Built in 1910, The Goring is the only luxury hotel in London that is still owned and run by the family that built it. Four generations of the Goring family have lovingly run The Goring since it was opened by Otto R. Goring, great-great-grandfather of present CEO, Jeremy Goring.
The closest luxury hotel to Buckingham Palace, The Goring Hotel has been a Royal favourite since opening its doors. Every reigning Monarch and serving Prime Minister has been welcomed into the hotel, and The Goring stands out from the crowd as the only hotel to have been granted a Royal Warrant by The late HM The Queen for hospitality services. In 1953, the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II saw a vast influx of foreign royalty come to stay at The Goring, which became an annexe to Buckingham palace.
The Dining Room offers an impeccable Michelin-starred experience. The Queen Mother famously here enjoyed Eggs Drumkilbo – a lobster and egg-based dish that remains one of the most popular dishes. It’s also one of the last London restaurants to serve roast rib of beef that’s skillfully carved from a silver trolley. The sophisticated elegance of the David Linley designed room is inspired by a famous Cecil Beaton photograph of Debutantes gathered in a magnificent room.
The Goring Cocktail Bar is a lively destination in London’s thriving bar scene. Over one hundred different herbs are taken from The Goring Garden for signature classics and old favourites, from the Rosehip Royale to The Goring Cup, which incorporate liqueurs and spirits from fellow British Royal Warrant holders.
The interior design of The Goring Cocktail Bar has been gloriously and theatrically transformed by the inimitable Russell Sage. With a grand piano taking pride of place, the resident pianist provides fabulous live entertainment.
The Goring has been perfecting the art of Afternoon Tea since it opened its doors over a century ago and is served in the luxurious, five-star surroundings of The Veranda every day. Enjoy a pot of The Goring Afternoon Blend, the hotel’s own blend of Assam and second flush Darjeeling which makes for a light and delicate drink that is nevertheless satiating in its grip and strength.
A number of historic events have taken place at The Goring Hotel over the last 110 years. The Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces was based at the hotel during World War I. Winston Churchill held meetings with allied leaders in the Silver Room during World War II, while the Polish army in exile was based upstairs. A little-known fact is that Churchill’s mother, Jennie Spencer-Churchill, lived for a time at The Goring.
The Goring Garden, at 41 x 30 m, is larger than Centre Court at Wimbledon and is the largest hotel garden in Central London, with a full-time gardener. Big enough for a garden party in a marquee, but small enough to be an incredibly private and deeply peaceful retreat.
Used in several rooms, hand-woven Gainsborough Silks adorn the walls. The walls of the Royal Suite master bedroom are lined with the same beautiful silk that graced the first-class Dining Room of RMS Titanic 1912, whilst the silk in the bathroom is a match for that which adorns the throne room in Buckingham Palace.
With only 69 luxurious suites and rooms, The Goring Hotel is affectionately known as a “Baby Grand” and often referred to as “London’s country house hotel” – all the charm and tranquillity of a countryside hotel and its gardens, in the midst of the city.
The building was designed by the fashionable Edwardian architect, John Evelyn Trollope, a subdued and elegant example of Edwardian Baroque. The Goring was the first hotel in the world to offer central heating – and a bathroom for every bedroom.
The Goring’s one bedroom penthouse suite, The Royal Suite, is one of the most sought after in London and is where Catherine, Princess of Wales spent her final night before becoming the Duchess of Cambridge. The balcony runs the entire length of the top floor with large French windows in each room, opening up onto romantic views over The Goring’s private garden and the London rooftops beyond.
The Royal Suite features wonderful English interiors by designer Russell Sage, hand-picked antiques as well as unique royal artefacts, from handwritten letters and stationery to military regalia. One of the most astonishing pieces has to be a life-size portrait of Her Majesty Queen Victoria which is in the double shower of the master bathroom – protected by aircraft safety glass, of course.
There is an award-winning Doorman. In 2023, Peter Sweeney’s impressive 57 years of service as doorman at The Goring won him Belgravia Magazine’s renowned Old Friend Award, an established personality or business that continues to be appreciated by the community.
London’s ultimate “footman service” experience. Dressed in scarlet tailcoats and immaculate gold-trimmed waistcoats, guests staying in a Belgravia or Royal Suite are treated to the highest level of personal service with a dedicated footman on hand to fulfil their each and every wish.
Set on a quiet, leafy street in Belgravia – one of London’s most desirable areas – The Goring is well located to enjoy the best that the city has to offer. The hotel is a three-minute walk from Victoria Rail and Underground Stations. From here, guests can access high speed rail links to Gatwick Airport, the Orient Express and trains to Southampton for the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary cruise ships.
