The Rubens at the Palace

Name: The Rubens at the Palace
Address: 39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS, United Kingdom, London, United Kingdom
Telephone: +442078346600
Price range: $199–$766
Rating: 4.5

39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS, United Kingdom

Condé Nast Readers' Choice '23

Google 4.5

Overall 70

Lowest upcoming

$199

16 Feb 2027

Highest upcoming

$766

31 Dec 2026

Median nightly

$287

across 365 upcoming days

Cheapest week

7 to 13 Jan

29% below annual median

Daily price line

Next 365 nights

See daily prices

7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Join Luxury Intel →

Already a member? Sign in

Upcoming nightly rates

Next 365 days

Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May MonTueWedThuFriSatSun

Cheaper More expensive

Cheapest week ahead: 7–13 Jan 2027 at $203/night (29% below median)

See the nightly calendar

7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Join Luxury Intel →

Already a member? Sign in

Review

Synthesized from Condé Nast Traveler

Condé Nast Readers' Choice 2023 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019

Character and identity

Directly opposite the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road, this 173-room property leans hard into traditional English grandeur: marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and rooms layered with antiques and original artwork. The 1800s building was originally constructed to house debutantes attending Palace functions, and it still trades on that sense of occasion. Dining centres on The Library, where the kitchen turns out Dover sole and hand-chopped Buccleuch Estate sirloin, finished with honeycomb ice cream. The Leopard Bar adds a more stylish, contemporary counterpoint. Service skews formal and VIP-attentive from the moment you cross the lobby.

Who's it for

Best for:
Couples and Anglophile travellers who want a classic, chandelier-and-antiques London stay within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, Victoria, and the royal parks. It suits guests who value formal service, traditional British cooking, and a sense of ceremony over minimalist design, plus anyone who wants a literal Royal Mews view from their window.

Should look elsewhere:
Design-led travellers and anyone chasing a sleek, contemporary aesthetic will find the heavy traditional decor dated. It is also not the pick for guests who want a buzzy neighbourhood scene at the doorstep; the immediate Buckingham Palace Road stretch is more tourist thoroughfare than dining-and-bars territory.

Bottom line

The appeal here is unapologetically traditional: a period property trading on its Palace-adjacent address, antique-filled rooms, and a service register pitched at making every guest feel like a VIP. Book it if you want pageantry and a Royal Mews view rather than modern design. Splurge on a room facing the Mews, and stop into the Leopard Bar even if you are dining elsewhere.

Read full Condé Nast review