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The Rubens at the Palace Review: Is It Worth It?

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As a professional travel writer, I visited London for a couple of days in September to both carry out another luxury hotel review and also for a short break.

The Rubens at the Palace in Victoria had some great deals, so I booked two hotel rooms and made some bar and restaurant bookings.

Our group consisted of my friend, my sister, and my elderly mother, who is 86 and not very steady on her feet.

I was a little worried about taking my mother on the trip because of her mobility, but I wanted to take her along to show her the sights and take her to Buckingham Palace, which she was eager to see. 

Our stay at The Rubens was only two days, but we had a wonderful experience and saw many sights due to our central location.

Below is a summary of our stay at this luxury 5-star establishment. 

Communication

Part of my job as a professional writer involves taking trips for business so that I can experience and review hotels for a travel industry client and social media/TripAdvisor.

On this particular trip, I had difficulty juggling review appointments/visits with a break with my family, so getting all of the timing and arrangements right was vital.

In the months before our visit, I emailed the hotel many times to get various aspects of the stay sorted out. This included room requests, information, and bookings for onsite facilities.

The communication from the entire team was faultless, and they always responded to my questions and queries with speed, professionalism, and efficiency. This made planning the trip much easier and far less stressful. 

It was very refreshing to experience such great customer service, as there have been many occasions when hotels I have booked have taken weeks to respond or not responded at all. 

Malcolm Hendry, the general manager at the Rubens, was also extremely helpful and personally responded to many of my emails before my stay.

He has done a wonderful job with the hotel, which was reflected in his excellent team's commitment, hard work, dedication, and professionalism. 

Check In

The welcome at the Rubens was delightful, and it was wonderful to walk into the small but glamorous lobby area on our day of arrival.

My sister and mother, who do not travel much, were amazed at the VIP treatment and how their cases were efficiently whisked away from them as soon as we approached the doors.

Everything went very smoothly, and the reception staff and concierge were so friendly and helpful. The concierge came and introduced herself, which is something I have never experienced previously at other hotels – even the Ritz and Savoy!

Every member of staff we encountered upon arrival was extremely friendly yet professional, and you could instantly tell that this was a five-star establishment. Not only did the door and reception staff provide a seamless service and welcome, but they were all extremely well-presented. 

We arrived very early for our stay, but there was no issue in terms of leaving our cases at reception and heading out to other appointments in London.

When we returned later that afternoon, the cases had been taken to the relevant rooms, so all we had to do was take our keys and head up to our rooms. 

Related: The Savoy London Review: Does It Live Up to the Hype?

Rooms

Image courtesy of The Rubens at the Palace

When I booked my stay at the hotel, I requested that both rooms be as close to one another as possible due to my mother's mobility and health. The Rubens did not disappoint, and to my delight, my room was literally across the corridor from my mother's, which was so convenient and gave us peace of mind.

The rooms themselves were very nice, beautifully furnished, well appointed, and with excellent quality furnishing and fixtures. The beds were comfortable, there were tea and coffee-making facilities and seating areas, and they both had stunning and stylish bathrooms.

It was also my sister's and mom's birthdays in September, which was part of my reason for bringing them along on the trip. The hotel had left some gorgeous red velvet birthday cakes for them in the room, along with thoughtful cards, which they were thrilled about. 

Facilities

The Rubens has many onsite facilities for visitors, including the New York Bar, the Palace Lounge, and the Curry Room, all of which we tried. There were other options too, but we did not get time to try them all because of our short stay.

The New York Bar

The New York Bar was a stunning and relaxed space, decadently kitted out with red velvet seating and elaborate décor. We had a drink there on arrival at the hotel, and we also went back the following evening to check out the entertainment.

The seats were comfortable, and the place had an intimate feel to it. Staff members were on-point with their service and professionalism, and the cocktails were delightful.

We also received nibbles such as olives and crackers to go with our cocktails. 

