You know what’s funny about The Goring? I’d walked past this place dozens of times on my way to Victoria Station without really noticing it – which, honestly, is exactly what makes it so brilliant. It sits there on Beeston Place like it’s been part of the furniture since forever (and actually, it sort of has – same family’s been running it for over a century), just quietly being one of London’s best hotels while everyone else rushes around trying too hard.
The thing that gets me about this place is how effortlessly posh it feels without making you feel like you don’t belong. I mean, sure, it’s proper five-star luxury – the kind where your shoes get mysteriously polished overnight and the concierge somehow knows your coffee preference by day two. But there’s this warmth to it that you don’t always get at the flashy modern places. The lobby has this gorgeous floral ceiling that changes with the seasons, and honestly, I’ve seen people just stop mid-conversation to stare up at it. The rooms are what you’d expect from a place with a 9.3 rating – beautifully done up with actual antiques (not reproduction stuff) and bathrooms that make you want to take three baths a day. What really sold me though was the breakfast room overlooking their private garden. It’s this little oasis where you can actually hear birds chirping instead of traffic, which in central London feels like actual magic.
Here’s the thing about the location that most people don’t realize – you’re literally a two-minute walk from Buckingham Palace (the Queen used to pop over for tea, apparently), but you’re also perfectly positioned for everything else. Victoria Station’s right there when you need to escape to the countryside, and you can walk to Westminster or even Sloane Square if you don’t mind a pleasant stroll. The Dining Room downstairs does this Sunday lunch that locals actually book weeks ahead for, which tells you something. Parking’s a bit of a nightmare, obviously – it’s London – but they’ve got valet service that’s worth every penny. I stayed during the summer when tourists are everywhere, but somehow the hotel never felt chaotic or crowded. They’ve got this knack for making their little corner feel like a calm refuge from all the madness outside.