If you’re looking for a luxury boutique hotel in Belgravia, or anywhere in London, The Goring is not to be missed. From afternoon tea to rooms and location, here is a review of this 5-star London hotel.  This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a commission if you book through them. 

Marina stands on the steps in front of The Goring, a luxury hotel in Belgravia, London. She holds a Harrods shopping bag and wears a black overcoat.

I recently enjoyed a four-night solo stay at The Goring in London. At the time of my visit, I took advantage of a four-nights-for-the-price-of-three offer. Offers change, so I recommend checking the current rates and available packages before booking.

The Goring is elegant and posh, yet cozy, comfortable, and overflowing with character. I found it to be an ideal home base for exploring London, and I’m delighted to show you around this charming Belgravia hotel. Let’s go inside.

A beautiful sitting area with two chairs and a table in front of a fireplace and hand-painted wallpaper at the Goring Hotel in Belgravia London.

What Makes The Goring Special

What makes The Goring so special is that it feels elegant without being stuffy. Opened in 1910, it remains the only luxury hotel in London still owned and run by the family that built it. Four generations of the Goring family have now welcomed guests to this beautiful Belgravia property.

With just 69 individually designed rooms and suites, the hotel feels much more intimate than many of London’s other five-star hotels. The interiors are quintessentially British, with beautiful fabrics, antique furnishings and just enough eccentricity to keep everything interesting. But the warm, attentive service stood out most during my stay.

As a solo traveler who wasn’t accustomed to navigating such a big city alone, I wanted to stay somewhere I would feel safe and well taken care of. The Goring was exactly that. From the doormen welcoming me back each day to the staff remembering the little details, the hotel quickly felt like a luxurious home away from home.

If you’re especially lucky, you may even spot Teddy, The Goring’s Shetland pony mascot. He makes occasional appearances at the hotel for special events and is a perfect example of the playful personality hiding beneath all that polished British elegance.

Where Did Kate Middleton Stay the Night Before Her Wedding?

The Goring has a long history of royal connections, but it became especially well known when Kate Middleton and her family stayed there before her 2011 wedding to Prince William. Kate spent the night before the wedding in The Goring’s Royal Suite, an expansive top-floor suite overlooking the hotel’s private garden.

In 2013, The Goring became the first hotel to receive a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II for hospitality services. A Royal Warrant recognizes businesses that have regularly supplied goods or services to the Royal Household, making this an especially meaningful part of the hotel’s history.

Queen Elizabeth II was also said to be particularly fond of Eggs Drumkilbo, a rich lobster and egg dish that remains one of The Goring’s best-known menu items. Between its family history, royal connections and wonderfully personal service, this hotel feels distinctly British in a way that would be difficult to recreate anywhere else.

Rooms 

A superior room at the Goring hotel. A queen bed with white linens topped with a blue blanket and throw pillows. A small stuffed sheep sits on top of the bed. A chair and side table can be seen in the background.

Superior Room at The Goring

The Goring has just 69 rooms and suites, giving it a much more intimate feel than many comparable luxury hotels in London. I stayed in a Superior Room overlooking the neighboring buildings.

Like the rest of the hotel, my room felt luxurious but never overly serious. Traditional furnishings mixed with playful details gave it plenty of Goring personality. My favorite was Barbara, the little stuffed sheep waiting on the bed. Guests can take her home as a souvenir—and yes, I did.

A cute plush sheep sits on a bed made with white and blue linens. A key with "The Goring" engraved is next to the sheep.

Barbara the sheep

Housekeeping replenished glass bottles of still and sparkling water each day, which was a thoughtful touch. A small table and chairs also became my favorite spot for enjoying room-service tea. Even the light switches had personality, with several mood settings—including one labeled “Oooh!”

The room was quiet and comfortable, and the heating worked very well during my stay. The marble bathroom was equally lovely, with Asprey toiletries, plenty of space, and heated floors that felt especially luxurious on chilly London mornings.

