Hotel in Detail:
The Rubens at the Palace was originally built in 1912 and today is traditionally styled and furnished along with traditional service and a high degree of comfort. Offers 4 star deluxe accommodation with more than a touch of old-world courtesy. Features a 3,770 square foot vertical living garden on the side of the building with buttercups, strawberries, lavender geraniums creating its own ecosystem.The bedrooms all have an individual character. All rooms offer individually controlled air conditioning, bureau desks, free high speed internet access connection, safe, Telephone with voicemail, entertainment centre with movie library, CD Player and music library, interactive TV with web browser and on demand movies, Music library, Mini-Bar, Tea/Coffee Making Facilities, Hairdryer and ironing Equipment. Fax machine on request.
All rooms are en-suite with luxury toiletries, a bathroom phone, bathrobes and slippers. Many bedrooms have views out over the Royal Mews.
All rooms have a twice daily maid service (on request) and 24 hour room service is available.
Superior rooms have large desk areas, swivel chair and have supplied stationary and business equipment.
Executive King rooms are as Superior rooms but have an additional sofa bed.
Buckingham Rooms have their own private floor and express lift.
Business Ready rooms have custom desk/work areas designed for the needs of the business traveller along with additional business facilities.
Lone female traveller rooms have additional security measures and female service staff.
Suites have all amenities from all the above grade rooms plus added extras.
Royal Rooms are themed to a past British monarch, each one of the 8 rooms is different to every other. From crystal chandeliers to beds with canopies, each has something different.
Dining Options:
The Curry Room: Authentic journey of
discovery blending Indian and African influences serving a three course
menu. Celebrates authentic flavours made with the finest ingredients and
exclusively imported spices from India. The intimate and supremely
comfortable setting of the restaurant incorporates Rajasthani hand
embroidery and rich red colours which reflect the vibrant diversity of the
dishes.A wide selection of old and new world wine has been carefully selected to complement the dining experience. Popular Indian beer options include Kingfisher and Cobra.
The Old Masters carvery and grill room: Set in the style of a traditional carvery with rich decorative ceilings and chandeliers. Has a reputation for a superb roast and Rib of Aberdeen Angus beef. Also serves lighter meals and a wide choice of salads, fish and vegetarian options. Its breakfast also has a high reputation which can be a buffet, full, English or choice of juices, cereals and pastries. Serves a pre-theatre menu.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Library Restaurant: The setting is one of rich embroidered fabrics and big comfy armchairs. The restaurant has an intimate ambience. A fine dining venue with an International and English menu and where fish dishes the specialty, all dishes using the finest fresh ingredients. Fine wine list. Signature dishes include whole grilled Dover Sole with chive and butter sauce.
Open 19.00 till last orders at 21.30.
The Palace Lounge: A traditional styled environment with galleries, comfy armchairs and views over the Royal Mews opposite. Serves lighter options and snacks along with traditional afternoon tea (scones, clotted cream, pastry).
Afternoon tea is served between 14.00 and 16.30. (Weekends from 13.00)
The Cavalry Bar: Pays tribute to the Household Calvary that surround and guard the close by Buckingham Palace. The bar has a collection of military artefacts from bygone eras. A welcoming and informal feel along with a full range of drinks including vintage malt whiskies and Champagne (including Joseph Perrier) served by the glass. In the evening the bar has a resident pianist playing background music.
The Leopard Champagne Bar: Opened in may 2009 with views over the Royal Mews. The bar is next to the Palace Lounge. The bar has an intimate atmosphere designed in elegant safari-chic and with a warm inviting ambience. With an extensive range of Champagnes sold by both the bottle and the glass along with Whiskies, Cognacs, Armagnacs and fine wines. Also serves light dishes including Sevruga Caviar. Dom Perignon Afternoon Tea served 14.00 till 17.00.
Adjacent to the hotel is BBar. Serving a South African-themed menu and a wide range of both wines and cocktails. Voted one of the Top Three Bars in the World by British Airways High Life Magazine and recommended by TopTable. Guests are able to charge any drinks bought at Bbar to their hotel account.
The Rubens at the Palace Hotel has a range of business facilities including distinctive function rooms which can accommodate up to 150 guests and conference rooms with high ceilings and air conditioning.
A 24 hour in-room massage service and beauty treatment is offered by the hotel. Yoga video and mat complimentary from the hotel for use in-room. Passes are available for the nearby LA Fitness Club.
