Afternoon Tea with Super Active Toddler?

Kew Gardens.

Not fancy, but nibbles your child will like and more than enough room for your toddler to blow excess energy and not bother anyone else!

Harrod's Dept. Store, 4th floor, Georgian Room is nice. Your toddler would enjoy visiting the cool toy dept. afterwards. It is such a pretty setting for you.
You should make reservations though. Sunday the department store is open limited hours.

So, Elaine, you do realize that the OP has a rambunctious two year old. Do you think the Harrod's customers who have paid so much for their afternoon tea in an up-market setting would be tolerant of this "active, picky" child?

Leslie: At a place like Kew Gardens, are there places one can order a tea service to go? Or brought to a table? Something like that is what I have in mind if it's available.

Emma: The bus looks awesome! Thanks for the tip. Being on a moving bus, other guests may not mind a rambunctious child since it's out in traffic and not inside a formal dining room anyway. Kids love busses and transport of any kind, so this might be just the thing.

As much as we'd like a place like Harrod's, etc. we have read and heard mixed things - that the English love kids and you can take them everywhere, to 'best leave the little ones at home or with a sitter'.

We'll find out. But these tips are very useful. Thank you all.

As for the bus, will your child sit still? He/she can NOT be running around on the bus.

Kew (which is FREE!) has a lovely tea room with tables outside, as well. It's basic cafeteria-style, trays and serve yourself or, as I recall, they would bring things out to you (we were there on a most glorious, sunny day). There were things to tempt a picky eater (Victoria Sponge or the mocha walnut cake? Mmmmmmmmm).

Another idea, pack a picnic lunch, head out to Kew and relax. Go to a Pret-A-Manger and find a yummy your child will like, something for you (Coronation Chicken was my fave) and a can or bottle of beverage and crisps. Have dessert at the tea house at Kew.

I certainly wouldn't go to any of the popular tea venues if your child is really unruly. People are only so tolerant, British or not! You will be asked to leave. Your child doesn't sound like they would enjoy the restraint needed insuch venues. Save the upscale tea experiences for your next trip, when your child is older and can appreciate it, as well.

Take your toddler in Harrod's toy department and you'll not like the results! Neither will your wallet...

Children under age 6 are not allowed on the BB Bakery bus tea, due to safety reasons.

Pricey, too, at £45 per adult!

Here's alink to the dining options at Kew:

http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/eat-drink

Kew is absolutely delightful and so relaxing.

From someone without kids, i'm pretty intolerant of people with kids letting them run riot, other parents would be much more understanding i'd assume.

Thank you OP for trying to consider others, many really don't. I'm all for everyone doing what they want, so i go to places without kids there, rather than ones that do, and then complain about it.

You could consider an afternoon tea picnic, then sit in a nice park, many have excellent, enclosed play areas. Somewhere like Caffe Concerto would be happy to do take out, not quite the same i know, but an idea.

I'm pretty sure the Orangery in Kensington Gardens has outside seating, even I don't object to kids being kids outdoors.

http://afternoonteaonline.co.uk/london/city-cruises-afternoon-tea/.

If you use the website over 150 places for tea are mentioned. Most in hotels but others like this o r the one at the Crusty Pipe in Covent Garden might be good options for your family.

The Orangery at Kensington Gardens, you can have your tea outside if you want. Their Afternoon Teas are lovely, there is two steps to the level where the tables are, but it's so safe that you could let your toddler go down and play and you could watch him without any trouble.

Oh, I really don't want to be a buzzkill here.... but I think I would pass on tea anyplace other than a "kid-friendly" place if you have an "active, picky" toddler. Tea is supposed to be a be a nice, relaxing, civilized, rather genteel activity, and you'll be surrounded by patrons who came to have a lovely cuppa with sandwiches and rich dainties. I can almost guarantee that NONE of them will be amused or pleased with shrieking, fussing, roaming, or clattering crockery.

You can actually get quite a good cup of tea - and tasty pastries - at Starbucks, believe it or not. And you'll get a lot fewer menacing glares if your child starts to wriggle or holler.

Since your trip is in July, you might want to just picnic in a nice park. Try down by the Serpentine in Hyde Park - any toddler would be THRILLED to hang out by the water and watch the swans and waterbirds and race around in the grass. There is plenty of room to run and shriek, and there are nice benches for the 'rents. There's a casual restaurant there, too, the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen (http://www.benugo.com/restaurants/serpentine-bar-kitchen) that specifically calls out "family" dining - but they don't do tea, alas.

While in Oxford one May, we had tea in the garden of the Old Parsonage Hotel, a 17th century parsonage. It was lovely sitting all afternoon within the charming stone walled garden surrounded by lovely old plantings including old wisteria vines. You have a choice of a Very High Tea or 'plain' Tea. The service was wonderful and we had a lovely relaxing afternoon. Just make sure you make a reservation in far enough in advance of your visit. By the way, we've also stayed at the hotel and it is charming. Check them out. www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk