Our secret London

Queues? What queues? The Goring’s legendary concierge has the keys to a secret London so you can get up close to the city’s greatest treasures.  

As with most things in life, it’s all about who you know – and if there’s one man who lives and breathes this ethos, it’s The Goring’s Big John. With more secret contacts than the whole of MI6, Big John is a concierge who loves a challenge. ‘No’ is a word he hasn’t used since…well, no one can remember. Let him show you a side of London that very few get to see.

Sensational art

Why stand at the back of a crowd trying to catch a glimpse of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers when you could see them up close, surrounded by… nobody? Big John would like to send you on an out-of-hours tour of Tate Britain, Tate Modern and the National Gallery so you can drift amongst the Degas and relish the Rothkos (is it a closed window? Is it an open door? You decide) under the guidance of a senior curator. Civilised.

To the Tower…

As a nation, we have a great fondness for ancient customs. The Ceremony of Keys at the Tower of London hits that brief with a 700-year-old nightly ritual performed by the Chief Yeoman Warder and the Escort to the Keys. Yes, Anne Boleyn lost her head there, but with this level of detail, at least no one will lose the keys. It’s also home to the Crown Jewels, which live under armed guard and the ruthless glare of seven ravens in the Tower’s Jewel House. One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, it has the queues to match. Fortunately, Big John isn’t keen on waiting in line and would much rather you swanned straight in to admire the Imperial State Crown in private. 

Palaces, done privately

Explore Kensington Palace, the birthplace of Queen Victoria and the London address of the Prince and Princess of Wales, in peace. Delve deep into Tudor England at the extraordinary Hampton Court, where Henry VIII married Katherine Howard (hope everyone kept their wedding present receipts) or visit the spectacular Windsor Castle State Apartments, where the King and Queen host official visits, investitures and award ceremonies. Oh, look, there’s no one else here. That’s nice. 

All the history and tradition

Yes, you could go and visit Churchill’s War Rooms in the secret underground headquarters set up during the Second World War under your own steam or you could let Big John arrange it for you. This is how you’ll get behind the glass (WE KNOW) and explore the very rooms where historic and life-changing decisions were made by the legendary wartime Prime Minister (and one of The Goring’s favourite frequent guests). Learn the stories and traditions that date back to the 17th century of the Household Cavalry, the King’s official bodyguard at the Cavalry Museum or stand to attention on the deck of HMS Belfast, the pride of the Royal Navy. And yes, you’ve guessed it. In private. 

You want more?

Of course you do. A private charter Thames River cruise is a sensational way to see the city. Equally, you could leave terra firma and take to the skies as a passenger in a Second World War Spitfire, one of the speediest, most agile planes in the Royal Air Force and watch the world whizz by from the clouds. 

As we find ourselves saying on a daily basis, just leave it to Big John….