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A Royal experience
It has been a long time since I last reviewed a luxury hotel or had the opportunity to leave the house since the UK; indeed, the world has been in lockdown. I could not contain my excitement and a touch of nervousness as it was the first hotel I had visited since the pandemic started, and I knew that it would be a unique experience.
Full of history, the Goring Hotel was opened in 1910 by Otto Richard and has been a favourite for the Royals, Lords, and Ladies ever since. From the first moment we arrived, I knew we were in for a fantastic stay.
With a stunning entrance which was beautifully decorated with tropical flowers, big leaves, and colourful, lifelike parrots that created an arch over the main door and gave the perfect mood that summer was on its way.
Peter, the forever-smiling doorman, greeted us and took us to check in. I love warm and professional checking, as it can indicate how the rest of our stay will be. Due to covid-19, it was also essential to see how hotels implement suitable Covid safe environments. They had implemented auto temperature checks at the Goring Hotel, face-covering worn around the hotel and many other safety measures.
Arrival
One of the first things I noticed was the astonishingly amazing silk wallpaper that covered the entire hotel. The Front Hall was renovated by the brilliant interior designers Russel Sage and Jeremy Goring, who closed The Goring Hotel for the first time in over 100 years. Sage transformed the space into something more modern and playful whilst keeping the classic elements that have made The Goring the delightful place to stay.
It took four artists eight weeks to finish designing the walls, covered in hand-gilded silver leaves and acrylics of all kinds of exotic and charming animals within the designs. It looked outstanding and oozed timeless glamour. The white and black marble floors brought elegance, and the entire front hall had a personal touch that only a family-owned hotel like The Goring could offer.
Peter showed us to the main lounge, where we were given refreshing drinks until we were ready to check in. The lounge had a beautiful fireplace and a stunning, fully stocked bar with The Goring Hotel’s signature sheep everywhere. It is good to notice that The Goring Hotel is the only privately owned family hotel in England and was bestowed a Royal Warrant. This admirable recognition was awarded for their outstanding services to the Households of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh. The Goring Hotel is the ONLY hotel globally to receive this honour.
Stunning glass French doors lead to the garden; the windows were open in the entire room and brought in the refreshing breeze (it was a hot day, I know, shocking). Overlooking the lawn, I noticed a wedding was currently taking place outside. There were gorgeous romantic flowers all over the lawn; the area was surrounded by trees, giving it a secluded element that reminded me of the secret garden. It is rare to find such an exquisite private garden in the middle of London, and it is the ideal spot for an intimate and romantic setting for you and your partner to have your big day. Gardeners carefully sculptured the entire garden daily to keep it tidy, fresh, and fabulous. The wedding ceremony looked most elegant and had a fairy-tale aesthetic.
The Goring proved from the start of our stay that it is one of the best places to have the most stunning and intimate wedding of your dreams. The entire hotel has 69 breath-taking and unique rooms that will fit anyone’s needs; whether it’s an elegant wedding ceremony in The Garden Room or a sophisticated and relaxed room such as The Drawing Room, The Goring Hotel has a wide variety of rooms that you could choose from and have the wedding you always wanted.
We were soon greeted by Keira, who gracefully checked us in and gave us a tour of the hotel’s history. We were escorted to our room (Suite 79) which was breathtaking, to say the least. The royal blue silk lining walls with white flower patterns decorated the entire room. The windows overlooked the private garden giving the room a lavish feel, and the long silk curtains were white on the outside and purple on the inside, with the most exquisite detailed beads and pears dropping on the edges of the curtains.
The bed had a crisp blue linen cover and the softest white sheets. There was a lovely welcome note on the bed attached to one of The Goring hotel’s signature Sheep, which we got to keep. It made us smile and feel the most welcome.
The entire suite is spacious, luxurious, and has a timelessly elegant feel. The Suite has a marvellous en-suite bathroom made of white marble floors and a huge walk-in shower. Fresh cotton robes were hanging from the wall, along with slippers that I could not wait to put on and rest later. The room would work as the perfect place for the bride to get ready and feel like a princess or even for a romantic, intimate honeymoon suite.
