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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, 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.
Disclosure: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase a linked item, I will make a commission, at no extra charge to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Post updated May 2020.
Considering a stay at The Goring?
When we were married a few years ago, we spent our honeymoon in our favorite city in the world: London. For two very pale lawyers prone to sun poisoning and desperate for afternoons spent in the pub, London was the perfect honeymoon destination, and it began a love affair with England that has never ceased!
Finding a hotel in London - with hundreds of luxury hotels and countless hotels with long, storied histories, is overwhelming. But, after much contemplation, in the end, I found it - The Goring, 'favourite' hotel of my favorite family - The Windsors. 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! 
Gorgeous in-room breakfast at The Goring
Who owns The Goring Hotel?
Incredibly, The Goring is still owned by the Goring family, who began the hotel over 100 years ago!
History of The Goring Hotel, London
Built by Otto Goring in 1910, and still owned by his great-grandson, 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. 
Wondering what to pack for your trip to London? Check out my full guide: What to Wear in London! The Goring's 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! 
Delightful King Room at The Goring Hotel, London
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!)
Otto the Sheep at The Goring Hotel
Afternoon Tea at The Goring
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.
Saucers at The Goring's afternoon high tea
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 personalized 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 full spread at The Goring's afternoon tea
The Royal Family's Relationship with The Goring
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 as Kate. Kate's parents, Carole & Michael Middleton, even hosted a reception for their friends at The Goring.
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! 
Pretending to be The Duchess of Cambridge at The Goring
First trip to England? Brush up on your English manners and pick up all my travel tips in my First Timer's Guide to England! The Goring's Dining Room
The Goring's dining room was re-done, as part of a massive overhaul of the entire property, in 2015. Now-Lord Snowdon, known professionally as David Linley, was responsible for the designs, which feature incredible, modern chandeliers. (Lord Snowdon is The Queen's niece - the son of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, the first Lord Snowdon, her husband whom she divorced in 1978). The restaurant has earned a Michelin star - another well-deserved accolade. My Husband still mentions, with a dreamy look, the beef Wellington we had at The Goring.
The Goring's Belgravia 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.
If you love novels about England - Belgravia, by Lord Fellows, best known for Gosford Park and Downtown Abbey, is a really enjoyable read to get you prepared for your trip! Thanks for stopping by!
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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4 Comments
12/14/2018 06:01:18 pm
Enjoyed reading your post. Ms B & I have been living just ten minutes away from the hotel for twelve years. We’ve dined at the hotel a few times but never stayed overnight. I’m getting the distinct impression that Ms B really wants us to book ourselves in for a night or two and your article made me think that this might actually be fun (at least if we can find an affordable deal and not have to rob any banks). 12/16/2018 10:26:11 am
Oh definitely - you know, Kate just sent me a text and was like "Tea at The Goring?" so obviously I just had to go! :) Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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