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

Calcot Manor: family luxury in the Cotswolds (September 2009)

[caption id="attachment_1179" align="aligncenter" width="846"] Jessica, Robert and Brian outside our beautiful suite[/caption]

It was during our first evening at Calcot Manor that I felt a strange sensation. As I racked my brain to work out what it was, I realised that, although faintly recognisable, it wasn’t something that I’d experienced for a long, long time. Then it came to me, I was feeling relaxed.

I love my children. Who couldn’t love a gorgeous, chatty, blue-eyed four-year-old girl and a curly-haired blond angel of a baby boy? But much as I adore them, I don’t find them exactly relaxing. And that’s not something which changes when we go away. The old days, when holidays meant recharging the batteries with long lie-ins, are gone.

That’s why our stay at Calcot was such a surprise. And one from which I simply did not want to come home.

I realise that I sound ever so gushing, but I’m not going to apologise. Calcot had everything I wanted. It has two restaurants, a kids’ playzone (which my daughter loved), a delightful spa, and most importantly, baby listening. What could be better?

I was, I admit, desperate for a holiday. The wonders of London can get ever so wearing, and it was time for a change of scene. Calcot provided that, and more. It’s even in a good location, near the pretty town of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, not far from the Cotswolds in one direction and Bath and Bristol in the other. Not that we went out much. There was far too much to do on site.

I had a good feeling as we pulled up in the car. The main building – a former farmhouse - was pretty but unostentatious, and everything seemed to have been carefully thought out. The family rooms, for example, are dotted around the main building, rather than inside it. That means there is little need for paranoia if your child decides to wake up screaming in the night.

Our accommodation was an absolutely beautiful suite. It was like having our own little house, complete with a small garden which our son, Robbie, immediately began to explore. Both children also enjoyed trying out our four poster bed, as well as sampling the biscuits and fruits laid out for our arrival.

The suite was also a boon because it meant that Jessica had her own bedroom, rather than sharing with us. In other words, when she got up, obscenely early as usual, she didn’t have to wake up the rest of the family and could play by herself. She also had the opportunity to watch CBeebies in the living room.

But Calcot offers a lot more than accommodation. It is set in beautiful countryside, and there is even a little football pitch at the rear, as well as a small play area which proved very popular.

The hotel has two restaurants, a smart one called the Conservatory, and another “gastro-pub” called The Gumstool Inn.

The food in the Conservatory was delicious, although I was initially a bit concerned about the lack of vegetarian options. This was before I found out that there is an entire vegetarian menu.

The Gumstool was also enjoyable, although not up to the standards of the Conservatory. However, it also costs a good deal less.

Both restaurants offer breakfast, with a buffet at the Gumstool and a la carte menu at the Conservatory. Both had an impressive array of delights, but the Conservatory also boasts a children’s menu complete with boiled egg with soldiers.

On top of all this comes the Spa, a relatively new addition to the hotel. On our first night, we put the children to bed and took advantage of the baby listening facilities. Feeling happy that our offspring were being monitored, we went swimming, then to the sauna and outdoor hot tub. As we sat outside in the bubbling Jacuzzi, we both felt truly relaxed – just like the old days. To follow that with a delicious meal which I hadn’t had to cook myself was almost too much (but not quite!)

The most wonderful thing about Calcot is the way it takes children into account. It has kids’ meals (a choice of three courses from a special children’s menu, with not a fish finger in sight) and a huge barn called the Playzone.

The Playzone is unsupervised for over-eights (it has computers and its own cinema) but supervised for smaller children. One morning we popped Jessica in for a couple of hours. We later found it difficult to persuade her to leave.

In the interests of fairness, I have been trying hard to think of something bad to say about Calcot. We went in September, and the weather was perfect, but the facilities are so impressive, the hotel is worth a visit all year round. All I can come up with on the negative side is the price, which, is of course, a huge factor. You may want to save your visit for a very special occasion.

Calcot Manor, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8YJ, 01666 890 391

This article originally appeared in the Jewish Chronicle