The Goring

England
Europe

The Experience

To stay at the Goring is to feel at the lively heart of things. Still owned by the Goring family (who opened it in 1910), it has none of the silent mausoleum-like pall of so many London hotels that trade on their quintessential Englishness. Centrally situated and practically in Buckingham Palace's backyard, sedate it is not--this is a hotel with a pulse. Guests come back for the cheery atmosphere, delightfully cluttered lobby, traditional British comfort food and the teas and cocktails served in the unprissy paneled sitting room that opens onto the city's largest private hotel garden.

The Rooms

Trademark sheep-shaped footstools aside, there's not an ounce of pretension or gimmickry about the bedrooms, the best of which offer total peace and privacy looking down over the hotel's leafy garden. With classic country house English decor that doesn't scream "look at me," you can rely on large and super-comfortable beds, the latest technology, decent bathrooms and extra touches like displays of well-chosen books. Unfortunately the size of the rooms is a little random; some standard doubles are perfectly spacious, while some of the living rooms in the more expensive suites are small enough to feel claustrophobic.

The Service

The Goring gives the impression of being a very happy ship—service is from the heart, with smiling, energetic and extremely efficient staff (there are two to every guest), while affable owner Jeremy Goring personally welcomes every new arrival in the front hall.

The Highlights

The David Linley-designed restaurant, resplendent beneath the spread of a new sculptural Swarovski chandelier, is a pocket of calm in this bustling hotel. Filled with sunlight and offering civilized, unruffed service, it's just the ticket for a relaxing, leisurely lunch. Serving nursery favorites such as steak and kidney pie, fish and chips, beef Wellington and omelett Arnold Bennett, with a dedicated carver wheeling round a silver trolley and expertly slicing the chosen roast of the day, it takes you back to another England, when restraint and good manners were the order of the day.

 

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