Metro has partnered with Starhotels Collezione to offer one lucky reader and a companion a luxurious two-night stay at The Gore London, a historic boutique hotel in South Kensington. The prize, valued at £900, includes bed and breakfast accommodation in a Deluxe double bedroom, a three-course dinner at the hotel's restaurant, 190 Queen's Gate, and a full English breakfast each morning.
The Historic Hotel
Built in 1892 to house guests visiting the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, The Gore London retains its Victorian heritage with carved wood panelling, rich fabrics, and original artworks. The hotel features 50 uniquely decorated bedrooms, a quintessential library, and a guest book that includes iconic creatives from history. The winner will stay in a Deluxe bedroom with antique furnishings, ornate gilt mirrors, chandeliers, and either a stunning oak-carved four-poster or a half-tester bed. Bathrooms offer grand bathtubs with showers, complimentary Penhaligon's toiletries, and Frette linen dressing gowns.
Cultural Icons and Location
Located in South Kensington, the hotel is a 10-minute walk from Gloucester Road or South Kensington Tube stations, and close to the Royal Albert Hall, Hyde Park, and world-famous museums such as the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and the V&A Museum, which is currently hosting the Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art exhibition. The Gore itself is a cultural icon: the Judy Garland Suite features a gilt bed with ruby red velvet curtains reportedly commissioned by the star, and a replica of her legendary ruby slippers. The hotel also hosts a rock 'n' roll history as the site of the Rolling Stones' 1968 Elizabethan-themed feast for the album Beggars Banquet, which ended in a famous food fight.
Food and Drink
The prize includes a three-course A La Carte dinner for two at 190 Queen's Gate, led by Head Chef Frederick Forster, a former Roux Scholar and National Chef of the Year 2011. The menu features modern British dishes such as Roasted Venison with kale, braised chicory, parsnip purée, red currants, and red wine sauce, and Dorset Lamb Rump with confit fennel, gnocchi, tomato, and basil. Breakfast includes a continental buffet and one A La Carte dish per person. The hotel's Bar 190 offers live music and is popular with Royal Albert Hall-goers.
How to Enter
Entries must be submitted via the form on the Metro website before midnight on Sunday, 9 August 2026. Only one entry per person is allowed, and entrants must be 18 or over and legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland). The winner will be selected in a random draw on 10 August 2026 and notified by email within one week. The stay must be redeemed by 31 May 2027, subject to availability, and excludes certain dates such as 31 December 2026 and 18–22 May 2027 (Chelsea Flower Show). Travel to and from the hotel is not included. Full terms and conditions apply.
