A London hotel just dropped a $15,000 coronation package
If you’re looking for a London trip to mark King Charles III's coronation in style — and happen to have a spare $15,868 (13,000 British pounds) burning a hole in your butler’s pocket — we have just the offer for you.
The capital’s impeccably gilded Hotel Café Royal is offering guests a "Crown Jewels Experience" from April 1 through Oct. 1. It includes an overnight stay in the Royal Suite and other regally outrageous touches for what can only be described as a princely sum.
The high-end property sits in the heart of London’s Piccadilly Street, where bustling Soho meets Mayfair and St. James's, and counts the likes of Princess Diana as famous royals to have graced its foyer.
The package includes a stay in the Royal Suite, which is glitz personified. It's 3,251 square feet of wall-to-wall luxury comprising two bedrooms, a living room and a bathroom kitted out with a marble bathtub and a rainfall shower. The complimentary breakfast, which the hotel describes as being “fit for a king,” is served by a personal butler.
The suite also features a study and a seating area in each bedroom, plus a butler’s pantry and your own personal dressing room — all of it sprinkled with additional high-end indulgences.
The package also includes a VIP trip to the Tower of London after regular visiting hours. A chauffeured limousine drops you off for your personal tour led by one of London's iconic beefeater guards.
Following the tour, guests will be whisked off to a Champagne reception and private viewing of the real crown jewels and royal collection at the Jewel House.
"Treasures on display at the Jewel House include the largest diamond in the world, the 17th-century solid gold St. Edward’s Crown and Sovereign’s Orb, used during coronations, and the 20th-century Imperial State Crown," according to the hotel.
It’s surely enough to sate the appetite of the most frenzied royalist.
After your exclusive tours, another chauffeur-driven limo will drive you back to the Royal Suite.
If money is no object, it could be a brilliant way to spend 24 hours. However, if $15,868 is too steep for your liking, here’s how to do something similar for a fraction of the price.
The expensive but not completely prohibitive way
Hotel
Finding a luxury hotel suite — let alone one with multiple royal connections — in the English capital during the week of King Charles’ coronation (which takes place on May 6) for a sensible price isn’t easy. However, it can be done. There are a number of London hotels used by actual royalty.
For example, you could opt for Claridge’s, a classically A-list property brimming with more royal history than you can shake a golden scepter at (Prince Charles and Princess Diana had their wedding reception here). Rates start at $2,125 (1,740 British pounds) per night for a Deluxe Junior Room.
If you want to up the ante, select a room rate with all the trimmings, including a full English breakfast delivered to the suite, two Claridge’s Frette bathrobes monogrammed with your initials and a bottle of Laurent-Perrier rose on arrival. It'll cost you around $2,357 (1,930 British pounds).
Just in case you want to leave with some jewels of your own around the time of the coronation, this Mayfair haunt is within short walking distance of the famously upmarket shopping row of Bond Street.
Travel
Just because you’re paying for a smaller hotel space doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the size of your transport. A leading London-based luxury car company (which declined to be named) quoted around $1,099 (900 British pounds) — or around $1,318 total when you factor in the 20% value-add tax — for car hires. The cost includes four hours in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII.
When hiring a luxury car worth around half a million dollars with your own personal driver, it’s not uncommon to have to pay for a minimum of four hours. Also, if you’re looking to fit in a visit to the Tower of London, you’ll need the extra time.
VIP Tower of London tour
You can book VIP Tower of London tours without the need for a middleman by reserving tickets directly through Historic Royal Palaces. Deals include an evening tour away from the crowds culminating with the ancient "Ceremony of the Keys."
Prices start from around $1,172 (960 British pounds) per person when factoring in taxes. This package includes 20 guests, working out to just $58.60 (48 British pounds) per person, should you have a big enough family or friend group.
Total cost
Factoring in a junior room at Claridge’s with extra touches, use of a Rolls-Royce with a private chauffeur and a VIP Tower of London experience out of regular guest hours, you’re looking to spend a total of about $4,852.59 (3,970 British pounds).
While you won’t get a private viewing of the crown jewels, it's about $12,228 (10,000 British pounds) less than you’d pay for the Hotel Café Royal package.
Affordable but glitzy
Hotel
If you don’t want to shell out for a suite but want to stay somewhere with a royal stamp of approval, The Goring is a must. This high-end hotel a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace has welcomed the great and the good on behalf of the British royals for generations.
In April and May, you can book a Superior Room at the slightly more reasonable price of $830 (680 British pounds) per night. However, you can’t actually book on the night of the coronation, as the hotel isn’t taking public bookings.
Travel
Book a trip with Uber Exec, or better yet, Uber Lux, to enjoy all the luxury of a private ride in a high-end vehicle at the drop of a hat.
You can hire an Uber Lux to take you from The Goring to the Tower of London during peak daytime hours for around $67 (55 British pounds). The price will likely drop considerably during non-peak hours.
Two adult tickets for the Tower of London (experiences include the crown jewels, the White Tower, battlements, the Medieval Palace, Bloody Tower and the "Torture at the Tower" exhibit) will set you back around $73 (59.80 British pounds).
Traveling with family? The day after King Charles’ coronation, you can snag free tickets (while they last) for A Coronation Celebration at the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
Here, you’ll be able to get a closer look at many of the carriages used in the previous day’s coronation procession, including the Gold State Coach. Families can also head to the Livery Room for coronation-inspired arts and crafts and more fun activities.
Total cost
Pricing it all up — round-trip Uber Lux rides, an overnight stay at The Goring and two tickets for the Tower of London — this royal stay on a budget comes to a total of $1,036 (849.80 British pounds).
By choosing this less expensive take on a coronation vacation, you'll save around $14,676 (or about 12,000 British pounds) compared to the Hotel Café Royal’s extravagantly eye-watering 24-hour package.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.