Cupcakes and the Queen at the Rubens Hotel in London!

Jess (aged 13) writes: Over the years, our family has stayed in some beautiful places. We spent the weekend in an old prison, experienced a Disney hotel and stayed in a room where Queen Elizabeth I is said to have slept, but it was a first to go to a hotel right on the doorstep of an iconic British landmark - Buckingham Palace.

[caption id="attachment_1433" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Me and Robert outside the hotel[/caption]

The Rubens Hotel is right opposite the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace and minutes away from Victoria station, making it a prime location for sightseeing. Robert and I were really excited to stay, as we had been told that it was a fantastic hotel for families with young children (and we couldn't wait for a delicious breakfast!)

[caption id="attachment_1434" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Everyone was kind and friendly, and made a big effort to involve the children.[/caption]

When we checked in, Robert was given a Rubens Passport and other pieces of paper to fill out. He had to write about himself and draw a picture, then get different members of staff to sign it! Robert really enjoyed this, as he enjoyed speaking to the staff. They were all exceptionally friendly, and smiled at me and Robert whenever we walked past; something that really brightened our day and does not usually happen at hotels. At the end of our stay we were given two bags of prizes containing bookmarks, jewellery, notebooks and more for completing the passport. Everything inside was lovely, and it was a nice surprise.

Our rooms were on the fourth floor, and were interconnecting. Upon entrance, we caught sight of some fresh, warm cookies which mum, dad and I devoured in seconds. There was also some delicious fruit and posh water which admittedly took longer to be finished, but were much appreciated. The rooms had large, comfy beds and massive TVs, and the bathrooms had coloured lights! There was just enough space (the rooms weren't huge), but everything was clean and appealing.

[caption id="attachment_1435" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert on one of the beds in our room. They were very soft and comfy![/caption]

Robert and I were both given a special kids' welcome pack, which consisted of lots of puzzle books, a map of London for kids and crayons. Although I had revision to get on with, Robert had fun completing the challenges and creating dot-to-dot pictures.

[caption id="attachment_1436" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We were given puzzle packs and maps of London to complete[/caption]

Dinner was a casual affair out of the hotel, although there was a place to eat inside of the Rubens. Soon, it was time to go to sleep, and I loved how soft our beds were.

We all had a great night's sleep, and lazily walked down to breakfast the next day. As I expected, the beautiful room was full of fruit, cereal, juice, hot food and - most importantly - pastries. I loaded my plate with blueberry and lemon muffins, pastries with custard in the middle, biscuits and fruit salad, grasped a glass of orange juice and made my way to our table; what a dream! I also enjoyed the mushrooms, hash browns and tomatoes, and was stuffed by the end of the meal. However, I know that mum was disappointed there weren't any vegetarian sausages on offer.

[caption id="attachment_1437" align="aligncenter" width="940"] I gorged on cakes, fruit and biscuits for breakfast![/caption]

As Robert is allergic to dairy, soya and eggs, it is usually difficult to find something for him to eat at hotels. However, all of the staff were really kind and friendly, by bringing him special bread, hash browns and porridge. Mum, dad and Robert really appreciated this.

Before we went back to our rooms, we decided to look out of the main window, onto Buckingham Palace. We quickly became confused, as the road was closed off and a small crowd was forming. After about five minutes of waiting, two royal carriages drove past. Someone said that one of the carriages contained Prince Phillip, but we were not sure. Mum and Robert decided to walk around to the front of the palace, where they eventually managed to see Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla and Prince Charles (I kind of regret staying inside the hotel!) Robert has written about what happened here.

[caption id="attachment_1365" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Mum and Rob saw the Queen![/caption]

We had one final thing to do before we left the hotel, and Robert and I were really excited about it. We were to take part in the Rubens Pastry Experience, which involved us putting on chef tops and hats, and going down into the kitchens below the hotel. We got to talk to the pastry chef, and found out that he had to create hundreds of pastries a day, which really surprised us. I had never considered how baking could be such a full on job before.

[caption id="attachment_1438" align="aligncenter" width="940"] Robert and I had a great time decorating cupcakes (and eating them after!)[/caption]

We got to ice chocolate cupcakes (which had been created especially so Robert could eat them) with a green frosting and to decorate them with berries, nuts and physalis - delicious! Next, we dipped strawberries in a special shiny chocolate, and left them to dry. We really enjoyed speaking to the chef and seeing what the hotel looked like from underground, and the food was obviously scrumptious. They made a really big effort with Robert's dietary needs, and he was really happy with all of the food. We also really liked the certificates they gave us, saying that we had completed the course.

Robert and I were both very disappointed to leave, as we had a fantastic time. Everyone was really friendly to us - they really take notice of kids here - and they tried to make us feel included the whole time. The food was mouth-watering and the rooms were lovely; if only we could go back for another stay...

Disclosure: We were offered a complimentary stay at the Rubens at the Palace, but all our views are very much our own.

A two night family package at The Rubens, based on two interconnecting rooms, costs from £287 per room per night, including breakfast on both mornings, the Master Chef experience, and dinner on one night in the Old Masters restaurant:

The "Kids stay eat for free" option is extended to children under 12, so for a child over 12, the breakfast and dinner are subject to a small supplement, both of which are discounted from menu price. Breakfast would be a £7.50 supplement, and the dinner which would normally be £19.50 would be £12.25.

