Royal Wedding: Divine Accommodations and Dining

Catherine and William

(Editor's Note: The Middletons will stay at Goring Hotel the night before the wedding, and will host a barbecue there for wedding guests not invited to the Royal luncheon.)

Exclusive to Newport Seen

With the ubiquitous Royal Wedding buzz sweeping the world, what's not to be excited about? In England, hotels and restaurants are enjoying unprecedented bookings around the festivities, and frenzied collectors are not only buying up everything from "Catherine and William" (not Kate) plates, tea towels, cups and key rings, they are staking out the best viewing stations and preparing to camp out. Whether you are here or there, it's not surprinsing that the Event is creating good reasons to schedule a trip to London right away, for the wedding, and for stays in the summer.

Anticipating the frenzy, Newport Seen was in the Ritz London on the night of the Royal Engagement, where we savoured the High Tea of all High Teas, then rushed upstairs to watch it all on the telly. Later we rehashed with joyous Brits at the chi-chi Halkin Hotel for late night dinner. The rest of the week, we hotel and restaurant hopped in the spirit of bringing the newest news to our faithful legion of readers.

Cocktail lounge at The Ritz

One fabulous stop was at the newly-reopened Langham, which is enjoying a well-deserved buzz after a top-to-bottom renovation. In the elegant lobby, which is really not a lobby, but a fabulous space where individual concierges are paired up with guests for a personalized kind of service. Pink is the Langham's signature color and it happily infuses everything from stationery and table linens to oversized bouquets of roses that, like replicated Dutch paintings, are everywhere. We enjoyed a light menu in Artesian, the chic and glamorous bar, while the Landau serves modern European cuisine and classic British dishes and offers convenient pre and post theatre dining. The Palm Court is the place for all-day, nibbling as well as award-winning afternoon tea. Beyond the front entrance, all your favorite British emporiums such as Liberty of London, are within easy walking distance on bustling Regent Street.

Shaken, not stirred -- a Ritz Hotel martini

There's a lot going on at the famous and still fabulous century-old Ritz London, one of the city's most revered icons. The first steel-framed building of any significance in the city, it opened for business in 1906, as a splendid example of various Parisian architectural traditions. Large copper lions stand proudly at each corner of the roof while ranks of soaring chimneys and projecting dormers cleverly break the skyline. With its French chateau-style and Louis XVI furnishings, the hotel was, according to Cesar Ritz, " a small house to which I am proud to see my name attached." Those traditions are fiercely protected today, as the aristocratic interiors reflect the original intent of graciousness, civility and unabashed spendor.

Setting for Afternoon Tea at the Ritz

The Long Gallery, a vaulted space running the length of the building and linking a series of elegant public rooms has always been considered a masterpiece of hotel architecture. Unhindered by dividing doors or walls, a visitor is drawn to admire it all to the far window of The Restaurant and the hotel's Italian Garden and The Green Park. Be sure to book a meal in The Restaurant, often described as one of the most glorious dining rooms in Europe. The soaring light-infused space, which appears to be permanently abuzz, is hung with sumptuous chandeliers and embellished with gilt bronze garlands. During its long history, the hotel has attracted the rich, famous and fashionable from English and European aristocracy to the Aga Khan, J. Paul Getty (who had several suites,) Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle and Hollywood glitterati. It was said that Charlie Chaplin required 40 policemen to escort him through waiting throngs and Noel Coward wrote songs here and Tallulah Bankhead sipped Champagne from her slipper during a press conference in the 1950s. And the Palm Court continues to be crowded for popular Afternoon Tea today.

The Ritz's Palm Court, from the Long Gallery

While in the city, we ducked into the venerable Dorchester, where many of the wedding guests will be staying. Situated on Park Lane overlooking Hyde Park, the hotel was built in 1931 on a site where British toffs have lived since the 18th century. The hotel's sumptuous decor and unrivaled personal service established its reputation as one of the world's great hotels within months of its opening. As we strode through the opulent Front Hall Lounge and Orchid Room and Gold Room whose dome is painted with a mural of trailing leaves and flowers, we admired the hotel's unabashed celebration of opulence and understood why it is consistently rated one of the greatest hotels in the country.

Another night we dined at Nahm, a personal favorite of ours, in The Halkin, one of London's most innovative hotels. Offering the highest levels of comfort and service in a striking contemporary style, The Halkin has achieved a devoted following since its 1991 opening. Set along a peaceful Belgravia street, between Knightsbridge and Mayfair, The Halkin's Georgian-style facade conveys the feeling of a traditional hotel. But cross the threshold, and a supremely functional contemporary Italian style rules this roost. The lobby, is awash in polished marble and a striking mural by artist Valentino Vago leads to the reception on the right and an informal lounge and intimate bar on the left. A few steps ahead the acclaimed restaurant under chef David Thompson attracts discerning diners who fill it every night. The light and airy restaurant of pale gold walls is famous for its innovative Thai cuisine. Upstairs, each floor has been assinged a color associated with different elements - water, air, earth and sky. There all rooms and suites are furnished in an uncluttered yet elegant way.

The trendy bar at the Halkin Hotel

Then we segued to The Goring in Belgravia, one of our other favorite hotels in the city. As one of London's only five-star family-owned establishments,and member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the dignified hostelry has been welcoming crowned heads since it was opened in 1910 by O.R. Goring, great -grandfather of Jeremy Goring, the present owner. Set above a sprawling garden, it was made famous by concocting the Queen Mother's favorite (and totally secret) dish named "Drumkilbo." If you like lobster, try the egg-lobster-cream indulgence, with the understanding that it is totally habit-forming.

While there we joined throngs of Londoners and guests in the popular red lacquered bar and enjoyed fabulous meals in the serene dining room. Upstairs, 71 spacious and individually-designed bedrooms are luxurious and well-appointed and each boasts a wooly lamb of some sort, that serves as a nod to the family's roots.Unlike most hotels, one-third of its rooms overlook the remarkable gardens, while the remainder nestle quietly over picturesque Victoria Square or quiet Beeston Place. If the totally clubby place enjoys a faithful following, the family and staff are particularly thrilled to announce that Miss Catherine Middleton will spend her last night as a commoner in the hotel, which is adjacent to Buckingham Palace. The bride who will be joined by her mother and sister will enjoy newly-refurbished accommodations that will feature Queen Victoria's framed silk bridal gown and tiara. From here, she will proceed to the Abbey to be the star of the "Wedding of the Decade".

-- Marion Laffey Fox, Travel Correspondent