The Royal Suite
Next was a tour of The Royal Suite, where the Duchess of Cambridge got ready for her big day. Michael, the general manager of The Goring Hotel, gave us a grand tour of the room. The one-bedroom penthouse has a marvellous garden that overlooks The Goring Garden. The walls in the master bedroom are the same stunning silk in the First Class Dining Room in the RMS Titanic. The silk on the bathroom walls is the same match as those adorn The Throne Room in Buckingham Palace. Another noticeable item in the master bathroom is a life-size portrait of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. The guests staying in The Royal Suite will enjoy a fully stocked bar, fresh fruit, delicious handmade chocolates, and vases filled with flowers. The iconic Suite would serve as an unforgettable royal honeymoon experience.
Weddings at The Goring Hotel
We were fortunate to see a real wedding taking place during our stay. The green lawn and overlooking trees provided a fantastic backdrop for stunning photos. Whether you’re looking to host your wedding ceremony with us or enjoy breakfast here, The Goring is the perfect place for a luxury London wedding.
Wedding Fact Sheet:
The beautiful appointed Private Event Space fact sheet can be found here
- Large private garden and the very best professional service.
- Fully licensed for holding weddings and civil partnerships, and wedding receptions
- A Michelin-Starred chef will create everything from delicious canapés to the most amazing desserts,
- Seasonal wedding reception menus
- Bedrooms for everyone, the party can go on into the small hours.
- The Garden Room seats 44 for lunch or dinner and 100 for reception
- The Drawing Room seats 12 for lunch or dinner and 25 for reception
- The Veranda seats 30 for lunch or dinner and 50 for reception
- The Silver Room seats 8 for lunch or dinner only
Dining
After our tour, we got ready for dinner, which we would have in an exclusive dining room usually saved for weddings. It was gorgeous, surrounded by elegant high windows that brought in rays of sunshine, romantic patterned silk walls, a comprehensive table that could fit your guests, and the ceiling was filled with Swarovski diamonds that made the entire room sparkle.
I opted to have The Queen’s favourite dish for dinner, which she is known to have had regularly at The Goring Dining Room. My starter consisted of ‘The Goring Eggs, Drumkilbo, lobster, caviar, Granny Smith Apple’, and it tasted outstanding. The food was elegantly decorated and put together, along with the most heavenly-flavoured food one could have.
For my main, I chose the ‘Dover Sole, crisp potatoes, and tartare garnishes (served grilled or Meuniere); it was beautifully presented and looked like a work of art. I almost felt bad eating it, but it was worth it. I also ordered a Chardonnay as I was advised that it would complement the chicken, and it did precisely that. The entire course tasted sublime and justified why it is considered one of the best restaurants in London. The Goring Dining room is an excellent choice for a unique and intimate wedding dinner or luxurious dining with your loved ones.
The Goring Hotel also offers a unique experience to have tea with Teddy, the Shetland pony who will be trotting into The Goring Garden in August for two magical weeks. Sadly I missed the opportunity to dine with Teddy, which gives me another opportunity to revisit The Goring Hotel!
Night at The Goring Hotel
After our fantastic dinner, I wandered through the lobby and went out to the lawn to enjoy the garden lights and enjoy a nightcap. I soon made my way up to our room, where lip balms, water, and slippers were waiting for us to use and relax. The housekeepers had prepared the room for the evening; the curtains were drawn, with the lights dimmed down, cosy and ready for bed.
Breakfast
I woke up feeling very relaxed, the room was quiet, and there was no sound from the busy London roads. It was a euphoric experience, and I slept feeling like a princess. The sheets felt as soft as feathers; the bed felt cosy and homey. The entire room was quiet despite being in Central London, and you could not hear anything.
Our breakfast was brought to us, where I had The Goring Omelette, served to select different types of yoghurts and fruit. After Breakfast, we returned to the garden, sat by the outdoor bar, and enjoyed our final moments at The Goring Hotel. We checked out after a glamorous stay, and it was a unique experience. We gave our farewell to the staff that made us feel so welcome.
It was such a lovely stay at The Goring Hotel. The entire experience was made for royalty. The fantastic décor, delicious cuisine, and outstanding service make it irresistible not to visit again. Especially when Teddy is in town, I will be back. One thing is sure at The Goring Hotel, you are in for a dreamy experience, and it is the perfect place where you could have your wedding or have the honeymoon that you always imagined.
The Goring Hotel – London
15 Beeston Place London, SW1W 0JW
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7396 9000 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7834 4393
call on 020 7769 4555 or email [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
