I know there’s perfume shopping to be done in the Burlington Arcade near Bond Street, just a short walk from the St. James’s Hotel and Club, but I’m having difficulty prying myself away from the private rooftop terrace of my suite. The elevated garden, filled with beautiful potted blooms, small trees and comfortable seating, is hidden amongst the foliage — complete with a fairytale-like overlook of London’s chimney-potted rooftops spread out below that club and operations manager John Hennessey quite accurately described as a “Mary Poppins view.”

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The boutique 5-star property is located in Mayfair in a lovely cul-de-sac, about a block from Green Park. During wartime, submarine pilots were housed here; more recently, the original 40 or so private apartments were converted into 60 luxurious guestrooms and suites. Inside, guests can relax in an atmosphere that’s dynamic and soothing, with burnished antiques and an art collection that includes a stunning selection of portraits that date from the 1920s to 1940s.

Throughout the property, bathrooms have been fitted with freestanding soaking tubs, while original photography adorns the walls — much depicting charming, whimsical scenes taking place between children and animals. Room amenities include Handy Smartphones with cool features such as complimentary internet access, free local and international calls, on-the-go concierge services and destination-specific content. For pampering, in-room beauty and wellness treatments and therapies are easily arranged.

In the kitchen of the Michelin-starred Seven Park Place, executive chef William Drabble takes local seriously, and diners benefit from his longstanding relationships with local farmers and fishermen. In addition to the French-inspired menu in Seven Park Place, chef Drabble also oversees William’s Bar and Bistro, and the hotel’s lavish Afternoon Tea service.

But back to that perfume errand: I make my way down the hotel’s sinuous marble stairway with a sculpture of a merry, flapper-era girl balanced on the newel at the base of the bottom step. The concierge is there to lead me to the rear exit of the hotel, where he shows me a secret stairway built between the street levels that offers a shortcut to Green Park. Okay… “secret” may be too strong a word since most guests at the hotel will use it, but still. Unless you’re looking for it, it’s difficult to discern. By the time I return from my short walk to Penhaligon’s, bearing my favorite Luna scent and body cream, my husband is already dressed for dinner. Which is, in my estimation, perfect timing. Shopping always makes me peckish.