The Goring London

What you need to know

Where It Is

London's only privately owned 5* deluxe hotel, The Goring is located just a few minutes away from Buckingham Palace in nearby Victoria. This made it the ideal choice for Kate Middleton to stay on the night before her wedding to Prince William. As well as the iconic royal residence, guests are also within easy walking distance of historic Westminster Abbey, inviting St James's Park and stylish Mayfair.

How to get there

Victoria is one of London's primary transport hubs, and the main station lies a mere five-minute walk from the hotel. If you are arriving from Gatwick Airport, the Gatwick Express train is as convenient as it gets, taking you from the airport to Victoria train station in just 30 minutes.

If you are arriving in London by another route, Victoria tube station is easily reached on the Circle, District or Victoria Line, with direct routes from Kings Cross St Pancras, Liverpool Street and Paddington. There are also plenty of buses that run along nearby Grosvenor Gardens to all areas of the city. Service 52 heads into Kensington, 73 will take you to the end of Oxford Street, and 11 goes right through Westminster along Whitehall.

What To Expect - Rooms

The fact that the Royal Family deemed The Goring perfect for the wife of the future King should tell you all you need to know about the level of luxury guests enjoy. The hotel has been one of London's finest establishments since it opened in 1910, and has catered for illustrious visitors such as the Queen Mother and Sir Winston Churchill.

Each of the 69 stunning rooms and suites has been individually designed with the help of some of the country's top designers, with guests enjoying specially selected fabrics, toiletries and bespoke furnishings. A third of the Goring's rooms enjoy a view over the beautiful private gardens. The top floor is taken up by the opulent Royal Suite, truly a room fit for a future Queen.

What To Expect - Dining

The magnificent dining room is lit by Swarovski chandeliers, creating the perfect ambiance for you to enjoy the sumptuous cuisine laid on at The Goring, from hearty breakfasts to elegant evening meals. Each of the ingredients in the kitchen comes from some of the finest sources in the country. They even employ a forager to collect indulgent truffles and the finest wild herbs.

Afternoon tea is among the most elegant experiences a hotel can offer, and The Goring presents this expertly. Guests can choose from traditional afternoon tea or The Bollinger Tea, which comes with champagne and strawberries. Both are served daily from 3:30-4:30pm.

The bar is a wonderful, relaxing setting to sit back and and enjoy one of the finest wine lists of any London hotel, while the veranda is the perfect place to spend an afternoon if the weather is fine.

Anything Else?

When it opened on March 2nd 1910, The Goring was the first hotel to offer en suite facilities and central heating in every room. It has been run continuously by four generations of the Goring family ever since, and is now London's only family-run 5* hotel.

If you are having trouble deciding what to do in London during your stay, Head Concierge John Andrews is the man to ask. He was recently voted "Top Concierge Worldwide" by Luxury Travel Advisors.