London is a fabulous city for children and The Goring gives its V.I. (little) Ps a very warm welcome. From mocktails on arrival, The Goring Passport (for children to keep a personal record of their London trip and collect stamps from each area of the hotel), a Dressing Up Box, Bedtime Story Library, to a Goring basket of essentials to help parents with babies. Chef even invites children down to the Kitchen, getting them to don an apron and chef’s hat to decorate delicious cakes and cookies.
The Goring marked its 105th birthday on 2 March 2015, having closed for the first time in its history, so that the final flourish of a top-to-toe renovation could take place. Four leading designers – Nina Campbell, Tim Gosling, David Linley and Russell Sage – redesigned the hotel’s suites, bar, lounge and terrace, dining room, rooms and front hall.
The glamorous Front Hall is decked in glorious hand-painted wallpaper depicting an English parkland – into which wild animals have escaped. Many of the animals represent members of the Goring family!
Head Concierge, John Andrews, affectionately known as “Big John” is a much-loved member of The Goring team. As a member of the Golden Keys, he knows London better than anyone else, often going to extraordinary lengths to make a guest’s stay memorable – including once organising a flashmob wedding proposal on the London Eye!
Sixty-nine individually designed, classically English rooms and suites – many overlooking The Goring Garden, some enjoying a private terrace. New suites are by Nina Campbell and guestrooms by Tim Gosling (formerly with David Linley) and Russell Sage, featuring bespoke historic fabrics by Royal Warrant Holders, Gainsborough Silks, for the wall coverings.
A choice of four individual private rooms, to accommodate from 4 to 100 guests, providing a magnificent backdrop to any meeting, dinner or party. The Garden Room features its own conservatory area leading out to the glorious Goring gardens; The Drawing Room has the most intricate woven wallpaper, designed by Fromental; The Silver Room boasts Gainsborough Silk curtain fabrics and wallpaper by Fromental – part embroidered on a silver leaf background with hand-painted Chinoiserie design in red; The Boardroom features striking design, roomy leather chairs and state-of-the-art technology.
The Goring has a fabulous range of gifts and hampers available for purchase in-hotel and online – from books to bathrobes, and slippers to sheep (The famous Goring fluffy Bar-Baa-Ra Sheep), there is something for everyone.
A Few Royal Facts
The Goring is the closest luxury hotel to Buckingham Palace. Since 1910, every reigning monarch has walked through the hotel’s doors.
Between 1920 – 1925, The Queen often visited The Goring Hotel to meet The Hon. Violet d’Arcy who resided at the hotel for several months while she was Lady in Waiting to Queen Mary.
The Coronation of King George VI in 1937 and of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 saw a vast influx of foreign royalty to the hotel. The Norwegian Crown Prince was most complimentary saying that ‘at Buckingham Palace I have to share a bath with five people! Here I have one to myself’.
Several dishes served to guests in 1953 were reintroduced into The Dining Room 2022 to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
In 1948, The Goring pastry chefs supplied a cake for Prince Charles’ Christening.
Throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother’s regularly attended for the Injured Jockeys Fund meetings of which she was Patron. The Queen Mother famously enjoyed Eggs Drumkilbo – a lobster and egg-based dish that remains one of the most popular dishes in The Michelin-starred Dining Room.
The Dining room was designed by Queen Elizabeth II’s nephew, Lord Snowdon.
In 1990, the late George Goring received an O.B.E. from Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace for ‘services to the hotel industry’.
As part of Prince Charles’ 60th Birthday celebrations the crowned heads of Europe enjoyed a luncheon at The Goring in 2008.
In 2011, Kate Middleton spent her final night at The Goring before marrying Prince William. Kate Middleton hand-painted part of a mural on the ground floor when we re-opened the hotel in 2015 after the renovation programme was completed.
In January 2013, The Goring was granted a Royal Warrant Of Appointment to HM The Queen for Hospitality Services – – the only hotel to have been granted a Royal Warrant by The Queen.
During the last 20 years The Queen held regular luncheons at the hotel.
Hand-woven Gainsborough Silks found in royal residences can also be found at The Goring. The Royal Suite’s bathroom is lined with the same beautiful silk that adorns the throne room in Buckingham Palace. The yellow and pale green silks found in Garden Room 58 and 98 respectively, can also be found at Buckingham Palace. In Garden Room 79, the medium blue silk is the same as the silk in Queen Victoria’s bedroom at Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight and Garden Room 99 shares the same deep blue silk originally commissioned by the Royal Mews to line the inside of the royal coaches for occasions such as Royal weddings.
Unique royal artefacts, from handwritten letters and stationery to military regalia can be found in The Royal Suite. One of the most astonishing pieces has to be a life-size portrait of Her Majesty Queen Victoria which is in the double shower of the master bathroom.
Conclusion
London’s last remaining family-owned luxury hotel. Crafted over a century by one family, The Goring is the genuine article – a grand hotel with impeccable manners and a subtle streak of wit and wonder.
We are totally in love with this beautiful hotel and its unrivalled royal history.
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