The Goring has 69 rooms and suites, about half as many as other comparable hotels nearby. I stayed in a Superior room with a view of neighboring buildings. 

A gold light switch with buttons for "bright, calm, cozy, and Oooh!"

Cheeky Lighting

Light switches offer a variety of mood lighting, including “Oooh!” Like the rest of the hotel, rooms and suites are luxurious with touches of playful Goring character. 

Dining 

The Veranda

The Veranda restaurant at the Goring Hotel in London. A light-filled dining room with large windows overlooking a garden. Small tables are covered with white table cloths and floral chairs. Tables are topped with champagne flutes and yellow fine china tea cups. Plants decorate the space.

The light-filled Veranda overlooks the Goring Garden, providing a bit of nature in the city. The elegant space is filled from floor to ceiling with plants and is a delightful place for breakfast or afternoon tea. See my review of afternoon tea at the Goring! 

The Cocktail Bar & Lounge 

A long marble counter with dark wood barstools in front of white cabinets holding a variety of alcohols in the Goring hotel bar.

The Goring cocktail bar is a fun, elegant, and exciting spot for a drink. One can sit at the bar and chat with the friendly bartender and friends while sipping a cocktail and nibbling the tasty olives, nuts, and popcorn, or by the roaring fire next to one of the charming sheep. 

A white fluffy faux sheep with wood face and horns sits in front of a fireplace in the Goring bar lounge.

The Dining Room

The Goring dining room has maintained a Michelin star for several years. Serving traditional British cuisine with modern techniques and the freshest ingredients, this is a great restaurant for special occasions. The Dining Room recently underwent renovations and is ready to serve. 

Room Service

An overhead photo of a room service breakfast at the Goring. This includes a silver pot of coffee, two boiled eggs with toast "soldiers" and a bowl of berries on a round table.

During my stay, room service was available from 7:00 a.m. through the evening. I could order breakfast the night before using a form left on the door handle, which was especially convenient because I had to leave early each morning for a workshop.

I loved starting the day with coffee and breakfast in my room. Everything arrived beautifully presented on English china with silver serving pieces, making even a simple breakfast feel special. The eggs and produce were exceptionally fresh and some of the best I’ve had at a hotel.

The menu ranged from lighter à la carte options, including boiled eggs with soldiers, to a traditional Full English breakfast. Room service breakfast at The Goring is a true treat and something I would happily order again.

Afternoon Tea at The Goring

Three small fancy afternoon tea desserts sit on the top tier of a tea stand at the Goring. In the foreground is a vanilla bean panna cotta with pink garnishes. In the background is an apple tart and a chocolate tart.

Served in The Veranda during my visit, afternoon tea at The Goring felt more intimate and relaxed than some of London’s larger luxury tea experiences. It began with playful sheep-shaped cheese crackers—a very Goring touch that immediately made the experience feel less formal.

The traditional menu included a generous selection of loose-leaf teas, delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and an assortment of small cakes and sweets. Champagne could be added, although I opted for chamomile tea and thoroughly enjoyed the slower, quieter experience.

Belgravia Hotel Location 

The front of The Goring hotel in Belgravia. The facade is a brick building with green plants, flags, and a black arched covering that say "The Goring" in gold writing.

The Goring is a 10-minute walk from Buckingham Palace. It’s also within walking distance of iconic shopping locations like Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, and New Bond Street. 

Just around the corner from the Victoria tube and rail station, it provides easy access to all corners of the city. 

The facade of The Goring hotel in Belgravia London. A brick building with white windows and flags. A luxury 5-star hotel in London.  

Is The Goring Worth It?

Whether you stay for several nights or simply visit for afternoon tea or dinner, The Goring offers a wonderfully memorable taste of London. Its personal service, timeless elegance, and playful English charm make it one of the city’s most distinctive luxury hotels.

Ready to plan your stay? Check current rates and availability at The Goring.