The Palace Lounge

The stylish and elegant Palace Lounge was where we took afternoon tea on our second day, and once again, we had a fabulous experience.

Fred and Katarina looked after us so well and were extremely efficient as well as friendly, chatty, and personable. As we were working our way through the sumptuous food, I asked for more of the sandwiches my mom had taken a liking to.

Before I knew it, practically the entire afternoon tea had been replenished – we had so much food it was like a banquet. My mom and sister were presented with another birthday cake by Fred, which was a wonderful surprise.

The couple at the table next to us also chatted and told us how much they had enjoyed the afternoon tea and the service at the Palace Lounge.

 The Curry Room

The Curry Room was a personal highlight for all of us, not just at the hotel but during our entire trip. The food was incredible, and we could not believe how many dishes kept coming out. The taste, flavour, and presentation could not be faulted – and this was in the words of my mom, who is herself Indian and has been cooking and eating Indian food for decades.

What made the night so brilliant was Chef Kumar, who is not only respectful and friendly but also extremely funny. He created such a great atmosphere, and my mom is still talking about the Curry Room and Chef Kumar weeks later!

All the Curry Room staff were very professional and friendly, and I cannot wait to visit again next time I am in London.  

Staff and Service

As many visitors have pointed out in their reviews on TripAdvisor, one of the key things that make this hotel such a great choice is the staff.

Every single staff member we came across and dealt with was top-notch when it came to their friendly yet professional attitude and the level of service they provided.

My mother struggles with steps due to her age and mobility, and a few steps lead into the hotel. However, every time we were coming or going, there was always someone on hand to assist her.

The two assistants on the door, Marius and Milan, were so wonderful, and mom loved the young chap who always helped her up and down the steps without even being asked – he even used to dash out to help her in and out of taxis.

In fact, he came out with us and walked along the road just so he could hail a taxi for us on one occasion – again, something I have not experienced at any other 5-star hotel in London over the years. 

John, the doorman, was also delightful and such a charming and friendly man. He was so nice to my mother, and this was important because she had very little confidence due to her age, health, and lack of social interaction on a day-to-day basis. 

Another important point is that my mother did have a fall one day during our stay, as she had sprained her ankle before heading to London, so she was even more unsteady on her feet than usual. The team in reception was quick to assist her, get her an ice pack sorted out, and even ask after her the following day to ensure she was okay.

The service was exemplary in the bars and restaurants we visited during our stay, and the venues ran like clockwork. Again, the venue staff was extremely polite, professional, friendly, and efficient. 

The service from the team at the Rubens was faultless, which turned a great experience into an incredible one. 

Overall Experience

Is The Rubens at the Palace worth it? 

I have no hesitation in giving the Rubens at the Palace a well-earned 10/10 on all counts. From initial communication and the warm welcome to the wonderful facilities and excellent staff, this hotel has nothing to fault. 

The location is just minutes from Buckingham Palace, and it is perfectly situated to get to all of the main attractions in London without any problems. It is ideal if you want to be amid all the action, but you prefer to avoid the noisier areas such as Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus. 

Suitable for all ages, this hotel boasts elegance, grandeur, and decadent style but is also a very relaxed and friendly hotel from which you can enjoy the best of what London has to offer with ease before returning to 5-star luxury and comfort. 

About the author

Reno Charlton is a freelance writer from the UK and has been creating content, articles, and blog posts since 2002. She has written for a wide range of publications across the world including the Huffington Post, and her specialist area is travel writing.

Reno has traveled to destinations and stayed at hotels around the world over the course of her career, and has reviewed many luxury hotels to help fellow travelers. She is also the published author of several children's books and short stories. 

Want to find the perfect luxury hotel for your UK trip?  Head to Reno’s YouTube channel, where you’ll find videos of some of the top luxury UK hotels to help you make the right choice. Reno’s videos are honest, unedited, and based on personal hotel experiences during her extensive travels to cities in the UK. Check out and subscribe to her across social media and start planning your next luxury UK trip!