Take a tour
Expect warm smiles at every turn, a host of thoughtful touches, sumptuous rooms and suites, and delicious cuisine, all overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace.
Our hotel
Steeped in history and stood on a site that was, in the 18th-century, part of the grounds of Buckingham Palace, The Rubens at the Palace stands as a living testament to its storied past. Under the leadership of Managing Director Malcolm Hendry, and General Manager Vince Castronovo, a dedicated team delivers impeccable service, celebrating the hotel's historic roots with warm and traditional British hospitality. The site, once filled with shops and apartments for Buckingham Palace staff, echoes its royal legacy, creating a unique blend of modern luxury and timeless charm for every guest to experience.
A rich history
A worldwide family
We are proud to be part of the world of Red Carnation Hotels, where luxury meets warmth and every detail is thoughtfully designed. In this video, you'll see how each hotel is uniquely styled, from historic charm to contemporary elegance, and discover the personalised experiences that make guests feel at home.
Our differences
Exceeding expectations at every turn, our historic and fully-restored hotel has a team who take genuine pride in delivering impeccable service to our guests.
Meet our team
Every one of our team members is empowered to make a real difference, offering remarkably considerate service and discrete attention to detail.
The power of passion
"The Rubens at the Palace has a royal history dating back to the 1700s. Over the years, it has been used as a dressmaker’s boutique, a pharmacy, an artificial flower shop and as the home of the Aerated Bread Company. It has been family-run by The Red Carnation Hotel Collection since 1997 and I have been General Manager since 2004 and Managing Director since 2023.
The Rubens has always been very popular with debutantes attending royal functions at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Mews, which the hotel overlooks, is the palace entrance used by the royal family. It is also just a few moments’ walk to see the daily pageant of the Changing of the Guard.
The hotel’s historic roots inspired the design for its restoration in 2018, which also introduced The English Grill, The Curry Room, The Leopard Room and The New York Bar. We were incredibly proud that the hotel achieved a Forbes Five-Star classification in the same year.
We are committed to supporting local charities and eradicating single-use plastics, as well as significantly reducing our food waste in partnership with Winnow. The hotel also sustains the largest living wall in London and has recently introduced two rooftop beehives.
Alongside our renowned tasting experiences, we have recently launched several bespoke dining experiences such as ‘Chef Ben's Beef Wellington' and, for our younger guests, we offer the exciting children’s ‘Pastry Experience’ and ‘Milkshake Masterclass’. We hope to share these incredible experiences with you very soon."
- Malcolm Hendry, Managing Director
