A Stay at The Goring Hotel
Ever wondered where the Royal Family stays (and puts up its guests) in London? There's an easy answer - the luxurious, and discreet, The Goring Hotel...
TEXT BY JULIANNE
The Goring is the 'favourite' hotel of my favourite family - The Windsors. The Hotel is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Buckingham Palace. The best part? You can stop by - for tea, or a week! You never know who you might run into.
So if you want to learn about what it's like to stay in the same hotel where Kate Middleton stayed the night before becoming The Duchess of Cambridge, check out my review of The Goring Hotel, London!
HISTORY
Built by Otto Goring in 1910, and still owned by his greatgrandson, The Goring's connection to the Royal Family extends nearly as far. The Goring was the go-to tea (and drinks!) spot for my personal Royal Family hero, the Queen Mum, who actually made her last appearance at The Goring before her death, in 2002.
And, of course, The Goring is a holder of the extremely prestigious Royal Warrant - courtesy of Her Majesty, The Queen, for provision of hospitality services to The Royal Family.
GUEST ROOMS
What is there to be said about the rooms at The Goring, aside from that they are absolute perfection? We were fortunate enough to stay in a Delightful King Room - which was more than enough space for the two of us for 10 days. Not pictured in my shots was a large, oak dresser in addition to a separate closet. There was also a desk, which included some storage.
All of The Goring's guest rooms have stunning marble bathrooms which, in their original, likely un-marbled form, were one of the hotel's many "firsts" - The Goring is believed to be the first hotel to have entirely en suite bathrooms. No wonder the Royals loved it!
The details in the rooms and public spaces are stunning to the last detail - the Gainsborough silk walls are literally breath taking.
The Goring prides itself on its personal touches - including a sweet little sheep ("Otto" after its founder), who lives in your room (we called and confirmed before we checked out that he was able to come home to the States with us!)
AFTERNOON TEA
Whether you're staying at The Goring or not, afternoon tea at The Goring is a must! The Goring's saucers feature the profile of hotel founder Otto Goring, complimented by the gorgeous hotel silver.
Though I certainly won't say that the tea is affordable, it is perfectly on-par with many of the other luxury tea establishments in London, and I can guarantee that you will have a much more relaxed and personalised experience.
The Goring is very much off the beaten tourist path, and many of tea-takers on a given afternoon are Londoners. Very importantly, you won't be unceremoniously rushed through your experience as you will in many establishments catering to tourists throughout London.
THE ROYAL FAMILY
In 2011, then-Kate Middleton spent her last night before her wedding at The Goring - and if you have a few more 'quid' than me, you can stay in the same room at Kate. Kate's parents, The Middletons, even hosted a reception for their friends at the hotel.
Most recently, The Goring has played host to The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex, and The Queen for several lunch engagements. Kate, a keen artist, even helped finish the stunning painting of a lion and unicorn in the lobby - after a few drinks, the Husband convinced me to give it a go as well!
LOCATION
Moving away from the historical and Royal connections, The Goring's Belgravia location is excellent. Snuggled in a quiet part of Belgravia, it's an easy walk to Buckingham Palace (ok, so I didn't move away from the Royal connections). It's right around the corner from some pubs and a few less pricer eateries, in addition to Victoria Station (both the Tube and rail versions), which can get you almost anywhere in England.
A stay at The Goring is an absolute treat - from the moment Peter, the penultimate professional, greets you at the door, to the dining and tea experiences, to bumping into a Royal here and there, you won't regret it!
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Hear more about Julianne's adventures at: Pints, Pound and Pate
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