Hundreds of thousands of tourists will flock to London for the Royal Wedding celebrations that take place on the 29th April this year. Many have already booked a strategically placed hotel along or near the route of the procession in the hope of catching a glimpse of Will and Kate, but the good news is that there are some rooms left.
The Royal Wedding procession route starts either at Clarence House, Buckingham Palace or St. James’s Palace. Nearby hotels with space include the Royal Garden Hotel and MyHotel.
The procession continues along The Mall – adjacent to the Athenaeum Hotel and Dukes Hotel – to Whitehall, past the Horse Guards – close to the Stafford Hotel and the Sofitel – and finally Parliament Square and into the abbey.
If you book your hotel, nail down a spot on the procession and still can’t see over the heads of the crowds, raise a toast to the happy couple in one of the area’s bars and pubs. Most will be showing live TV coverage as the wedding unfolds and are likely to be overflowing with royal wedding atmosphere.
Athenaeum Hotel, Mayfair, London
The Athenaeum is perfectly situated in a prime location for partaking in Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding extravaganza. Numerous refined suites and beautiful bedrooms adorn this magnificent 5* building, which maintains a subtle quaintness. You can expect to pay within the vicinity of £300 – £400 per night for a standard room and around £1,200 for a rooftop suite. The Athenaeum is less than a ten minute stroll through Green Park.
The Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London
The Royal Garden Hotel boasts a spa, award-winning restaurant and is situated in picturesque Kensington. Prices begin at £250 and range to just under £300 per night. In keeping with the royal theme of the historic wedding week, the Victoria & Albert Museum is nearby. The Royal Garden is a few tube stops away from the main action, but it shouldn’t take longer than 15-minutes to hit the epicentre; perfect for a little processional peace. RESTRICTIONS APPLY ON BOOKING DATE.
MyHotel, Chelsea, London
Thai-inspired MyHotel in Chelsea is a hedonist’s dream; lavishly decorated in gentle pinks and karmic purples. This chic, boutique hotel boasts holistic therapy and the ‘jinja’ treatment room combines Eastern healing techniques with Western products. MyHotel Chelsea offers single, double, Queen and King’s room priced around the reasonable £150 – £190 bracket. MyHotel Chelsea is about 15-minutes from the wedding route by foot.
The Stafford, St. James’ Place, London
This quintessentially British establishment encapsulates bygone periods, its layers of genteel beige and period furnishing infusing the hotel with timeless tradition throughout 105 individually-decorated suites and bedrooms, 1930s American bar and restaurant and a 360 year-old wine cellar with in-house Sommelier. Prices range from £2,000 to £3,000 per night. The procession will pass the hotel where you can spot Will and Kate. The Stafford is less than a five minute walk to The Mall.
Think, Earls Court, London
Think is a rentable apartment and can be booked for as long or short as necessary. Designed with comfort in mind, it is fully-furnished like a real home. Think is well located for public transport and the local tube station straddles Zones 2 and 3, keeping down travel costs. The rooms are modestly priced given its prime location at £137 for a one bedroom apartment per night. Every room is equipped with cooking utensils, washing machine and tumble drier, though there is a weekly laundry service. Think is a little further away from the procession than some of the other hotels featured here, but makes a welcome change.
Sofitel, St. James, London
Situated in St. James, Sofitel provides an accessible and reasonably priced alternative. Sofitel is grade II English Heritage rated. Inside boasts the quaint, award-winning, Brasserie Roux and elegant RoseBar for afternoon tea. This perfectly-placed hotel oozes romanticism with an elegant French twist. Rooms in the Sofitel begin around £250 per night. Located on Pall Mall, the procession is a five minute walk away.
Dukes Hotel, Mayfair, London
Located in a private courtyard in Mayfair; Dukes is quaint, British and charming in appearance, manner and ambience. It harbours 90 spectacular rooms with 11 opulent suites. The buzzing bar is a famous drinking establishment, with views overlooking GreenPark. There’s even an Italian marble steam room and cigar and cognac garden. Room prices begin at £140 per person based on a twin-room. St James’s Place is three minutes from Pall Mall, which itself is a seven minute walk to the procession.
– Natasha Prayag