More fabulous places to stay:

Staying in jail! The House of Correction in Folkingham

A delicious breakfast in Park Lane

This one's for mums (& dads!) Rafayel on the Left Bank - a 5 star spa hotel

The Rafayel spa

My friend Beverlie Summers is a woman of many talents, including writing, and being the mum of four. She is also the first person to guest post on our blog, and her post is about a wonderful sounding hotel which would be just perfect for a few days without the kids in tow! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it seemed a good time to run her piece.

Over to Beverlie:

"Iqbal Latif - polymath, weaver of stories, social scientist, owner of one of the world's first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels.... I am just a little bit in love with him!  What he has created at Falcon Wharf, Battersea is nothing short of incredible. From the second you walk into the lobby you know that this is going to be an amazing experience.

The lobby

The Rafayel is one of the world’s first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels, managing to minimize its environmental impact without comprising on 5-star luxury, quality or comfort. Personally I really like having the choice of just having the bed remade or having all the bed linen changed every single day – similarly with the towels. I always find it somewhat wasteful to throw perfectly usable towels on the floor each day to be replaced.

The bedrooms themselves have MediaHub panels to connect mp3 players, laptops and digital cameras to the TV and audio system. The beds are really comfortable and the linen is luxurious. The bathrooms are spacious and full of top spec equipment – gorgeous power shower and a separate bath (complete with TV).

The Rafayel is in Battersea close to The London Heliport and with views of the Thames. There is a free Shuttle Service running every 30 minutes to and from nearest transport links. (Clapham Junction & Clapham Common) or if you prefer, there is car parking in the hotel car park for £15 per day. I chose to drive in as it gave me the freedom to travel the next day, but actually the hotel is so central I could easily have relied on public transport.

There are lovely riverside walks, charming cafes, markets and shops all on the doorstep and easy access to a host of activities and outings via the bus and tube. The Westfield Shopping Centre is nearby and Kings Road is just a 20 minute stroll along the river.

As well as the 65 luxurious guest rooms, there are also 23 serviced apartments which are ideal for families.

I stayed with a friend – we had decided to have a "girlie night away" – and we were both really impressed with the spa.  The treatments were professional and reasonably priced. I had an urban cleanse facial, which took an hour and cost a special offer price of £60 (it's usually £120). It was very relaxing, deep cleansing and my skin looked much fresher and clearer afterwards. I also found my therapist to be very gentle and friendly

Best of all though was the relaxation room which you can see above, where we hunkered down, sipping champagne and watching the sun set over the Thames.  We sat there chatting and unwinding until it was so dark outside and then marvelled at all the lights twinkling on the river.

Helicopters swooped in onto the helicopter landing pad just beyond the roof terrace – even I was excited by that, but I could imagine it being the highlight of a child’s stay to watch them at such close range!

The view from the roof terrace

The spa area boasts a Jacuzzi, a power pool and well equipped gym. Children are allowed in the Jacuzzi only under strict parental guidance – which I think is fair for everyone.

Dotted around on each of the four floors are little lounge areas and specially commissioned art and sculpture throughout. There is even a library, all of which add to the very intimate, quirky feel of this hotel.

Residents get a 50 percent discount in the Banyan Restaurant and once again, we were impressed. There was enough choice to suit even the fussiest of eaters – adult and child alike - and the staff were friendly, attentive and very helpful.

A special treat for the children (and adults!) is the 17th Floor 360 degree view of London.  Although there is so much to see and do outside of the hotel, my friend and I managed to spend our whole time inside and found plenty to keep us occupied.

I would highly recommend The Rafayel on the Left Bank to families or couples (there are lovely Spa deals – ideal for Valentine’s Day) or for a "girlie" night away and would definitely stay there again….maybe next time I would even venture outside at some point!

Beverlie stayed in the Amazon Suite, which cost £139 per night at the Hotel Rafayel. you can find out more details of room rates here.  

More on Family Travel Times:

Read about our "bests" of 2013, including our favourite hotels.

This one's for mums (& dads!) Rafayel on the Left Bank - a 5 star spa hotel

The Rafayel spa

My friend Beverlie Summers is a woman of many talents, including writing, and being the mum of four. She is also the first person to guest post on our blog, and her post is about a wonderful sounding hotel which would be just perfect for a few days without the kids in tow! With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it seemed a good time to run her piece.

Over to Beverlie:

"Iqbal Latif - polymath, weaver of stories, social scientist, owner of one of the world's first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels.... I am just a little bit in love with him!  What he has created at Falcon Wharf, Battersea is nothing short of incredible. From the second you walk into the lobby you know that this is going to be an amazing experience.

The lobby

The Rafayel is one of the world’s first environmentally-conscious luxury hotels, managing to minimize its environmental impact without comprising on 5-star luxury, quality or comfort. Personally I really like having the choice of just having the bed remade or having all the bed linen changed every single day – similarly with the towels. I always find it somewhat wasteful to throw perfectly usable towels on the floor each day to be replaced.

The bedrooms themselves have MediaHub panels to connect mp3 players, laptops and digital cameras to the TV and audio system. The beds are really comfortable and the linen is luxurious. The bathrooms are spacious and full of top spec equipment – gorgeous power shower and a separate bath (complete with TV).

The Rafayel is in Battersea close to The London Heliport and with views of the Thames. There is a free Shuttle Service running every 30 minutes to and from nearest transport links. (Clapham Junction & Clapham Common) or if you prefer, there is car parking in the hotel car park for £15 per day. I chose to drive in as it gave me the freedom to travel the next day, but actually the hotel is so central I could easily have relied on public transport.

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