a la carte.

I had an omelette with spinach and cheddar that would have cost $15. My colleague Jordan Waller, who lives in London, tried the eggs Benedict, which would have cost about $21. We also ordered fresh juices and espresso drinks, including a cappuccino with a cute picture of the hotel’s mascot.

The restaurant also allowed me to participate in the breakfast buffet, which was limited but had enough variety to satisfy almost any appetite.

Rooms at Dukes London

Dukes London is a boutique property in every sense, with just 79 rooms.

There are basically two wings of the hotel spread across two Victorian buildings which have been combined to form Dukes.

The property’s standard rooms are as small as you would expect in central London. Inside the rooms, the antique furniture shows its age and the rooms themselves are a bit worn. There is good news on that front, however, as the hotel told me that renovations will begin sometime in 2025.

As I mentioned, I didn’t get a big upgrade as a Hilton Honors elite member by staying at Dukes London. The room was comfortable, with two single beds pushed together to form a sort of king size bed.

There was a decent-sized closet, a small minibar, and a coffee maker that made delicious single-serve espressos.

Note that there were no free bottles of water for this Hilton Diamond, but there was a lovely little work desk. While the hotel didn’t have US-compatible plugs, it quickly showed off some adapters. While I loved the antique keys, the TV was at least 15 years old; Basically the rooms are starting to show their age.

The bathroom was small but sufficient and I liked the black marble look. The hotel offered services from Noble Isle, a regional brand commonly used by SLH properties. Specializing in products made in the UK.

Services at Dukes London

When it comes to services worth mentioning at Dukes London, there isn’t much to say. There’s a small gym with a few weight machines, two Star Trac elliptical machines, and two stationary bikes, plus a weight rack with dumbbells.

Unfortunately, the Italian marble steam room near the gym was closed and is scheduled to be overhauled when renovations begin in 2025, according to a hotel employee.

Restaurants in Dukes London

The main restaurant at Dukes London is the Great British Restaurant, located on the lower level of the hotel. In addition to breakfast, GBR (as it is often called by locals) also serves lunch, high tea and dinner. One night I enjoyed dinner there, starting with a delicious non-alcoholic champagne called Royal Flush that is made with tea and costs $10. I also had butter, bread, and a side of buttered rainbow carrots, which were $6.30 to start.

For my main course, I had a delicious Yorkshire wagyu burger with Somerset brie and summer truffle ($16). It was served with fries and was a perfect meal.

There’s plenty more on the menu, including several types of steak, as well as British classics such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.

Of course, no visit to Dukes would be complete without a cocktail at the famous Dukes Bar.

It’s not easy to get a table at Dukes, where people started queuing to get in around 2:30pm before the bar opened at 3pm. Fortunately, hotel guests have preferential seating.

A favorite of author Ian Fleming, as evidenced by the James Bond memorabilia displayed throughout, Dukes is known for its giant martinis made fresh at your table. The bar is also reported to have been frequented by Queen Elizabeth before her death.

The hotel told me it limits guests to just two of its signature Vesper Martinis because they’re so strong (thanks to five shots of gin). That wasn’t a problem for me as I was left with a non-alcoholic mojito style cocktail that still looked very pretty.

I highly recommend a visit to the bar just to say you had a “shaken, not stirred” frozen martini.

Accessibility at Dukes London

Since Dukes London has only two fully accessible rooms, it may not be the best option for people with disabilities. Please remember that this hotel was once two Victorian buildings, so it is difficult to make them fully functional for people in wheelchairs.

That said, there is an elevator to provide access to the upper floors, although it is not as wide as most accessible elevators in use today.

While the street-level entrance has steps, the hotel told me it has a ramp to use when guests in wheelchairs are staying on the property.

If you book one of the accessible rooms, you’ll have access to wide doorways, low furniture, and a bathroom with a roll-in shower and grab bars.

In a nutshell

Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties are a great addition to Hilton’s portfolio, especially in places like London, where Hilton’s footprint hasn’t been as strong.