Hotel Vicinity:
Nearest: Tube & Railway Station: London Victoria 0.2 miles (0.3 km), DLR Station: Tower Gateway 3.1 miles (5.1 km), Motorway: M4 Junction 1 5.8 miles (9.3 km).Wonderfully located in the heart of the tourist area of central London is the Rubens At The Palace Hotel. The closest hotel to Buckingham Palace and almost opposite the Queens Gallery. A short stroll also finds both Green Park and St James's Park which form part of the grounds of Buckingham Palace. At the far end of Buckingham Palace and along the Mall is Trafalgar Square with Parliament Square, London Eye and Piccadilly also bordering the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Just a very short walk from Victoria Train and Coach stations. Victoria Station has a direct train service to Gatwick airport called the Gatwick Express. The attractions close by are too numerous to name but the nest known include Westminster Cathedral, Clarence House, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Downing Street all within the first mile of the Rubens Hotel. Nearby shopping can be found at Chelsea, Piccadilly and Regent Street.
Bedroom Numbers: 161 / 4 floors
Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out: 12.00 noon
This hotel has averaged a score of 4.5 out of 5 by 6821 past guests
>>>Booking.com (average customer rating 4.4 out of 5 from 1568 reviews)
>>>Tripadvisor (ranked 63 of 1140 for Hotels in London and rated 4.5 out of 5 from 5253 reviews)
Parking:
Public parking is possible at a location nearby (reservation is needed) and costs £58 per day.Internet:
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.Pets:
Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.More hotels from this chain
If you would like to stick with the Red Carnation chain your nearest options are:
41 Hotel: is 5 yards (4 metres) away, has a guest satisfaction score of 100% and rates start from about £377.
Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel: is 0.7 miles (1.0 km) from here, earns a customer rating of 98% and base rates begin at about £209.
Egerton House Hotel: 1.0 miles (1.7 km), rated at 99% and with rates from around £328.
Montague On The Gardens Hotel: 1.7 miles (2.7 km), rated at 98% and with rates from around £205.
Compared to other London hotels: This hotel has been rated 90% by past guests. The London average is 79% and the average for 4 star hotels is 80%. Therefore this hotel is well above average for its sector (star rating) and for London as a whole. Red Carnation Hotels across the chain average 97% so this hotel is below the average guest rating for Red Carnation hotels.
Below average for a Red Carnation hotel but still a hotel to consider. The hotel remains better rated than most London hotels and additionally ranks above the average guest rating for 4 star hotels.
Milesfaster ranking: 51st from 865 London hotels, 6th of 6 Red Carnation Hotels, and 17th of 333 four star rated hotels.
Another to Consider:
A similar type of hotel (size, rating) nearby (0.2 miles, 0.4 km) would be the 4 star Amba Hotel Grosvenor,
with rates that start from about £204 and which has an 81% guest satisfaction rating. The Amba Hotel Grosvenor also offers: free WiFi.
Looking for lower base rates? Then another option might be the Amba Hotel Grosvenor. 0.2 miles
away (0.4 km), has scored 81%
from former guests and whose lowest rates start at about £204 (theres free WiFi too). Howabout an alternative hotel that has scores higher in guest reviews? Then the 5 Star 41 Hotel ticks many of the right boxes. The 41 Hotel is only 0.0 miles (0.0 km) away. The 41 Hotel has a perfect unblemished customer rating 100%, a truly stunning achievement.
Local hotels analysed:
The 50 hotels nearest to this location (39 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1 postcode) that we list cover a 0.6 miles (1.0 km) radius. They include 21 five star hotels (average rating 91%), 14 four star hotels (average rating 84%), 12 three star hotels (average rating 76%) and 3 two star hotels (average rating 69%). Top 4 star hotels are The Resident Victoria and the Artist Residence London (both 97%). Of the local hotels the highest rated is 41 Hotel (5 star) at 100%.Base Rates: See a breakdown of the average starting (base) rates for the area. Base rates are a rough guide to starting rates as they do not include special offers and deals. The average starting rates for the surrounding area are around £219 per night. They range from a low of £59 at Dover Hotel (2 Star, 74%) to a high of £680 at Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane (5 Star, 99%). The breakdown by star rating shows the following averages: Five Star average: £350, Four Star average: £160, Three Star average: £94 and Two Star average: £73.
Summary:
Our in-house ranking based on guest ratings but adjusted for influencing factors ranks Rubens At The Palace Hotel 11th (joint) of the 50 local hotels and 3rd (joint) for the 14 four star hotels in the area. For base rates the hotel ranks 29th of 50 (12th of 14 four star hotels.). Taking into consideration both rates and guest ratings we rank this hotel 34th of 44 of the local hotels in terms of value for money (The Hari London was top).