Please sign in to post.

London Tea

Taking my 10 year old girl to London. She likes good food (i.e. she asked for a tour of a restaurant kitchen in Paris -- and got it -- at 9). She would like to try a high tea in London and I am looking for the best combination of price and experience. Any thoughts?

Posted by
3387 posts

The Orangery at Kensington Palace is LOVELY!! Very British, very beautifully done.

Posted by
22 posts

If you are looking for an inexpensive place for high tea, there is a very nice little restaurant in Knightsbridge, called the Richoux directly across the street from Harrods. (86 Brompton Road).. http://www.richoux.co.uk/index.php

Posted by
833 posts

I also loved the Orangery at Kensington Palace! My husband and I both took tea and then ordered one set of pastries/snacks to share. It wasn't cheap but not outrageous either.

Posted by
4 posts

We've been to afternoon tea in London with our children several times. Our favorite spots for tea are Fortnum and Mason and The Athenaeum hotel. Hope you have a wonderful time!

Posted by
29 posts

Devon - All the teas I see are priced per person. How do you order just one set of sandwiches/snacks?

Posted by
2773 posts

I feel that your daughter wants to have Afternoon Tea....you would have finger sandwiches or other savories, scones and some sweet pastries. The Orangery at Kensington Palace has great Afternoon Tea, it is beautiful inside. It would be a great place to take your daughter.

Posted by
1010 posts

We have done afternoon tea at Harrod's dept. store, three times. They have a beautiful setting, upstairs, in their Georgian Room restaurant. It is so picturesque.

Posted by
833 posts

Michelle - sorry for not replying earlier, I hadn't seen your question to me. I looked on the website and I see what you're saying... When I was there in December 2011 at least, a teapot was around 6 pounds I think, and the pastries were something like 14 or 17? You could order them separately, so my husband and I each got a pot of tea and we shared one tower of pastries. Even if the menu online doesn't show it that way, you may be able to ask for it when you are there. The menu at the Orangery had an extensive list of the different teas they offer - it was different than what the menu online looks like.

Posted by
915 posts

I agree. The Orangery is a lovely place. I've had afternoon tea at the Corus Hotel near Hyde Park. If you can get a seat right next to the window, it's great for park and people-watching. I think the quality was fine, but admittedly, that particular hotel restaurant doesn't have as much interior atmosphere as some other locations.

One note: When I was at the Orangery a couple years ago, a young lady at the table next to me noticed that their tea plate didn't have a chocolate pastry when she knew some other tables in our area had been served something chocolate. She kindly asked, and the waiter brought her a different assortment of pastries. Sometimes if you ask, they can fulfill simple special requests.

Posted by
4 posts

We were in London in October of 2013 and had a beautiful tea at the Langham Hotel. The Langham is an old London hotel with lots of literary history. The tea was absolutely stunning visually. The savory and sweet treats were delicious and beautiful. They had no problem making substitutions due to my shellfish allergy. It's expensive -- I think about 50 pounds. The service was gracious. I think we must have stayed for 2 or 3 hours -- we went in at about 5 or 5:30 -- and it is one of my fondest memories of our three days in London. Enjoy!

Posted by
81 posts

Has anyone had experience with afternoon tea at the Goring Hotel? My sister and I are booked there, and it looks wonderful (online).

Posted by
1010 posts

We have friends who spent one week at the Goring, about seven years ago. They said it was fantastic. My husband and I have eaten dinner there in June, 2011 and 2012. The dinners were extremely expensive, but very nice. It is a pretty dining area.