St James's Palace survive, but most were remodelled in the 19th century. The palace was commissioned by Henry VIII, on the site of a former leper hospital dedicated to Saint James the Less. The new palace, secondary in the king's interest to Henry's Whitehall Palace, was constructed between 1531 and 1536 as a smaller residence to escape formal court life. Much smaller than the nearby Whitehall, St James's was arranged around a number of courtyards, including the Colour Court, the Ambassador's Court and the Friary Court. The most recognisable feature is the north gatehouse; constructed with four storeys, the gatehouse has two crenellated
Conrad London St. James Conrad London St. James Less than two years after it had opened, InterContinental surrendered the management of its second London property – InterContinental London Westminster, located in the former Queen Anne's Chambers. It became the Conrad London St. James in September, 2014. It has 256 guest rooms and suites, 7 meeting rooms and a restaurant. This stately structure, with its 19th-century façade, was once a war-time residence of lobbyists and civil servants. The building was renovated and opened its doors as London's first Conrad hotel. Nowadays the stylish interior features original art installations and a contemporary design.The press release stated