I'm visiting the U.K. at the end of the summer and on the hunt for a small, luxurious, but old-fashi

I’m visiting the U.K. at the end of the summer and on the hunt for a small, luxurious, but old-fashioned hotel in London. Someplace that’s not super-glamorous best air travel deals like Claridge’s or the Dorchester but that has the same level of service and feels very British.
I recommend the Goring ( thegoring.com ), reassuringly best air travel deals next to Buckingham Palace. It was from this family-owned oasis of comfort that Kate Middleton left for Westminster Abbey to be Cinderella-ed into the Duchess of Cambridge, the future queen. That the Middleton family chose to take the entire Goring Hotel—discreet and the late Queen Mother’s best air travel deals favorite—showed all the snobs and nobs that they had excellent taste. Otto Richard Goring founded the hotel more than 100 years ago and his great-grandson Jeremy runs it today. Chintz survives here, thank the Lord, as do a gorgeous garden and sunny terrace. There is proper afternoon tea, with scones and cream, and in the evening, they set out trays of canapés, gratis. Nothing becomes a fine hotel so much as a little generosity. Lady Thatcher, although nearing 90 now, still lunches in the Dining Room, designed by the Queen’s best air travel deals nephew, Viscount Linley.
by the way: The Queen’s Gallery, which has marvelous exhibitions from the Royal Collection, is steps away from the hotel, as is the Buckingham Palace shop, which is heaven for presents. Do get the concierge to book a trip for you up London’s latest sensation, the Shard. Newly opened, it is the tallest building in Western Europe, has extraordinary views over London, and is an easy journey from Victoria underground station (three minutes from the Goring).
Your man in Rome is the lovely John Fort, reachable through Bellini Travel ( bellinitravel.com ). Fort is a Brit, so there’s no language problem, has more charm than a chap has a right to, and is brilliant at illuminating the Eternal City to the first-timer or the intellectual without patronizing the former or smacking the latter as pretentious. Fort will fast-track best air travel deals you into the Sistine Chapel, recommend exactly the right restaurant, and make sightseeing fun and history alive.
by the way: If traveling to Rome with children, the Cavalieri hotel ( romecavalieri.com ), with views over the Vatican, a super pool, and lovely gardens, is the place for you. Lady Emily FitzRoy, founder of Bellini Travel and the secret agent on all things Italian, now has a dedicated service for clients with kids called Bellini Bambini. If you are seeking privacy/romance/grandeur on an imperial scale, then the Residenza Napoleone III ( residenzanapoleone.com ) is the dream B,B B (bed, breakfast—off Bulgari silver no less—and butler). Napoleon III lived there in 1830, and it is in pole position by the Spanish Steps and the Via Condotti, Rome’s premier shopping street.
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