48 Hours in London, Rubens at the Palace and Hotel 41

Getting around in the city

London is a large, spread out city, so we decided to take one of the double-decker bus tours to get around town, but it proved to be more time consuming than advantageous. We found the wait times incredibly long between buses, so we quickly abandoned that plan. London is also an excellent walking city, but be sure to look to your right and not your left when stepping off a curb. Better yet, get in the habit of looking both ways before stepping into a crosswalk. If you must travel an extended distance to your next destination, flag one of the famous London cabs or if you’re Smartphone savvy, hail an Uber from your app. It’s quite reasonable and may even save you money over the cost of the hop-on-hop-off bus tours. It will certainly save you time and when you only have a few days you don’t want to spend it waiting for transportation.

Royal horsemen

Royal horsemen

The Culinary Scene

London has, in the past, been known for its food, and not in a good way. The truth is, the culinary scene of London has changed dramatically over the past ten years. World-renowned chefs, like Heston Blumenthal (Dinner by Heston Blumenthal), and celebrity chefs, like Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver, are opening avant-garde restaurants and elevating the standards with modern techniques and international flavors and their protégées are opening their own restaurants throughout the city. Nothing exemplifies this more than the collection of Barrafina restaurants with their tapas style dishes created by Executive Head Chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho that are as good as those found in Barcelona or Iron Chef Judy Joo’s JinJuu restaurants with their Korean flair and hip bar scene.

The River Café

The River Café – A longtime favorite for excellent and fresh Italian food

At the end of the day, you can still enjoy a pint or two in one of the city’s many historic British pubs, like the Lamb & Flag in Covent Garden, The Dog and Duck made famous by George Orwell, the centuries-old The Nag’s Head where using a cell phone will get you in real hot water, or The Mayflower (in Rotherhithe), which was established in 1550. And, you can still experience the lard-fried fish and chips at many pubs, but if your taste in food and drink is a wee bit more refined, as mentioned above, there are plenty of swanky, award-winning restaurants in this internationally influenced city.

One of many colorful pubs in the city

One of many ornate pubs in the city

New friends at The Bag O' Nails pub

New friends at The Bag O’ Nails pub

Where to Stay

Just minutes from Victoria Station and steps away from Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews, where the Queen’s horses and carriages are housed, The Rubens at the Palace is an excellent and elegant choice for accommodations in the city of London. The hotel’s lobby and dining areas are traditional in style and the rooms are beautifully appointed, with many offering views of the Royal Mews. Recently voted No. 12 in the Top Hotels in London by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2016, this award-winning property is recognized for its outstanding service and attention to detail. It’s also a member of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, an exclusive group of boutique luxury properties in the U.S., Europe, the U.K., and South Africa.

Rubens at the Palace

Rubens at the Palace

Lobby (Photo credit - Rubens at the Palace)

Lobby (Photo credit – Rubens at the Palace)

Of course, you can’t stay in London and not enjoy afternoon tea. The Rubens’ Royal Afternoon Tea served in the Palace Lounge, overlooking the Royal Mews, was recently commended at the 2016 Afternoon Tea Awards (Yes, there’s an award for that too.). Known as one of the best Afternoon Tea experiences in London, having tea at the hotel is a real treat. During our time in the lounge enjoying some of the Queen’s favorites, such as her beloved jam pennies, we noticed there was quite a bit of activity at the entrance to the Royal Mews with many carriages coming and going with horsemen and horses donned with their royal finery. Intrigued by the flurry of activity, we decided to visit the Royal Mews after tea and learned that someone was being knighted in a ceremony that day. What perfect timing to see the behind-the-scenes preparations for the event!

Watch this short video to enjoy Afternoon Tea at Rubens at the Palace:

 

Afternoon Tea with a view

Afternoon Tea with a view

Royal Afternoon Tea

Royal Afternoon Tea

The Royal Mews

The Royal Mews

Carriages at the Royal Mews

Carriages at the Royal Mews

Lots of activity at the Queen's stables

Lots of activity at the Queen’s stables

Riding ring

Riding ring

One of the many royal carriages on display

One of the many royal carriages on display

Hotel 41, the sister property adjacent to The Rubens at the Palace, is another outstanding choice for accommodations in the city. More exclusive and intimate, this boutque property with just 30 rooms and suites, was named the No. 1 Top Hotel in London and Top City Hotel in Europe by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2016. Feeling more like a private club than a hotel, the experience at Hotel 41 is quite unique.

One of the privileges of staying at this property is access to their stunning Executive Lounge. Clubby and stylishly designed with dark wood paneling and beautiful furnishings, we enjoyed champagne and canapés by the fireplace with attentive, yet unobtrusive service, while catching up with a friend who lives in the city. It’s the perfect place to relax after a busy day sightseeing in the city or to entertain guests or clients during your stay.

Executive Lounge

Executive Lounge

Champagne at the Executive Lounge

Champagne at the Executive Lounge

Cheers!

Cheers!

Selection of canapes

Selection of canapes

With Steve in London

With Steve in London

Afterward, head downstairs to bbar, an eclectic and lively restaurant and cocktail bar located just below Hotel 41. This restaurant features craft cocktails and a nice selection of smaller plates along with South African-inspired cuisine.

bbar

bbar

Small plates at bbar

Small plates at bbar

Rice Pudding, salted caramel sauce, caramelized nuts

Rice Pudding with salted caramel sauce and caramelized nuts

Honeycomb ice cream

Honeycomb ice cream

Here are more articles on our trip to England on PratesiLiving.com:

Exploring South West England

Cookery Schools in South West England & How to Make Victoria Sponge Cakes

The Pudding Club® at Three Ways House Hotel in Mickleton, England

This article appeared on U.S. News & World Report:

6 Can’t-Miss Side Trips from London

 

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Disclosure – We were guests of Rubens at the Palace and Hotel 41. The opinions expressed regarding our experience are our own.

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