Rubens at the Palace: 5-Star Hotel Opposite Royal Mews

The Rubens at the Palace catches royal processions from a vantage point no other five-star hotel can claim — directly opposite the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. This Edwardian-era property has watched the monarchy since 1912, finally earning its fifth star in 2018 after a multi-million-pound overhaul.

Star Rating: 5-star · Location: Opposite Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace · Neighborhood: Victoria, London · Restaurants: 2 on-site · Bars/Lounges: 4

Is The Rubens at the Palace a 5 star hotel?

Yes — and that designation came relatively recently. The Rubens at the Palace earned its official five-star classification from the UK’s AA rating scheme in October 2018, following a multi-million-pound refurbishment that upgraded guest rooms, public areas, and dining spaces. The hotel, which has 161 individually designed rooms, had been operating as a four-star property for decades before the upgrade confirmed what repeat guests had long suspected: this was already a five-star experience.

Star rating details

The AA rating is one of Britain’s most rigorous hotel classification systems, evaluating everything from room furnishings and bathroom quality to service standards and culinary offerings. For The Rubens, the 2018 assessment coincided with a comprehensive renovation of its 161 rooms, including a new collection of Royal Rooms overlooking the Mews and suites designed around the hotel’s Edwardian heritage. Travel Professional News noted at the time that the property had become London’s newest five-star hotel, joining an elite tier that includes the capital’s most storied properties.

Awards and recognitions

While the hotel has collected guest reviews praising its “immaculate cleanliness” and central location, formal industry recognition beyond the 2018 AA classification is less documented in public sources. The property markets itself as one of the closest five-star hotels to Buckingham Palace — a claim no competitor can easily dispute given the Royal Mews vantage point — and has built its reputation on personalised service rather than championship award lists.

Who owns Rubens at the Palace?

The Rubens at the Palace belongs to the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, a family-run hospitality group with properties across the UK and internationally. Red Carnation acquired the hotel in 1997 and has operated it ever since, maintaining the kind of personal stewardship that distinguishes family-owned luxury brands from corporate chains.

Ownership structure

Red Carnation Hotel Collection is part of the Tollman & Loversley group, with South African roots and a portfolio that spans London, Dublin, and beyond. The group is known for theatrical touches at its properties — The Rubens includes a Scottish Piper who greets guests at certain times — and for investing in long-term staff retention. Managing Director Malcolm Hendry has been at the property since 2004, first as General Manager and then assuming his current role in 2023. His tenure spans the hotel’s entire five-star transformation, giving staff and regular guests a consistent leadership presence through the upgrade.

Related properties

The Rubens shares ownership with Hotel41, another London Victoria property in the Red Carnation family. Where Hotel41 leans ultra-private and minimalist, The Rubens offers more accessible grandeur with a family wing and more public spaces. Both properties benefit from proximity to Victoria Station, but they cater to different traveller temperaments — Hotel41 for those who want to disappear, The Rubens for those who want to be in the thick of London’s royal heart.

Which famous residence does The Rubens at the Palace overlook?

The Rubens at the Palace looks directly across the street at the Royal Mews, one of the working hearts of the British Royal Household. The Royal Mews is where the King’s horses are stabled and fed, where royal carriages are maintained, and where the daily preparations for royal motorcades take place. From upper-floor rooms and the Palace Lounge, guests can watch these preparations unfold from a vantage point no other hotel can claim.

Views and surroundings

The Royal Mews is not a museum — it is an active workplace. Staff tend to the horses each morning, grooms prepare the carriages, and royal motorcades depart throughout the day. Guests at The Rubens with a Royal Mews-facing room wake up to this machinery of state operating directly below their windows. Brownell Travel describes the hotel’s location as “unrivalled for viewing the King’s horses, carriages, and motorcades” — a claim backed up by every guest who has photographed the morning preparations from their window.

Proximity to landmarks

The hotel sits on Buckingham Palace Road, the street that runs parallel to the palace grounds. Buckingham Palace itself is a short walk away, as is the Queen Victoria Memorial roundabout, the gateway most visitors associate with the palace. The Changing of the Guard ceremony, which draws thousands of spectators, is observable from the hotel — either from the street or, for those with Palace-facing rooms, from above the crowd.

Where is Rubens at the Palace located?

The Rubens at the Palace stands on Buckingham Palace Road in Victoria, London SW1. Its postal address places it directly opposite the Royal Mews entrance on what is one of the most storied streets in the capital — a road that has linked the palace grounds to the city since the 1700s.

Address and access

The hotel’s precise location is 39 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PS. From Victoria Station — the nearest major rail hub — the hotel is a five-minute walk, making it one of the most accessible five-star properties in central London. Gatwick Airport is reachable via the Gatwick Express train from Victoria, and Heathrow connects via the Piccadilly line to Green Park or a short taxi ride.

Directions from stations

Victoria Station serves Circle, District, and Victoria tube lines, connecting directly to the City’s financial district, Westminster, and the West End. Evyssa Vacations highlights the five-minute walk from Victoria Station as a key practical advantage, noting that guests arriving from Gatwick or Heathrow can reach the hotel without navigating London’s more complex tube connections. For drivers, valet parking is available — a practical necessity in central London rather than a luxury given the scarcity of parking near the palace.

