Rubens Hotel

I go to London regularly and it is always a pleasure to stay at one of the Red Carnation Hotels, a family owned company, and all the hotels are different, beautifully decorated, and the staff is friendly, well trained, and as a person travelling alone, I always feel safe and welcome.

The weather changes every five minutes, so go equipped with a brolly, and it may be chilly enough to need gloves and a hat.

This trip I stayed at the Rubens Hotel, on Buckingham Palace Road.  It’s a block from Victoria Station, and two of the main London theatres close by.  The two shows playing were Billy Elliott, on the Victoria Palace, and Wicked, on the Apollo.    It is right opposite to the Palace Mews, where the Royal family keeps all their carriages and a block from the Palace if you want to see the Changing of the Guard at 11.30 AM every day or check what is showing at the Queens Gallery.  It’s easy to take a walk in St. James Park, and perhaps have lunch at Fortnum and Mason.

A must if you stay at Rubens, is to have afternoon tea.  For 29 pounds, it is a bargain.  Another hotel close by charges 75 pounds per person.  I had so much to eat that I didn’t need any dinner before going to the theatre. I suggest you book ahead.  Hotel 41, also a Red Carnation Hotel is next door, and Bbar restaurant is excellent.  The thing I like the most about staying at Rubens is the lighting in the rooms is outstanding.  I can read in bed in comfort.  So many London hotels seem to use 20 watt bulbs so it’s too dim to read.  Their three restaurants have all outstanding food.  The Leopard Bar is a small, unique, and a great place to meet.   It is a great place if you need to have a business gathering.  They have several excellent locations which always seem to be busy.  The staff is a league of nations, young, enthusiastic, and every three months they move to a different department.

They also have a children’s check in, which makes them feel important and they are given a special package  (the chef makes cookies with their name on them). The concierge is the Director of Fun, and can recommend things for them to do such as children’s theatre and enjoyable exhibits.  They are pet friendly, and have a concierge to walk the dog.

Ask the concierge about a tour.  Evans & Evans is a good company to work with.  Most popular day tour for visitors is Bath, Leeds Castle and Stonehenge.  The London Eye is also a great thing to book for a magnificent view of London.

Some of my regular haunts: Tate Modern, top floor restaurant.  Across the wobbly bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral, there is a nice restaurant in the crypt, Royal Opera House, and Covent Garden.  Le Deuxieme is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner.  Patisserie Valerie next to the Ritz Hotel is also a great café.

 

Westminster Abbey does not allow the public in on Sunday.  You can go to a service but can’t walk around afterwards.  The gift shop besides the Abbey is a wonderful place to buy souvenirs.  They have an excellent evening song at 5.p.m. on Sunday.

I hardly ever use a taxi in London.  I buy an oyster card for ten pounds, and use it on the bus and tube (underground ).  This is the bargain way to explore London.   I took the 73 bus from Victoria Station (a block from Rubens Hotel) to Oxford Street for my shopping at Marks and Sparks and John Lewis, my two favorite department stores.    Everyone should go to Harrods in Knightsbridge just to look around.   Since an Arabian Prince bought it, they have changed the layout and it is now all designer sections with of course, lots of Arab customers. There are absolutely gorgeous evening gowns, with shocking prices.

With it being such a hassle to get to and from London Heathrow airport, I arrange to have a car and driver.  It’s worth the extra money rather than dealing with the mob of people and the train.  The hotel can arrange that for you.

This trip I bought 400 tea bags and three pairs of shoes.

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel  at 160 Main Street. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.