What neighborhood is Rubens at the Palace in?

The Rubens at the Palace is in Victoria, a central London neighborhood that has transformed dramatically over the past two decades from a transit district into one of the capital’s most convenient and characterful bases. Victoria sits at the southern edge of the Belgravia and Mayfair arc, placing it within easy walking distance of Hyde Park, Westminster Abbey, and the palace district.

Victoria area highlights

The Victoria neighborhood has earned a reputation for combining transport convenience with quieter streets than the tourist-heavy zones north of the park. Travel Professional News describes the area as a “Belgravia area bastion since the 1700s,” noting that the neighborhood’s Georgian and Edwardian architecture reflects its long history as a residential quarter for courtiers, diplomats, and visiting dignitaries. Today, Victoria’s streets mix embassies, boutique hotels, and increasingly popular restaurants alongside the transit infrastructure that gives the area its name.

Local attractions

Walking distances from the hotel: Westminster Abbey in approximately 15 minutes, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in 20 minutes, Hyde Park’s east entrance in 12 minutes. The Churchill War Rooms and the Royal Mews itself are closer still — the Mews is quite literally across the street. For guests with time to spare, the Tate Britain gallery on Millbank is a 10-minute walk and offers a quieter alternative to the Tate Modern across the river.

A brief history

The land beneath The Rubens was owned in 1703 by John Sheffield, Earl of Mulgrave, a figure with direct connections to the royal court of that era. By 1752, the site — then called Chelsea Road — held lodgings for Buckingham Palace staff and a row of boutiques. The buildings that now house the hotel were constructed in the late 1800s as luxury accommodation for royal household guests and staff, according to Foresyte Travel.

In the early 20th century, James Rossdale purchased properties including numbers 37 and 39 Buckingham Palace Road, which he converted into The Hotel Rubens. The property quickly became popular with debutantes attending royal functions at Buckingham Palace — a tradition that gave the building its Edwardian social character and, indirectly, its name. During the Second World War, the property was commandeered by the exiled Polish Free State Army as headquarters for General Sikorski; a commemorative plaque remains in the lobby. The hotel was acquired by the Red Carnation Hotel Collection in 1997, and its current Managing Director, Malcolm Hendry, has been a constant presence since 2004. The multi-million-pound refurbishment that preceded the 2018 five-star classification was the most significant renovation since Red Carnation took over.

Dining and afternoon tea

The Rubens offers two full-service restaurants: the English Grill, which serves traditional British cuisine in a setting that references the hotel’s Edwardian heritage, and the Curry Room, which offers a different culinary register and reflects London’s multicultural dining identity. Both restaurants are flagship experiences that Travel Professional News cited as contributing to the hotel’s 2018 five-star classification.

The Palace Lounge is where the hotel’s royal theme becomes most explicit. Afternoon tea here — specifically the Royal Hamper and Coronation Afternoon Tea options noted by The Arbuturian — draws on the hotel’s proximity to the palace for its presentation and narrative. Guests are offered panoramic views of the Royal Mews while they drink, a combination of view and experience that no standalone tea room can replicate. The hotel also operates four bars, giving guests substantial evening options without leaving the property.

Guest experience and reviews

Guest reviews of The Rubens at the Palace consistently highlight two elements: immaculate cleanliness and the Royal Mews location. Reviewers on platforms including TripAdvisor and Expedia note that the property maintains standards that justify its five-star designation, with particular praise for the housekeeping and the friendliness of staff. The Edwardian décor, which the hotel has preserved rather than replaced in favour of modern minimalism, divides opinion — some guests find it charming, others find it dated.

The family-friendly positioning is unusual for a five-star London hotel, where properties typically lean toward adult-oriented luxury. The Director of Fun — a dedicated children’s programming role noted by Evyssa Vacations — and the pet-friendly policy make The Rubens more accessible to families than its address would suggest. The trade-off is that guests seeking ultra-private, ultra-serene luxury may find Victoria’s foot traffic and the hotel’s family programming less conducive to that mood.

“The Rubens is uniquely positioned as the closest 5-star hotel to Buckingham Palace.”

— Evyssa Vacations (Guest Review)

“Following the completion of a multi-million-dollar refurbishment earlier this year, The Rubens at the Palace has been classified as a five-star hotel by the UK’s distinguished AA hotel rating scheme.”

— Travel Professional News

Related reading: Princess Eugenie Beatrice Royal Fate: Titles, Protection

Imagine the Household Cavalry parading past your window at Rubens at the Palace, a scene luxury hotel guide brings to life alongside top reviews of its amenities.

Frequently asked questions

For travellers seeking proximity to the heart of royal London, the choice is relatively straightforward: The Rubens at the Palace delivers a genuine five-star experience with an address that no other hotel can claim. The location opposite the Royal Mews — where the King’s horses are fed, groomed, and prepared each morning — is not a marketing angle. It is a daily, observable reality that begins before most guests have finished their first cup of tea. Book a Palace-facing room, request a late check-out, and plan to spend an unhurried morning watching history unfold from your window.